EURO 2021

Michal Bilek’s team, currently 29th in the FIFA ranking, will play for the fifth time in a row, for the title of the European Champion. The best result so far was the second place achieved in a debut performance in 1996. In the qualifying group the Czechs won only thirteen points which allowed them for finishing second behind Spain, which won all of their meetings. The Czechs played in the playoffs with Montenegro beating them twice 2-0 and 1-0. The goals scored in the qualifying games were scored by Tomas […]

Croatia, the tenth in the FIFA ranking, will participate only for the fourth time at the European Championship and will try to improve their best result which was the quarterfinal achieved twice. Croats took the second place in the qualifying group losing two points to the Greeks, the European Champions of 2004. In the playoffs they did not give any chance to the Turkish team by winning the first game 3-0 and the second ending with a goalless draw. A large impact on the game of the Croats will be […]

The Sons of Albion will play at the European Championship for the eighth time. The biggest success was a bronze medal in 1968. In their five-team qualifying group they quite easily took the first place against Montenegro with five wins and three draws. The English like the French, lost the last few big events. The resignation of Fabio Capello from the function of a coach a few months before the start of the Euro will not be helpful for them. The Italian coach could not respect the decision of the […]

World Cup vice-champions, on the second place after Spain in the FIFA rankings are one of the main favourites to win the European Championship. Two years ago in the World Cup final after extra time the Netherlands lost 0:1 to the Spanish. The team of Bert van Marwijk will play for the ninth time at the European Championship. The best result so far was the gold medal in 1988. In qualifying for the Euro 2012 the Oranje team won 27 of 30 possible points available. The brightest points of the […]

Star striker Robert Lewandowski on Friday criticised Poland coach Franciszek Smuda’s decision to axe midfielder Slawomir Peszko from the Euro 2012 co-hosts’ squad after a drink-fuelled dispute with a taxi driver. “Slawomir was fined by his club, and it should have stopped there,” Lewandowski, who has questioned Smuda’s tactical choices in the past, said in an interview with the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. “It makes no sense to have axed him from our team,” he added. Like Lewandowski, who is on course to win a second consecutive Bundesliga title with Borussia […]

Numerous sites in Poland and Ukraine begin to display the symbol of Inclusive Zones contributing to a friendly multi-cultural atmosphere at EURO 2012. Schools, NGOs, local authorities, cultural institutions, community centres, sports clubs as well as businesses, shops and pubs have all been invited to join the initiative. The Inclusive Zones initiative is a part of the multi-faceted ‘RESPECT Diversity – Football Unites’ project in frames of the official UEFA EURO 2012 Social Responsibility programme. The project is delivered on behalf of the FARE network by by its long-established regional […]

The Czech team coach Michal Bilek announced on Wednesday that it already knew the names of 18 of 23 players who will play at this year’s European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. Czech Republic will be one of the group competitors of Poland. “I already have 18 names in my head that I think are the certs. The team may include 23 players and this number will go for the May grouping to Austria” – said the coach at a meeting with journalists in Prague. He said that he had […]

The team led by Laurent Blanc will start in the European Championship for the eighth time. The best results were two victories in this event in 1984 and 2000. Les Bleus will face in their group with the teams of England, Sweden, and Ukraine, the tournament co-host. France can certainly be regarded as the favourites, not only of this group but also of the entire Championship especially since Les Bleus will want revenge for the last two major tournaments in which they had to say goodbye already in the group […]

European championship favorite is Spain. Poland is among the group of teams that should gain promotion to the quarter-finals – said in Warsaw Joachim Loewthe, German national team coach. German coach – just like other coaches of the participants of the Euro 2012 – on Thursday took part in a two-day organizational workshops before the tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Similar meetings are held before all great events. In addition to the coaches there are also team managers, team doctors and security and transport officers. – Our minimal goal during […]

Michel Platini, the President of UEFA, praised Poland and Ukraine for the way they prepare for the championships, which are to be held on June 8. He added that the tournament would be the economic incentive for both countries in times of financial crisis. Platini said that the Euro 2012 would be a “great festival of football and would open up many opportunities for sport in its difficult time”. He also added that he was impressed by the efforts the inhabitants of both countries had put in preparation of the […]