Wednesday 20 June 2012

Euro 2012: Group winners England into the last eight




EURO 2012 QUARTER FINALS LINE-UP

TVDate/time (BST)
Venue
BBCThu 21 June, 19:45CZECH REPUBLIC 0-1 PORTUGALWarsaw
ITVSat 23 June, 19:45SPAIN v FRANCE Donetsk
ITVFri 22 June, 19:45GERMANY 4-1 GREECEGdansk
BBCSun 24 June, 19:45ENGLAND v ITALYKiev


ENGLAND exceeded expectations, topping Group D with seven points after victories over Sweden in Kiev and co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk.

Wayne Rooney made a scoring return against the Ukrainians, converting Steven Gerrard's centre for the only goal of the game.

Remarkably it was Rooney's first goal at a major tournament since Euro 2004 but it hardly tells the whole story of the match at the Donbass Arena.

Ukraine, requiring a win for a chance to progress to the quarter finals, started much sprightlier, controlling possession without doing too much to threaten Joe Hart's goal.

But the best chance of the half fell to Rooney who looked rusty as he steered a simple header wide in his first start for six weeks.

The Manchester United striker made amends shortly after half time when Gerrard's cross - his third assist of Euro 2012 - took two deflections to evade keeper Andriy Pyatov, and found Rooney about two yards out.

This time, the header was unmissable and Ukraine were now in deep trouble.

Nevertheless, with already-ousted Sweden leading France in the other match courtesy of a brilliant Zlatan Ibrahimovic volley, all hope was not lost for the hosts.

It showed as Ukraine launched a series of attacks on the England goal. First, Artem Milevskiy really should have done better with a header which was no further out than Rooney was for his goal.

But the big controversy came just a minute later when Ukraine were denied a clear goal in yet another 'over-the-line' incident in an England match.

The England backline was in trouble as soon as John Terry misread a through-ball to Marko Devic. Having advanced unchallenged from the halfway line, Devic pulled the trigger only for Hart to spread himself well.

Hart took the sting off the effort but the ball looped past him and towards the goal where Terry had made a frantic effort to make amends.

The former skipper appeared to have hooked the ball off the line but replays showed the whole of the ball had in fact crossed the whole of the line. Ukraine should have been level.

Moreover, there will be consequences for world football now. For a start, Uefa president Michel Platini's risk of using extra officials in lieu of goal-line technology has failed.

Quite frankly, what is the point of the goal-line officials if they could not see what happened last night?

At least world governing body has changed its stance on the matter with FIFA president Sepp Blatter stating on Twitter that technology was "no longer alternative but a necessity".

Meanwhile, England will claim that the error evens out the rick in Bloemfontein which denied Frank Lampard an equaliser against Germany at World Cup 2010.

Also, there was a suspicion of offside about the original through-ball - and it would be unfair on Roy Hodgson's team to suggest that the only reason they are in the quarter finals is down to luck.

Still, in-form Italy strikers Mario Ballotelli and Antonio Cassano will rip apart the defence on Sunday if it looks as open as it did in Donetsk, and also against Sweden.

Both Italians scored to complete a thoroughly miserable first tournament finals in 10 years for Ireland.

Giovanni Trapattoni's team lost all three group games and finished with a -8 goal difference, the joint worst in the tournament's history.

Cardinal sins - conceding early goals in all four halves against Croatia and Spain, and several goals from set-pieces - were committed and undermined what had been a fine effort by the Irish to qualify in the first place.

Several of the Irish players - including Robbie Keane, Shay Given and Richard Dunne - will now surely retire while former international Kevin Kilbane fears coach Trapattoni may also be on borrowed time.

 



GROUP-BY-GROUP: FIRST ROUND RESULTS/REVIEW


GROUP A
TVDate/time (BST)
Venue
BBCFri 8 June, 17:00POLAND 1-1 GREECEWarsaw
ITVFri 8 June, 19:45RUSSIA 4-1 CZECH REPUBLICWroclaw
ITVTue 12 June, 17:00GREECE 1-2 CZECH REPUBLICWroclaw
ITVTue 12 June, 19:45POLAND 1-1 RUSSIA Warsaw
BBCSat 16 June, 19:45CZECH REPUBLIC 1-0 POLANDWroclaw
BBCSat 16 June, 19:45GREECE 1-0 RUSSIAWarsaw

Group A tableWDLFAPts
CZECH REPUBLIC201456
*GREECE111334
RUSSIA111534
POLAND021232
Note: *GREECE finished above Russia based on head-to-head record (1-0)

Czech Republic
The Czechs did remarkably well to recover from a 4-1 humping in their opening game against Russia to win their final two matches against Greece, with two quick-fire goals from Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar inside six minutes. Credit must go to the defence for not crumbling again when Theofanis Gekas pulled one back for Greece, though the Czechs' real star has got to be Jiracek after he broke Polish hearts with 20 minutes left in the final group match.

Greece
Miraculous European Championships are nothing new to Greece and they also had to stage a recovery to qualify from Group A. First Dimitris Salpingidis scored as they came from behind with ten men to claim a point against Poland. Then, after losing to the Czechs, they landed a sucker punch against Russia with Giorgios Karagounis' goal in first half stoppage time, a half that had been dominated by the Russians.

Russia
Surely no team has started a tournament so well and still gone out in the first round. Russia won their first game 4-1 with a star performance from Alan Dzagoev and then looked to be making it two wins out of two when Dzagoev scored again to make it 1-0 against Poland. The Poles equalised, however, and a shock defeat in their last game to Greece was enough to put Dick Advocaat's men out on a head-to-head basis against the Greeks.

Poland
The hosts only have themselves to blame for not making it through to the knockout stage, or even winning a match. An opening goal from Robert Lewandowski, and a man to the good, in their first match really should have seen them start with a win but poor defending let ten-man Greeks equalise. Though Poland then fought back valiantly against Russia thanks to Jakub Blaszczykowski's superb strike, a single-goal defeat to the Czechs left the Poles with just two points from three games. Their coach, Franciszek Smuda, has resigned.


GROUP B
TVDate/time (BST)
Venue
BBCSat 9 June, 17:00NETHERLANDS 0-1 DENMARKKharkiv
BBCSat 9 June, 19:45GERMANY 1-0 PORTUGALLviv
ITVWed 13 June, 17:00DENMARK 2-3 PORTUGALLviv
BBCWed 13 June, 19:45NETHERLANDS 1-2 GERMANYKharkiv
ITVSun 17 June, 19:45PORTUGAL 2-1 NETHERLANDSKharkiv
ITVSun 17 June, 19:45DENMARK 1-2 GERMANYLviv

Group B tableWDLFAPts
GERMANY300529
PORTUGAL201546
DENMARK102453
NETHERLANDS003250

Germany
Only team with a 100% record in the group stages as three wins out of three and that makes it 13 out of 13 for Germany at Euro 2012 including qualifiers. Joachim Loew's men may have started slowly in scraping past Portugal in their opening game but the Germans would have taken huge pleasure in their 2-1 victory over Netherlands before they showed their best form in another 2-1 win over Denmark. Mario Gomez has scored three goals, including two against the Dutch.
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo finally showed his worth at a major tournament finals, scoring twice against Netherlands as Portugal took the runners-up spot in Group B. It had not started so well, after a single-goal defeat to the Germans, but a vital 3-2 win over Denmark - courtesy of a late winner by Silvestre Valera - set up the Ronaldo show in the final group game as Portuguese qualified with two wins out of three.  

Denmark
Made a brilliant start as Michael Krohn-Dehli scored a shock winner against the Dutch but the vital match was the middle one against Portugal. The Danes may have finished above their opponents in the qualifying group but that counted for nothing when, despite two earlier Nicklas Bendtner goals, Valera scored a late winner for the Portuguese. That left the Danes with a tough task against Germany and, while hope was restored when Krohn-Dehli equalised, the Germans were just too strong in the end. Denmark were, nevertheless, a credit to their long-serving coach Morten Olsen.

Netherlands
The same could not be said for the Dutch who lost all three games to head home without a single point. A bad start against the Danes was exacerbated by a 2-0 deficit at half time in the second game against Germany. Robin van Persie pulled a goal back with less than 20 minutes left but it was not enough to inspire a comeback. Still with a slim chance of progressing, the Oranje made the perfect start to the last game when Rafael van der Vaart scored early but Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired comeback sent the Dutch tumbling out amid purely predictable claims of a dressing room rift.


GROUP C
TVDate/time (BST)
Venue
ITVSun 10 June, 17:00SPAIN 1-1 ITALYGdansk
ITVSun 10 June, 19:45IRELAND 1-3 CROATIAPoznan
BBCThu 14 June, 17:00ITALY 1-1 CROATIAPoznan
ITVThu 14 June, 19:45SPAIN 4-0 IRELANDGdansk
BBCMon 18 June, 19:45CROATIA 0-1 SPAINGdansk
BBCMon 18 June, 19:45ITALY 2-0 IRELANDPoznan

Group C tableWDLFAPts
SPAIN210617
ITALY120425
CROATIA111434
IRELAND003190

Spain
Spain topped the group in the end, following up their 1-1 draw against Italy with two victories against Ireland and Croatia. But, while Fernando Torres looked to have found some form with two goals against the Irish, he found it much tougher going against Croatia who enjoyed the better chances and could have knocked out Vincent del Bosque's men with a single goal while it remained 0-0. Ultimately, Jesus Navas saved the day for the Spanish who continue to adhere strictly to the tiki-taka philosophy even though it looks more than a little unconvincing.

Italy
Unbeaten and through without too much controversy from striker Mario Balotelli. A fine effort from Antonio di Natale opened the scoring against Spain but, before the Azzurri could organise themselves to try and hold out for a big win, Cesc Fabregas quickly converted a well-worked equaliser. Italy's second match was also 1-1 but this time they took the lead thanks to a wonderful free-kick from the in-form Andrea Pirlo. Antonio Cassano and Balotelli made it four different scorers as Italy eased past the Irish 2-0 in the final game.

Croatia
Made a blistering start with Mario Mandzukic just too much to handle for the Irish. The Wolfsburg striker scored after just three minutes and, though Sean St Ledger equalised for Ireland, the Croats were back in front at the break through Nikola Jelavic and further ahead at the start of the second half after Mandzukic's second headed goal. He scored again against Italy as Croatia rescued a point, before they then had the best chances in their final match against Spain. Iker Casillas made several fine saves, however, and Navas' late effort was a disappointing way for Slaven Bilic's reign to end.

Ireland
Exited the tournament with the worst record in European Championship group stage history - no points and a -8 goal difference. It would be nice to say that it was a harsh judgement on the Irish but, unfortunately, this is not the case. Lessons from goals conceded at the start and end of the first half - and again at the start of the second half - against Croatia were not heeded as goals at the start of both halves of the game against Spain contributed to a 4-0 hammering. Although Giovanni Trapattoni's men kept it a bit tighter against Italy, the Boys in Green continued their other bad habit of conceding from set-pieces in a grim overall performance.


GROUP D
TVDate/time (BST)
Venue
ITVMon 11 June, 17:00FRANCE 1-1 ENGLANDDonetsk
BBCMon 11 June, 19:45UKRAINE 2-1 SWEDEN Kiev
ITVFri 15 June, 17:00UKRAINE 0-2 FRANCEDonetsk
BBCFri 15 June, 19:45SWEDEN 2-3 ENGLANDKiev
ITVTue 19 June, 19:45ENGLAND 1-0 UKRAINEDonetsk
ITVTue 19 June, 19:45SWEDEN 2-0 FRANCEKiev

Group D tableWDLFAPts
ENGLAND210537
FRANCE111334
UKRAINE102243
SWEDEN102553

England
Exceeded all expectations by topping Group D with seven points, though rode their luck at times. Roy Hodgson's men may have taken the lead against France - Joleon Lescott converting Steven Gerrard's cross - but played too deep and it was no surprise that the equaliser came quickly. A dramatic second match against Sweden saw England take the lead again as Andy Carroll was set up for a header by Gerrard - before the Swedes turned it around after half-time to lead 2-1. England kept their cool and Theo Walcott's introduction from the bench transformed the game again: first, the Arsenal winger scored a thumping drive from 20 yards then he set up Danny Welbeck who rolled the ball in with his heel. In the final match against Ukraine, the returning Wayne Rooney became the latest beneficiary of Gerrard's aerial delivery before the Three Lions held on with the aid of officials. 

France
Much was made of Les Bleus' long unbeaten record in the run-up to the championships but Laurent Blanc's men have failed to excite at Euro 2012. Needing a Samir Nasri goal to equalise against England, France produced a better performance in their second game, beating Ukraine 2-0 with goals shortly after half time from Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye. Their last group game was their worst, however, as they slumped meekly to a 2-0 defeat to Sweden, a result which means they must now play Spain in the quarter finals.

Ukraine
The co-hosts enjoyed the perfect start as Dynamo legend Andriy Shevchenko scored twice as Ukraine came from a goal behind to beat Sweden. Sadly, that form could not be continued into the second match as Ukraine went down 2-0 to France in a match that was interrupted by torrential rain and thunderstorms. And so it all came down to the last match against England. But, while Ukraine enjoyed most of the ball, it was England's Rooney who had the best chances. He scored with his second opportunity to put England 1-0 up but, to the disgust of Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin, the hosts were denied an equaliser from Marko Devic despite the ball clearly crossing the line.

Sweden
The Swedes had little to cheer in this tournament with only Ireland going out at the same stage after two losses in their first two games. In both matches, Erik Hamren's side were unable to hold a lead - they were 1-0 up against Ukraine thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Shevchenko inspired Ukraine's recovery, and 2-1 up against England after Olof Mellberg took advantage of poor defending. Still, the Swedes were tighter against France in a 2-0 win which will be remembered for Ibrahimovic's brilliant volley - the goal of the tournament so far.

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