Euro 2012: Day 1 Thread

[Duty281]

So four years since Spain sank the Germans 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final, Euro 2012 will begin with two matches from Group A:

Poland v Greece (17:00 KO, BBC 1)
Russia v Czech Republic (19:45 KO, ITV 1)

I'm going to say Poland to win 2-0 and a 1-1 draw between Russia and the Czech Republic.

[Crimey]

I think Greece will win 1-0, to spoil the day for the Polish and Russia will beat the Czechs 2-0.

[bretmeharty]

Poland 2-1 Russia 1-0

[spencerclarke]

Poland 1 Greece 1
Russia 1 Czech Rep 0

[Liam]

Poland 1-1 Greece

Russia 2-1 Czechs

[mystiroakey]

poland 2-2
russia 2-0

[JamesLincs]

very excited. even though poland vs greece might well be the smallest game, in terms of high profile players, im still excited to watch this and the opening ceremony.

think ive gone 2-1 poland and 1-1 between russia and the czechs

[GG]

Poland 1-0
2-2

[Bull]

Poland 1-0

Russia 1-1

[mystiroakey]

a couple picked the 1-1 . Well done . i got the draw mind, and that is part of my multiplier

[Guest]

Early on it looked as though Poland were going to polarize them but fair play to the Greeks, they dug in. Not a bad opener.

[Duty281]

Good first game then for the neutral but a game full of errors:

1) Greece keeper Kostas Chalkias gets nowhere near a cross and hands a goal to Lewandowski on a plate.

2) Two harsh yellows equal a red for Sokratis Papastathopoulos; poor refereeing from the Spaniard.

3) Poland keeper Wojech Szczesny gets nowhere near a cross and hands a goal to Salpingidis on a plate.

Good performance by Greece and a good gallant fightback in a game which they could have won despite being down to 10 men and having a shocker of a first half. Didn't see much of the much-hyped Lewandowski apart from the goal and Poland were pretty poor after a good opening half-hour. Long-term, Poland's chances of making it out of the group look slim now with games against the Czechs and the Russians coming up.

1 down, 30 to go!

[Hero]

The young Greek centreback Papadopolous that came on did very well, replace a centreback and then see the other one sent off to then be that composed at the age of 20 and limit the Poles to hardly any chances at all was very good.

[Crimey]

Poor decision by the referee though with the first red card, neither were yellow cards Hopefully the other matches don't follow with similar lines of refereeing.

Good match overall though. Poland impressed at the start, but it became apparent that perhaps that was just the fact that they were at home pushing them on as Greece showed their quality. In the end the Greeks probably deserved to win.

[Duty281]

a couple picked the 1-1 . Well done . i got the draw mind, and that is part of my multiplier

Yep according to the 606v2 Sportsguru pool, 6 users picked 1-1 including your good self.

[mystiroakey]

oh yeah i did on guru! I thought i had as well, was about to check

[cremmer]

Quite an opening game! Poland should've buried the Greeks in the first half and then Greece should've won after the penalty. Gives the Czechs a real opportunity I think as I didn't fancy their chances until now

[Crimey]

I think Poland could struggle to get out, you'd fancy both Czechs and Russia to beat them.

[Guest]

Be interesting to see the Czechs because they appear to be getting written off without even kicking a ball. They have an excellent record at this tournament.

[Crimey]

I think they'll go through with Russia.

[Duty281]

Russia barely been in the game for the first quarter of a hour yet they get the first goal.

[Guest]

Pretty clinical finishing by the Russians. This could be a beating.

[Crimey]

Czechs look okay unlucky to be two down, Russia look very good. But it will be interesting to see how Russia would cope against a Germany, Netherlands or Spain.

[Liam]

All I need now is a late Czech goal and my predictions will be spot on! C'mon Rosicky and co!

[Duty281]

2-0 HT. In fairness, Russia could be 3 or 4 up. If they maintain this level of performance, expect them to notch up 9 out 9 in the group and a probably Quarter-Final with Holland which would be brilliant!

[Crimey]

I predicted 2-1 to Russia, so will be supporting the Czechs until they score a goal.

[mystiroakey]

yep i have 2-1 in sports guru - so im with ya

[Liam]

Good man Crimey

I agree Duty, Czech's are lucky not to be completely out of it. However, goals change games and if the Czechs can get a goal, most likely from a set piece where they have threatened few times, we'll see how this Russian team reacts when tested.

[Duty281]

I predicted 1-1 so come on the Czechs! I'll take a 2-2 draw. Doesn't look likely though, will probably end up 3-0.

[Liam]

That Dzagoev is living up to his billing. Good finish, nice couple of touches and stays right on the touch line to widen the play.

[Crimey]

2-1, let's hope it stays like this. Not likely though.

[Liam]

YEESSS 2-1, right, no more goals please. I said a goal could change it, will be interesting to see how the Russians react.

[Duty281]

2-1, the Czechs right back in it!

[Liam]

Czechs are all over the place defensively. Every time Russia break forward, they have a 3 on 3 or a 4 on 4. Definitely more goals in this game and I got a feeling they'll be celebrated by the men in red.

[Duty281]

BANG! BANG! It's all over. 4-1 Russia.

[Duty281]

4-1 Russia full time. Impressive, clinical performance by them and are the first team to lay a marker down at this tournament. Should win all 3 games in their group. The Czechs will probably still get through but will need to up their game on Tuesday.

Lastly, what an opening day! 7 goals, 2 reds, 1 missed penalty!

[mystiroakey]

lol in the sports guru thing i am 1st out of 48

and also 6th out of 5440 players on the england fans bit

haha

[Guest]

Very impressed with the Russians.

[cremmer]

Impressive from Russia and I don't think the Czechs played that badly...Dzagoev is a beast!

[Liam]

Russians were clinical tonight but it was a poor Czech side who were so wide open at the back they were lucky it was just 4. Nevertheless a wins a win and if they can top the group which they should do now then they can carry that confidence through to the next stage and who knows.

[Crimey]

I don't think the Czechs played poorly, they were just too easily caught on the break.

[Guest]

I agree Crimey. When the Czechs got themselves back into the game it was not beyond the realms of possibility that they could have got an equaliser.

Russia were just very clinical. The Czechs are quite capable of winning their next two games.

[Liam]

The Czechs were fine going forward, but defensively they were very poor. Russia looked like scoring everytime they attacked because there were hardly any Czech's tracking back to help out.

[Crimey]

I think it was a case of Russia playing very well rather than the Czechs playing badly.

[Guest]

What is it with players like Andrey Arshavin and the like that under-perform at club level yet excel at international level? You see it all the time. A sense of belonging perhaps?

[mystiroakey]

yeah i agree crimey. Russia were immense. they had alot of invention out there. but ukraine wernt organised at all

However i think ukraine have shown more than greece or poland. But then was it greece killing the game.

[Guest]

yeah i agree crimey. Russia were immense. they had alot of invention out there. but ukraine wernt organised at all

However i think ukraine have shown more than greece or poland. But then was it greece killing the game.

Long day mystir? Only kidding fella!.

[mystiroakey]

long day---- moved into a new place, had to deal with serious work issues, watched 2 games of football and had to rush down the hospital to see my GF's dad who was taken there in an ambulancel!!

Also only just worked out what you meant and all. Sorry ukraine and czech

I hope the rest of the weekend is better.. but i have lost me sky and internet for the moment and am using a flaming 3g tehering device an all.

grrrrrrrr

[Guest]

long day---- moved into a new place, had to deal with serious work issues, watched 2 games of football and had to rush down the hospital to see my GF's dad who was taken there in an ambulancel!!

Also only just worked out what you meant and all. Sorry ukraine and czech

I hope the rest of the weekend is better.. but i have lost me sky and internet for the moment and am using a flaming 3g tehering device an all.

grrrrrrrr

Now that's what I call a busy day! Hope the GF's dad is okay? 3g is evil mate, I feel your pain!

[mystiroakey]

Yeah he is gonna be Ok. ta.

I hate the 3g dude!!

[Sponsored content]