Euro 2012

[tammyy2j]

The seedings

Pot 1: Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine

Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia

Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden

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

Draw later today

[lizann]

Tough group for Ireland with Spain, Italy and Croatia but fingers crossed they can do well

[alan45]

England last out of the draw.. Still they will be first out on the plane home

[Chloe O'brien]

England last out of the draw.. Still they will be first out on the plane home

It's a shame they won't play Germany. I was looking forward to watching them get hammered again

[Katy]

thats the group of death! spain Italy and Croatia! Im not fussed though, the boys have worked so hard to get there so theres nothing to lose!

Ireland are in Gdansk and Poznan i think, i may try and go out there for one of the matches i imagine it would be a great atmosphere! and i loved Gdansk when i went last time.

[tammyy2j]

Group A
Poland
Greece
Czech Rep
Russia

Group B
Holland
Germany
Denmark
Portugal

Group C
Spain
Italy
Ireland
Croatia

Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England

[Perdita]

TV is to screen England's opening game against France in Euro 2012, while the BBC has picked up the first knockout matches (if the team gets that far), it has been announced.

The two broadcasters have committed to running live coverage of all 31 Euro 2012 games next summer on TV and via their respective web and mobile platforms. They will show a total of 16 live matches each including the final, which will be broadcast by both ITV and the BBC.

ITV will kick off England's campaign with the group stage clash against France on June 11, while the BBC will show the middle group game against Sweden on June 15. ITV will close the pool stage campaign with the match against the Ukraine on June 19.

Should England make it out of the group games, the BBC will show the team's first knockout match as the corporation has the first and fourth quarter-finals, while ITV will get the second and third quarter-finals.

The BBC has secured exclusive rights to broadcast both semi-finals, while the final on July 1 will be shown simultaneously on BBC One and ITV1.

A daily highlights programme will also be aired on every match day during Euro 2012, and the BBC has the rights to provide "extensive coverage" on its radio channels.

BBC head of TV sport Philip Bernie said: "The BBC is delighted to be showing the UEFA European Football Championship, a huge football event, which, along with the London Olympics, should ensure a fantastic sporting summer for BBC viewers.

"We are very happy with the live matches on BBC One, as they give us a strong climax to the event, with both semi-finals, as well as England's quarter-final if they progress.

"We also have some very appetising group games, including England's second match, against Sweden, in peak time, Ireland's final match, against Italy, and heavyweight clashes between Holland and Germany and Germany and Portugal."

UEFA events marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein added: "UEFA is delighted to continue its relationship with the BBC and ITV, our traditional broadcast partners for the UEFA European Championships.

"We look forward to working with the UK's leading free-to-air broadcasters and are convinced that they will provide fans in the UK with an exceptional depth of coverage of the tournament across all media platforms."

The BBC will also broadcast various matches not featuring England, including Ireland's group game against Italy, and Holland versus Germany.

ITV has picked up some potentially audience pleasing ties, such as Ireland's group clashes against Spain and Croatia, along with Spain versus Italy and Portugal versus Holland.

Niall Sloane, ITV controller of Sport, said: "Major events such as the Euro 2012 Championships have huge significance for our viewers and attract some of the biggest audiences on television. I'm delighted that ITV has secured an outstanding selection of games through the tournament which includes England's opening game against France as well as a potential peak time group decider against hosts Ukraine.

"ITV1 will also be the home of some terrific clashes between the top teams in Europe including Spain vs Ireland, Spain vs Italy, Portugal vs Holland and Ireland vs Croatia."

[tammyy2j]

The England squad has been announced and as usual there is a mix of shock inclusions, big name absentees and poorly kept secrets with much of the squad being known at least a day in advance. There has been plenty of speculation about who would be included and we now know who can help justify the England Euro 2012 odds and who can’t.

Potentially the biggest decision for Roy Hodgson was who to leave out from Rio Ferdinand and John Terry with the pair apparently unable to play together and Roy Hodgson has selected Terry (despite rumours last week he’d be left out) with Ferdinand’s injury record seemingly counting against him. Another huge decision for Hodgson was whether or not to take Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and it seems Hodgson has been brave here deciding to take the youngster who will be the youngest member of England’s squad.

John Ruddy was perhaps the biggest surprise to be included in the squad but it isn’t a significant decision as Joe Hart is the clear first choice and Rob Green looks set to be second choice in goal. Micah Richards was left out of the squad despite Kyle Walker missing out through injury, that means Glen Johnson looks the first choice right back with Phil Jones the only other squad member to be able to play there. In other squad news Steven Gerrard has been confirmed as the new England captain by his manager Roy Hodgson.

England not only have some relatively new squad members but they also of course have a new manager. He has performed well as manager of both Fulham and West Brom in recent years but even guiding Fulham to the Europa League final doesn’t seem to match his biggest achievement of getting Switzerland to third in the FIFA rankings after just 18 months in charge. It would be a great achievement if he could do the same with England, even though this team has many more stars than the Switzerland team from the early nineties.

The bookies are usually shortening England at every opportunity just before a major tournament but expectations are as low as they have ever been in many people’s memories. The England odds are even lower than there were before the squad announcement with a couple of bookies having pushed England out a point following the release of the squad list. England are now only just ahead of France and Italy in the Euro 2012 odds, still behind the likes of Spain, Germany and Holland. Those odds still suggest that England should reach the semi finals as England are the fourth favourites and that would certainly represent a pretty successful summer for England as it would be their best performance since Euro ’96.

The full squad is Joe Hart (Man City), Robert Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City), Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).

[Katy]

No Micah Richards is ridiculas, the guys like a tank, hes had the season of his life and hes left at home! Can play CB CM or RB whereever hes needed, it makes no sense.

Oh well im not that fussed!

Euro 2012 is al about the boys in green and the rocky road to poland

[tammyy2j]

Well starts today

Germany are my favs to win