Euro 2012

[joew2005]

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Portugal frustrated by Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina failed 2 make the most of home advantage as they played out a dire goalless draw with Portugal in the 1st leg of their Euro 2012 play-off in Zenica.

The hosts consider the Bilino Polje their lucky stadium, but it was anything but lucky 4 the watching spectators who were subjected 2 an abject spectacle on a woefully inadequate pitch.

Possession was dominated by the visitors but Helder Postiga missed the best of wat chances they created, while Cristiano Ronaldo again struggled 2 recreate his club form in a Portugal shirt.

Nonetheless, Paulo Bento's side will be happier with the goalless draw & they will be firm favourites 2 progress when the 2 sides meet again in Lisbon on Tuesday.

In a scrappy start as the players got 2 grips with the challenging playing surface, Portugal were 1st 2 show aft 9 mins when Raul Meireles fired in a shot fr the edge of the box, bringing a smart save out of Asmir Begovic @ his near post.

Aft 18 mins the ball would not come down 4 Postiga, who sent the ball way over the bar fr the edge of the area - & moments later he missed with an over-ambitious overhead kick.

Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure as Portugal dominated the half without creating much, & the Real Madrid man was reduced 2 snap-shots which did not trouble Begovic.

Ronaldo threw a lump of the uneven turf 2 the ground in irritation aft sending an effort wide 6 mins in2 the 2nd period.

In the 58th min, a Joao Moutinho free-kick broke in the box 2 Postiga, but he spurned an excellent opportunity when he sliced his shot wide.

Ronaldo weaved his way thru the home defence aft 64 mins but his scuffed shot was easily saved by Begovic.

Edin Dzeko had a rare chance 4 Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 72nd min, but his shot was always going just wide.

Substitute Vedad Ibisevic had a glorious chance moments later when Adnan Zahirovic's cross reached him @ the back post, but his control was dreadful & he then got in a tangle as he tried 2 shoot.

Begovic scrambled 2 save fr Meireles, b4 Ibisevic missed another excellent opportunity @ the other end, blazing his shot wildly over the bar when thru on goal, though he had the pitch & a bobbling ball 2 cite in mitigation.

As the game ticked over in2 stoppage time a corner fr Miguel Veloso hit Emir Spahic & deflected goalwards, but straight @ Begovic.

In the last act of a game desperately lacking in quality, Dzeko saw a close-range shot well saved by Rui Patricio, but the whistle had already gone 4 offside.

[joew2005]

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Sivok puts Czechs in control

A late header fr Tomas Sivok saw the Czech Republic put 1 foot in the Euro 2012 finals with victory over Montenegro in the 1st leg of their qualifying play-off.

The Czechs held a narrow lead aft Vaclav Pilar's 63rd min goal but Sivok's goal in injury time gives them a clear advantage going in2 the 2nd leg.

And it was no less than they deserved aft a strong showing on the night.

Jaroslav Plasil's early shot was held by Mladen Bozovic while @ the other end Milan Jovanovic fired over in lively opening exchanges.

The hosts were enjoying the better of the chances though, & Bozovic could only parry a free-kick fr Daniel Pudil b4 doing a better job with another shot fr the same man moments later.

Mirko Vucinic sent a volley over the crossbar b4 the Czechs resumed peppering shots @ Bozovic's goal.

A weak effort fr Tomas Pekhart was off-target b4 Tomas Rosicky's effort was charged down by Miodrag Djudovic & Petr Jiracek blazed over.

Vucinic had another good chance 4 the visitors in the 39th min but missed with his close-range header.

Having been on the back foot 4 much of the 1st half, Montenegro made an excellent start 2 the 2nd half.

Dejan Damjanovic went close just seconds aft the restart, b4 Petr Cech tipped Simon Vukcevic's shot around the post moments later.

The Chelsea goalkeeper then made another fine save 2 deny Damjanovic b4 the hosts could impose themselves on the game again.

But impose themselves they did, Pekhart & Jiracek had both gone close again b4 Pilar made the breakthrough in the 63rd min, latching on 2 Rosicky's pass & firing in2 the top right-hand corner of the net fr 25 yards.

Theodor Gebre Selassie tried 2 extend the lead with an ambitious long-range effort which Bozovic easily held, while a free-kick fr Michal Kadlec in a decent position went straight in2 the wall.

They got wat could be the critical goal just inside injury time, with Rosicky again the provider as his free-kick found the head of Sivok 2 beat the goalkeeper.

[joew2005]

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Ireland on brink of reaching finals

Skipper Robbie Keane claimed a double in Tallinn as the Republic of Ireland routed 9-man Estonia 2 take an iron grip on their Euro 2012 play-off.

Ireland were already leading thru Keith Andrews' 13th-min header when central defender Andrei Stepanov was sent off 4 a 2nd bookable offence, & by the time skipper Raio Piiroja joined him 13 mins fr time aft being cautioned twice in quick succession, they were 3-0 down.

Jonathan Walters' 67th-minute header, his 1st senior international goal, justified manager Giovanni Trapattoni's decision 2 pick him, & Keane's late brace ensured Ireland will take a commanding lead in2 Tuesday night's 2nd leg @ the Aviva Stadium.

The home fans were furious with Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai 4 wat they saw as his part in their side's demise, but Ireland made hay as they banished the bitter memories of 5 play-off defeats in 6 previous attempts 2 take a giant stride 2wards Poland & Ukraine.

Ireland's tale of woe has proved a source of intense frustration, & the injustice of the final chapter which cast Frenchman Thierry Henry in the role of villain 2 years ago left a bitter taste in the mouths of the nation.

There was a belief b4 kick-off, however, tat tis could be their time aft they were seeded 4 the draw which handed them, on paper @ least, the least taxing of the 4 options available, & home advantage in the 2nd leg.

On the pitch, things could not hv gone much better as Estonia initially showed they were not prepared 2 be cannon fodder 4 the Irish, yet ultimately contrived 2 extend their hospitality far 2 readily.

Tarmo Ruutli's men started brightly enough, but found themselves behind with just 13 mins gone when Aiden McGeady, who proved a threat throughout, burst into space on the left b4 floating the perfect cross in2 the middle 4 Andrews 2 head home his 3rd senior international goal.

Walters, preferred 2 Simon Cox as Keane's strike partner 4 the night, might hv doubled his side's lead 5 mins later, but his shot on the turn aft Sean St Ledger had headed down Andrews' free-kick flew high & wide.

Estonia responded as dangerman Konstantin Vassiljev, whose 5 goals proved so valuable during their Group C campaign, looked threatening in the space betw the Republic's midfield & defensive lines.

His viciously-struck 22nd-min shot had goalkeeper Shay Given concerned enough 2 dive full-length across his goal, & the Aston Villa man was mightily relieved 2 see the ball fly just wide.

But as Vassiljev & Middlesbrough winger Tarmo Kink started 2 pin the visitors back, they left space @ the back & Walters shot inches over fr a tight angle aft being played in by Glenn Whelan.

However, Estonia were dealt a major blow seconds later when Stepanov's night came 2 a premature conclusion.

The defender, who had been booked 4 an earlier challenge on McGeady, crudely up-ended Keane aft being caught in possession, leaving Kassai little option but 2 double the dose & send him off.

Ruutli had 2 reorganise @ the break & opted 2 field a back 3 in the 2nd half with Kink & Dmitri Kruglov operating as wing-backs.

They might hv fallen further behind within 4 mins of the restart when Damien Duff fired in a skidding drive fr a narrow angle, but goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko dealt with it comfortably.

Kassai incurred the wrath of the home fans 4 mins later when he awarded a free-kick just outside the box rather than a penalty 4 a foul by Whelan on midfielder Martin Vunk.

Vassiljev's set-piece was deflected wide by Richard Dunne, & it was then tat Ireland made their big push.

They put the game, & perhaps the tie, beyond Estonia inside 4 mins when Walters headed home Keane's cross aft Pareiko could only parry McGeady's 67th-minute shot, & the captain gleefully tapped home aft the goalkeeper had blocked Andrews' 71st-minute free-kick with his feet.

Piiroja picked up a booking which would hv ruled him out of the 2nd leg anyway 4 a foul on Andrews, but he joined Stepanov back in the dressing room with 13 mins remaining aft being cautioned 4 a 2nd time 4 handball.

The depth of the Estonian disaster grew 2 mins fr time when Keane converted a penalty aft Ats Purje had tripped fellow substitute Stephen Hunt 2 leave the former Soviet republic's hopes in tatters.

[joew2005]

The draw 4 the final tournament will take place on 2 December 2011 @ the Ukraine Palace of Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.

Teams Going 2 The Finals
1) Co-host - Poland
2) Co-host - Ukraine
3) Group A Winner - Germany
4) Group B Winner - Russia
5) Group C Winner - Italy
6) Group D Winner - France
7) Group E Winner - Netherlands
8) Group F Winner - Greece
9) Group G Winner - England
10) Group H Winner - Denmark
11) Group I Winner - Spain
12) Best Runner Up - Sweden
13) Playoff Winner - Turkey/Croatia (Croatia lead 3-0 aft 1st leg)
14) Playoff Winner - Estonia/Ireland (Ireland lead 4-0 aft 1st leg)
15) Playoff Winner - Czech Republic/Montenegro (Czech lead 2-0 aft 1st leg)
16) Playoff Winner - Bosnia & Herzegovina/Portugal (1st leg ended 0-0, Advantage Portugal as the 2nd leg is @ Lisbon)

The Euro 2012 shall be held betw 8 June 2012 & 1 July 2012.
Tis will be the last tournament tat contain 16 nations.
Fr Euro 2016 onwards, 24 nations will compete in the Finals.

The 16 finalists will be divided into 4 seeding pots, ranked by their UEFA coefficient, with each of the 4 groups having 1 team fr each pot.

The winner of Euro 2012 tournament will qualify 4 the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by Brazil.

[joew2005]

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Hiddink: Blame me for defeat
November 12, 2011

Turkey coach Guus Hiddink has taken full responsibility aft his side were humiliated 3-0 on home soil by Croatia in their Euro 2012 play-off.

Hiddink has previously revealed tat he will walk away fr the job if Turkey do not seal progress 2 the final tournament &, with tat looking unlikely aft a dismal 1st-leg performance, the Dutchman has admitted tat he was @ fault.

"I m responsible 4 the results. The players hv 2 execute things properly, but I take full responsibility," Hiddink told NTV Spor. "I think 2nd place in qualification behind Germany was a realistic expectation, but were confronted with a team with guys in big leagues who r very strong & very fast.

"It's not 4 nothing tat these players play in the Premier League, in the Bundesliga - they hv experience in tough competitions.

"If you come out in the 1st minute & badly organised & outplayed very easily, then it's already a difficult game. We gave them a favour of 2 counter attacks, which was the killer."

Looking ahead 2 Tuesday's return leg, Hiddink called upon his troops 2 restore some pride. "I think it's very important tat the players play 4 their honour, 4 themselves, 4 their country, becos let's face facts, it's difficult, almost impossible 2 qualify,'' he said.

"Some will get opportunities 2 play themselves into the team becos some young, new player will knock on the door 2 play."

[joew2005]

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Irish evolve to bury play-off ghosts
November 12, 2011

In the press room, Giovanni Trapattoni was shedding tears. Out on the pitch, the FA of Ireland's chief executive John Delaney was conducting chants 4 the jubilant fans, punching the air & throwing his tie in2 the crowd. And, all around the Le Coq Arena, Irish eyes weren't just smiling, they were beaming.

If all of tat seems a little unbecoming given tat Ireland's play-off with Estonia isn't actually over yet, then it has 2 be considered tat wat looks 2 be an inevitable victory feels like the end-point of a very emotional journey 4 both the manager & his squad.

It's just 2 years, aft all, since the pain of Paris when Ireland were denied a World Cup place by Thierry Henry's sleight of hand. And tat result represented Ireland's 5th official play-off defeat - the worst record in eliminators in international history. Little wonder there was trepidation abt Friday night.

Indeed, it's 10 years since Ireland's only successful play-off - the 2-1 aggregate defeat of Iran 2 reach the 2002 World Cup. But even the joy of tat was soured by wat eventually transpired in Asia as Roy Keane's strained relationship with Mick McCarthy reached tipping point & saw the side's driving force depart b4 the tournament even began.

Some sociologists argued that the country-splitting incident represented Ireland's "Princess Diana". Most football fans @ least agreed tat it altered the history & future of the national team. And yet, now tat Ireland r on the verge of only their 5th international tournament in the country's history - & in a surprisingly serene manner on the pitch - controversy continues 2 reign off it.

Trapattoni's 4-year tenure has actually given rise 2 the most fractious tactical debate in Ireland since Jack Charlton told a player of Liam Brady's class 2 just 'lump it 4ward'.

To 1 half of the football population, Trapattoni is playing an unnecessarily austere style - such as doggedly trying 2 protect 2-1 lead against Macedonia - during the most open era in international football. 4 the other half he is only doing wat he must with a moderate group of players with no real history of success.

On Tuesday, though, tat history is abt 2 change, And, 2 give Trapattoni credit, he has answered some parts of tat argument along the way 2 doing so. 4 alot of the 1st half, Estonia looked much more elegant on the ball & controlled most of the midfield space.

But, in truth, they struggled 2 handle Ireland's base aggression in the tackle & it was tat energy - allied 2 abit of Aiden McGeady ingenuity, @ last - which brought the key opening goal. Often criticised 4 being wasteful, the winger showed both efficiency & excellence in sending over a perfect cross 4 Keith Andrews 2 head home.

Aft tat, Estonia were always going 2 be chasing the game & tat was encapsulated when Andrei Stepanov was sent off 4 hauling down Robbie Keane; gifting Ireland an extra man as well as all of the initiative. While referee Viktor Kassei did seem 2 get the decision right, Estonian manager Tarmo Ruutli couldn't resist attributing some blame 4 the defeat 2 it, claiming: "Of course, [the decisions] played some role in tat result. But the 1st 2 goals were our problems. Not the referee's problem."

Trapattoni himself, however, did admit tat the incident shifted the dynamic of the game. "We hv been helped by the situation. With 11 against 10, we had more opportunities 2 win,'' he said. ''Aft the 1st goal, I thought the opportunity 2 qualify was very near. "Against 10 men, we could use the ball better."

As important as it was, though, it's still worth considering Ireland's history with such incidents. On a series of previous occasions when Trapattoni's team hv enjoyed such an advantage, rather than press home he has typically sought 2 protect wat he had. And tat has invited an awful lot of unnecessary doubt & danger that supported the arguments against his reign.

Against Estonia, though, Ireland emphatically & clinically went 4 the jugular. The game, & the tie, were put well out of reach. The difference, Trapattoni insisted, was down 2 tat long, emotional evolution.

"I am happy becos the team showed the work done in training. Tat is important. "We showed our personality,'' he said. "At the moment I m confident abt the team. We were ready. 2 years ago, we were not ready. 2night, we were."

Tat growth seemed 2 be personified by a newly mature captain, Robbie Keane. 4 the 2nd goal, the country's record goalscorer untypically showed a selfless ingenuity by inventively scooping the ball over 4 Jon Walters rather than shooting. And his patience was rewarded with a goal 4 himself mins later as well as a late penalty.

In saying all of tat, though, there were a few caveats 2 tis otherwise convincing win. In truth, Ireland were fortunate 2 draw the worst, most vulnerable team in the play-offs. And they were more fortunate still when tat Estonian team self-destructed aft the 1st goal.

Becos of tat, some in Ireland were still bemoaning the nature of victory aft the game & many fear the continued absence of control in the midfield will cause alot of problems in Euro 2012.

But 1 aspect of it all is undeniable: Ireland r abt 2 reach only their 5th international tournament ever. They'll hv done it coming thru a group with a Euro 2008 semi-finalist (Russia) & a 2010 World Cup last-16 side (Slovakia). At the end of tat, they then eviscerated a team tat themselves had come thru a group with three World Cup qualifiers. Broken down, tat's a commendable achievement, regardless of its style.

[joew2005]

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Trapattoni: The cat is in the sack
November 12, 2011

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is wary of complacency ahead of the 2nd-leg against Estonia, despite a 4-0 hammering of his opponents on Friday.

Trapattoni's side strolled 2 the win with a brace fr Robbie Keane & goals fr Keith Andrews & Jonathan Walters. But, with Ireland set 2 claim a spot @ a major tournament 4 the 1st time since 2002, the Italian manager is not taking anything 4 granted.

"The cat is in the sack, but the sack is not closed,'' he said. ''The cat is in it, but it's open - & it's a wild cat.

''In my opinion, we deserved 2 win. Maybe we were helped aft the 1st goal by the sending-off - @ 11 v 10, we had more opportunities 2 score goals. But we hv 2 hv respect 4 our opponents 4 wat they hv achieved in tis qualification campaign.

"@ tis moment, we r near qualifying @ 4-0. But I repeat the same sentence: don't jump the gun. I hv been many times @ the edge of a cliff. I know these situations. I hv been 2 many big tournaments & matches like tis r wat I call top level matches.

"But it's not necessarily important 2 achieve 1 objective, we hv 2 focus on wat comes next. Tis is my law. I never look back, I always look 4ward."

And Trapattoni has told his players they must reprise their heroics in Tallinn 2 clinch qualification & reward the fans 4 their support throughout the campaign.

He said: "We must hv respect 4 these people becos @ tis moment, with the financial crisis, it's a sacrifice 2 come 2 the stadium. We hv 2 hv respect 4 them & show them our commitment.

"We hv a duty 2 repeat tis game, maybe not with the same goals, but 4 the Irish people. I hv said 2 the team 2 be careful. It will not be an easy game.

"It is another 90 mins 4 our opponents. They lost some pride & it is important tat we play tis game with the same seriousness 4 our opponents & 4 the ppl coming 2 the stadium 2 watch the game. They pay 4 their tickets & expect a result - & not only a result, but also 4 us 2 play well.

"@ home, we can also play with more confidence now with tis advantage, but with the same mentality.''

Trapattoni has only 1 fresh injury concern with midfielder Damian Duff having bruised, but not fractured, a rib in a collision with team-mate Glenn Whelan @ the A Le Coq Arena.

Full-back John O'Shea has recovered fr his hamstring injury & is likely 2 return 2 the starting line-up, as will striker Kevin Doyle, who was suspended 4 the 1st leg game.

However, Newcastle's Leon Best has returned 2 his club with the manager's best wishes aft joining up 2 hv his groin injury assessed.

Trapattoni said: "Leon Best was injured & he came in & aft speaking with him & speaking with the doctor, we said 2 him 2 go home.

"We said 'thanks' becos he wished 2 come with us, but he is injured & I told him we didn't need him in tis game & tat it was better 2 go back with his team & finish his treatment.''

[joew2005]

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Duo ready for grand finale
November 14, 2011

So 2 Lisbon, where not only Portugal will be relieved 2 be fighting out a Euro 2012 finals berth on Benfica's snooker table of a pitch. A surface @ the Stadium Bilino Polje tat Cristiano Ronaldo tersely dismissed as a "vegetable patch" may hv had a hand in keeping 1 of the world's most prolific 4wards @ bay on Friday, but it did little 4 Bosnia-Herzegovina's own hopes either.

The home side's classy midfield pair of Miralem Pjanic & Zvjezdan Misimovic were also drowning in a sea of divots in Zenica. The latter, as silky smooth a playmaker as u will ever set eyes on, did @ least manage 2 become more influential as the match went on. The Dynamo Moscow man expertly created a brace of highly presentable chances 4 substitute Vedad Ibisevic late on - neither of which the striker could take.

Ibisevic's key miss in the last 10 mins - clubbing over the bar aft Misimovic sent him clean thru - elicited sympathy rather than ire, as the ball cruelly leapt up off the fractured turf as he swung @ it. It might hv appeared a thin excuse had the same thing not happened 2 Ronaldo in the other major moment tat might hv shaped the destiny of the tie, aft Nani's flick put him in. The seething reaction of Portugal's captain aft he sent his effort wide was the only time he let his frustration show during a testing 90 mins.

Fr the moment on Wednesday afternoon when the Portugal delegation touched down @ Sarajevo airport, they felt tat the locals' plan was clear - 2 chip away @ Ronaldo's nerves @ every possible opportunity. As the squad walked thru the arrival hall, a couple of hundred locals chanted 'Messi, Messi' as Real Madrid's talisman allowed himself a good-natured grin.

Ronaldo was somewhat less impressed when a group of local teenagers scaled a fence 2 intrude on the squad's private practice session on Thursday 2 reprise the chants in favour of his Barcelona counterpart & shine a laser pen @ him. The front cover of Friday's O Jogo showed an understandably peeved Ronaldo offering a gloved middle finger 2 the errant youths.

It was clear in his pugnacious post-match words 2 the media in Zenica tat Ronaldo had been thru the mill, & tat he had been holding his breath. While laughing off repeated laser pen sightings as "a poor excuse 4 a disco", he knew tat Bosnia had aimed 2 provoke him in2 earning the yellow card tat would hv seen him miss the return match thru suspension. "I know I couldn't get booked," he said.

The Portuguese camp's assertion of a planned destabilisation campaign betw complicit fans & players was nevertheless a little far-fetched. The locals merely saw their own cat-calling as gentle banter. Certainly, their targeting of Ronaldo was a clear recognition of the respect he commands as the biggest threat 2 their hopes of making it 2 Poland & Ukraine. His displays @ club level hv made him an idol in Bosnia, & there were as many Real Madrid shirts as Barcelona 1s in the crowd tat greeted Portugal @ the airport.

Containment was Bosnia's plan, & will probably continue 2 be in Lisbon. Tis was the 1st time Portugal hv drawn a blank under Paulo Bento, aft scoring 30 times in the 1st 12 games of his spell in command. Statistically speaking, tis shouldn't be 2 much of a surprise. Bosnia r unbeaten in 7 & hv conceded just 1 goal in tat time - Samir Nasri's penalty 4 France in the final qualifier. Yet they were shorn of 3 of their regular back 4, & both Boris Pandza & Rangers' Sasa Papac were banned aft receiving yellow cards in France. They will return @ the Estádio da Luz.

Tat clean sheet may well prove key. As Pjanic said post-match, a goal in Lisbon will put Safet Susic's men in the driving seat. In short, a repeat of the score draw achieved @ the Stade de France last month will see Bosnia thru 2 Euro 2012.

The pragmatic Susic admitted he expected 2 take the tie 2 the wire fr the start. "If I'd hv started with 2 strikers, we may hv scored 1, but we might hv conceded 2 as well," he said. He also confessed tat the Zenica pitch coloured his approach, & tat he initially instructed his players 2 simply punt it long 2 Edin Dzeko. A better pitch may allow a more expansive approach in the return.

Susic's tactics will certainly be under close scrutiny in Bosnia, with many still rueing his predecessor Miroslav Blazovic's approach 2 the corresponding fixture 2 years ago, in the pair's World Cup qualifying play-off. Blazovic chose 2 start with Dzeko & Ibisevic, but without the influential Pjanic, & the folly in such a plan quickly became acutely apparent. Portugal created a raft of chances while Misimovic was largely starved of the ball. In the closing stages, aft Pjanic's entrance & a tactical reshuffle, only the frame of the goal prevented 1st Dzeko & then Ibisevic fr wiping out the hosts' narrow advantage & keeping them fr advancing.

"I'm hoping 4 a full stadium supporting us - & having a bit of patience," said Bento after Friday's game. The Portugal boss could pat himself on the back 4 his own planning, with his team having produced wat he described as an "organised, cohesive & courageous performance" in Zenica, & it is clear tat the returns of Fabio Coentrao & the outstanding Pepe hv made Portugal a completely different proposition 2 the side which endured a series of defensive pratfalls in the closing brace of qualifiers against Iceland & Denmark.

Whether your view is tat Bosnia hv leapt 4ward or Portugal hv regressed, it is clear tat matters r even more finely balanced than they were 2 years ago. Perhaps it would represent a degree of poetic justice if Ronaldo sealed the deal 4 Portugal @ the Luz - where he most famously exercised tat middle finger against baying Benfica fans while @ Manchester United in 2005.

[joew2005]

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Ronaldo: Better pitch will help Portugal
November 14, 2011

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is confident tat his side will show their "superiority" over Bosnia in their Euro 2012 play-off clash on Tuesday aft struggling with a difficult pitch in the 1st leg.

The 2 sides drew 0-0 in Zenica last Friday, with many pointing 2 the poor quality of the boggy playing surface as a key reason 4 Portugal's failure 2 grab an away goal.

But Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo believes tat playing on a better pitch in Lisbon will allow Paulo Bento's side 2 cast off the shackles & produce an attacking display tat will help them advance 2 next summer's tournament in Poland & Ukraine.

"Tat wasn't grass, we played on a vegetable patch. It was very difficult & still we did well & created chances," Ronaldo said.

"We now hv a 2nd chance @ home in front of our fans, with a good pitch & hv all the conditions 2 ensure we win. We hv 2 assume we r fav & show our superiority - we r a better team."

But Bosnia's Edin Dzeko believes his side will benefit fr a slicker pitch just as much as their Portuguese hosts, & the ManC striker insists they r full of belief tat they can qualify.

"Maybe the Portuguese think we will be easier opponents on a better surface but we won't," Dzeko said. "The fact is tat we r also looking 4ward 2 play on a quality pitch."

[joew2005]

Euro 2012 Play-Off

2nd leg on 15 Nov
Croatia 0-0 Turkey (Croatia win 3-0 aggra over 2 legs)
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Estonia (Republic of Ireland win 5-1 aggra over 2 legs)
Montenegro 0-1 Czech Republic (Czech Republic win 3-0 aggra over 2 legs)
Portugal vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (1st leg ended goalless, Portugal leading 3-1 in the 2nd leg)

[joew2005]

The draw 4 the final tournament will take place on 2 December 2011 @ the Ukraine Palace of Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.

Teams Going 2 The Finals
1) Co-host - Poland
2) Co-host - Ukraine
3) Group A Winner - Germany
4) Group B Winner - Russia
5) Group C Winner - Italy
6) Group D Winner - France
7) Group E Winner - Netherlands
8) Group F Winner - Greece
9) Group G Winner - England
10) Group H Winner - Denmark
11) Group I Winner - Spain
12) Best Runner Up - Sweden
13) Playoff Winner - Croatia
14) Playoff Winner - Ireland
15) Playoff Winner - Czech Republic
16) Playoff Winner - Portugal

The Euro 2012 shall be held betw 8 June 2012 & 1 July 2012.
Tis will be the last tournament tat contain 16 nations.
Fr Euro 2016 onwards, 24 nations will compete in the Finals.

The 16 finalists will be divided into 4 seeding pots, ranked by their UEFA coefficient, with each of the 4 groups having 1 team fr each pot.

The winner of Euro 2012 tournament will qualify 4 the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by Brazil.

[joew2005]

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England avoid Germans in Euro draw
November 16, 2011

England will avoid old rivals Germany in the group stages of Euro 2012 aft UEFA confirmed the seedings 4 next summer's tournament.

England r in the 2nd pot alongside Euro 2008 runners-up Germany, 2006 world champions Italy & Russia, meaning Fabio Capello's men will avoid those teams until the knockout stages.

The 3 Lions could be drawn in the same group as Republic of Ireland, who booked their place in their 1st major championship in a decade on Tuesday.

However, perhaps the most daunting outcome of the draw, which will take place on December 2, would be 4 England 2 be drawn alongside reigning world & European champions Spain, Portugal & France.

The Spanish r in the top group of seeds, alongside 2010 World Cup finalists Holland plus co-hosts Poland & Ukraine, who hv already been allocated 2 groups A & D respectively.

A more palatable group 4 Capello's team might be 2 be drawn against Poland - with England having already confirmed they will be based in Krakow - Greece & the Czechs.

Ireland r in the 4th group of seeds alongside Denmark, the Czech Republic & France. Tat means they cannot face the French, who knocked them out in a controversial World Cup qualification play-off 2 years ago.

The pots hv been decided on the countries' UEFA coefficient rankings, except 4 the co-hosts.

Seedings 4 Euro 2012

• Pot 1: Spain, Holland, Poland*, Ukraine*.

• Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia.

• Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden.

• Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland

* Poland already allocated to Group A, Ukraine already allocated to Group D.

[joew2005]

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England climb to 5th in FIFA rankings
November 23, 2011

England hv moved up to 5th in the FIFA world rankings following their friendly wins over Spain & Sweden.

Fabio Capello's side won both games @ Wembley 1-0 to move up fr 7th in the standings, which r still led by world & European champions Spain.

Netherlands remain 2nd in the rankings but 3rd-placed Germany hv closed the gap following their 3-0 win in a friendly betw the 2 sides.

Uruguay remain 4th aft extending their unbeaten run to 13 matches, while Brazil drop to 6th.

Portugal climb 1 place to 7th & Croatia move up 4 places to 8th thanks 2 sealing their place in Euro 2012 thru the play-offs.

The Republic of Ireland's play-off success against Estonia lifts them 4 places to 21st, while Scotland r up 2 places to 49th.

Wales hv dropped 5 places to 50th despite winning 4 of their last 5 games, while Northern Ireland r also down 5 to 89th.

[joew2005]

Latest Uefa/Fifa ranking, updated on 22 Nov 2011.

1. Spain (Fifa 1)
2. Netherlands (Fifa 2)
3. Germany (Fifa 3)
4. England (Fifa 5)
5. Portugal (Fifa 7)
6. Croatia (Fifa 8)
7. Italy (Fifa 9)
8. Denmark (Fifa 11)
9. Russia (Fifa 12)
10. Greece (Fifa 14)
11. France (Fifa 15)
12. Switzerland (Fifa 17)
13. Sweden (Fifa 18)
14. Republic of Ireland (Fifa 21)
15. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fifa 23)
16. Norway (Fifa 25)
17. Slovenia (Fifa 26)
18. Serbia (Fifa 27)
19. Turkey (Fifa 28)
20. Czech Republic (Fifa 33)
21. Hungary (Fifa 37)
22. Israel (Fifa 37)
23. Slovakia (Fifa 40)
24. Belgium (Fifa 41)
25. Armenia (Fifa 46)
26. Scotland (Fifa 49)
27. Wales (Fifa 50)
28. Montenegro (Fifa 51)
29. Co-host Ukraine (Fifa 55)
30. Romania (Fifa 56)
31. Estonia (Fifa 58)
32. Belarus (Fifa 65)
33. Co-host Poland (Fifa 66)
34. Latvia (Fifa 68)
35. Austria (Fifa 71)
36. Georgia (Fifa 74)
37. Albania (Fifa 75)
38. Bulgaria (Fifa 85)
39. Finland (Fifa 88)
40. Northern Ireland (Fifa 89)
41. Lithuania (Fifa 94)
42. FYR Macedonia (Fifa 103)
43. Iceland (Fifa 104)
44. Azerbaijan (Fifa 113)
45. Faroe Islands (Fifa 116)
46. Cyprus (Fifa 126)
47. Luxembourg (Fifa 127)
48. Liechtenstein (Fifa 130)
49. Moldova (Fifa 135)
50. Kazakhstan (Fifa 138)
51. Malta (Fifa 155)
52. Andorra (Fifa 204)
53. San Marino (Fifa 204)

http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/ran...ble/index.html

[joew2005]

The draw 4 the final tournament will take place on 2nite @ the Ukraine Palace of Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.

As was the case 4 the 2004 & 2008 finals, the 16 finalists hv been divided into 4 seeding pots, using UEFA's national team coefficient ranking.As co-hosts, Poland & Ukraine were automatically placed in Pot 1, along with Spain, as the defending champions.

In the draw procedure, each of the 4 groups will hv 1 team fr each pot. It will also determine which place in the group teams drawn fr Pots 2–4 will take (i.e. A2, A3 or A4) 2 create the match schedule. 4 logistical reasons, Poland hv already been assigned to A1, & Ukraine to D1, meaning the Netherlands & Spain can only fill either position B1 or C1.


Group A
Poland
A2
A3
A4

8 June 2012 - Poland vs A2 / A3 vs A4
12 June 2012 - A2 vs A4 / Poland vs A3
16 June 2012 - A4 vs Poland / A2 vs A3


Group B
B1
B2
B3
B4

9 June 2012 - B1 vs B2 / B3 vs B4
13 June 2012 - B2 vs B4 / B1 vs B3
17 June 2012 - B4 vs B1 / B2 vs B3


Group C
C1
C2
C3
C4

10 June 2012 - C1 vs C2 / C3 vs C4
14 June 2012 - C2 vs C4 / C1 vs C3
18 June 2012 - C4 vs C1 / C2 vs C3


Group D
D1
D2
D3
D4

11 June 2012 - D3 vs D4 / Ukraine vs D2
15 June 2012 - D2 vs D4 / Ukraine vs D3
19 June 2012 - D4 vs Ukraine / D2 vs D3


Quarter-finals
21 June 2012 - Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B
22 June 2012 - Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A
23 June 2012 - Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D
24 June 2012 - Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C


Semi-finals
27 June 2012 - Winner Group A/Runner-up Group B vs Winner Group C/Runner-up Group D
28 June 2012 - Winner Group B/Runner-up Group A vs Winner Group D/Runner-up Group C


Final
1 July 2012


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012