2nd Poland 1pt
3rd Greece 1pt
4. Czech 0 pts
08/06/2012
Poland 1-1 Greece
Substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton was the hero for Poland in a dramatic European Championship opener in Warsaw in which both sides finished with 10 men.
Tyton came off the bench in the second half for the co-hosts after Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off for bringing down Greek substitute Dimitris Salpigidis.
Greece threw away three points in the Euro 2012 opener after Giorgos Karagounis saw his penalty saved
The reserve goalkeeper promptly saved the resulting spot-kick from Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis to ensure the points were shared in a wonderfully entertaining match in Group A at the National Stadium.
Poland will be kicking themselves, however, after throwing it away having gone in at half-time with a one-goal lead and with Greece down to 10 men after defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off harshly for two innocuous yellow cards.
The Poles, who began the game with swaggering intent in front their home fans, had dominated the first half.
It was no surprise when Robert Lewandowski gave them the perfect start after 17 minutes, although the goal had as much to do with the poor positioning of Greek goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias as the sharpness of Lewandowski.
Chalkias found himself flapping his arms in no man's land to leave the Borussia Dortmund striker, who scored a hat-trick in the German cup final last month, to head home a swinging cross from Jakub Blaszczykowski. It was no more than the Poles deserved.
They were hungrier, quicker to the ball and seemingly desperate to prove that while they are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament they have a realistic chance of reaching the quarter finals at least.
In that 45 minutes the Greeks looked a shadow of the organised side who had gained a reputation for being tough to beat, having lost just one of 21 games under manager Fernando Santos.
In fact, the Poles would have been kicking themselves that they were not further ahead at half-time after Rafal Murawski, Maciej Rybus and Lewandowski all missed clear-cut chances.
Damien Perquis should also have scored when the ball fell to him in the penalty area but the Polish defender, in unfamiliar territory, drilled his shot wildly wide of the post.
Tyton came off the bench in the second half for the co-hosts after Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off for bringing down Greek substitute Dimitris Salpigidis.
Greece threw away three points in the Euro 2012 opener after Giorgos Karagounis saw his penalty saved
The reserve goalkeeper promptly saved the resulting spot-kick from Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis to ensure the points were shared in a wonderfully entertaining match in Group A at the National Stadium.
Poland will be kicking themselves, however, after throwing it away having gone in at half-time with a one-goal lead and with Greece down to 10 men after defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off harshly for two innocuous yellow cards.
The Poles, who began the game with swaggering intent in front their home fans, had dominated the first half.
It was no surprise when Robert Lewandowski gave them the perfect start after 17 minutes, although the goal had as much to do with the poor positioning of Greek goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias as the sharpness of Lewandowski.
Chalkias found himself flapping his arms in no man's land to leave the Borussia Dortmund striker, who scored a hat-trick in the German cup final last month, to head home a swinging cross from Jakub Blaszczykowski. It was no more than the Poles deserved.
They were hungrier, quicker to the ball and seemingly desperate to prove that while they are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament they have a realistic chance of reaching the quarter finals at least.
In that 45 minutes the Greeks looked a shadow of the organised side who had gained a reputation for being tough to beat, having lost just one of 21 games under manager Fernando Santos.
In fact, the Poles would have been kicking themselves that they were not further ahead at half-time after Rafal Murawski, Maciej Rybus and Lewandowski all missed clear-cut chances.
Damien Perquis should also have scored when the ball fell to him in the penalty area but the Polish defender, in unfamiliar territory, drilled his shot wildly wide of the post.
How will England do at the euros?
Losing players like Gary Cahill Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry to injury havent helped in the slightest and all this stuff about Rio Ferdinand has had a similar affect.
Roy Hogson has taken many un- experianced players to poland and Ukraine and many have question'd his squad selection including not taking Kyle Walker or Rio ferdinand also Grant Holt had a certain place on the plane in many peoples eyes. Players such as Jordan Henderson and Stewert Downing have been poor this season for Liverpool so taking them ahead of Players in the same position who where on good form last season came as a huge suprise the stats done lie Downing has scored 0 goals and made 0 assists this season. International quality?
In terms of the squad thats out there it doesnt seem to be going to bad the camp have put a zero tolerance on anything about players outside the camp mainly aimed at stopping all tjis Rio Ferdinand buisness and making the camp even more together whitch it sounds like they are. Certinatly when u listen to the interviews of Manager Roy Hodgson and Captain Steven Gerrard
Performances in the friendlies against Norway and Belgium have been ok but you whould expect england whould have to be a bit more attacking to do well in the Euro's but if some of our young stars such as Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck can shine aswell we might just have a part to play in what promises to be a great few weeks of football COME ON ENGLAND!
Roy Hogson has taken many un- experianced players to poland and Ukraine and many have question'd his squad selection including not taking Kyle Walker or Rio ferdinand also Grant Holt had a certain place on the plane in many peoples eyes. Players such as Jordan Henderson and Stewert Downing have been poor this season for Liverpool so taking them ahead of Players in the same position who where on good form last season came as a huge suprise the stats done lie Downing has scored 0 goals and made 0 assists this season. International quality?
In terms of the squad thats out there it doesnt seem to be going to bad the camp have put a zero tolerance on anything about players outside the camp mainly aimed at stopping all tjis Rio Ferdinand buisness and making the camp even more together whitch it sounds like they are. Certinatly when u listen to the interviews of Manager Roy Hodgson and Captain Steven Gerrard
Performances in the friendlies against Norway and Belgium have been ok but you whould expect england whould have to be a bit more attacking to do well in the Euro's but if some of our young stars such as Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck can shine aswell we might just have a part to play in what promises to be a great few weeks of football COME ON ENGLAND!
Euro 2012 Coverage
We will be putting match reports of some games here on our website and match updates on our Facebook and Twitter Pages we will be especially looking at our home nations England and Ireland
My Euro 2012 prediction
Winners
Germany
'The spanish arent as good as they where two years ago players like Xavi are starting to tire the germans have a great togeterness and some fantastic players in their squad thats why im backing them"
Runners up
Spain
Despite recent little problems appearing they still have the quality to get to the final but i think the Germans will edge them"
Suprise Package
Croatia
"noone seems to be speaking about Croatia as possible contentars but if players like Niko Krancjar Luka Modric and Nikica Jelavic can shine surely they at least have a chance although their group is tough"
Germany
'The spanish arent as good as they where two years ago players like Xavi are starting to tire the germans have a great togeterness and some fantastic players in their squad thats why im backing them"
Runners up
Spain
Despite recent little problems appearing they still have the quality to get to the final but i think the Germans will edge them"
Suprise Package
Croatia
"noone seems to be speaking about Croatia as possible contentars but if players like Niko Krancjar Luka Modric and Nikica Jelavic can shine surely they at least have a chance although their group is tough"
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