Spain Looks Forward to Advance versus Republic of Ireland

SPAIN	Tournament Statistics (as of June 14, 2012)		REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
1	Goals Scored		1
9	Attempts On Target		5
9	Attempts Off Target		8
7	Corners		1
12	Fouls Committed		12
3	Yellow Cards		1
0	Red Cards		0
PREDICTED STARTING LINEUPS
Spain (4-2-3-1)		Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets; Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Torres
Ireland (4-4-2)		Given; Ward, Dunne, St Ledger, O’Shea; McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff; Walters, Keane

Spain (N) vs. Ireland Match Preview 

Date: June 15, 2012

Time: 2:45 AM (GMT +8:00)

GDANSK: The prospects of Group C teams have become more unpredictable after Republic of Ireland suffered a disappointing loss versus Croatia at 3-1. Spain and Italy stalled one another in a draw at 1-1, citing signals of stronger winning determination from both teams.

Spain’s duty as defending champion is to strengthen their defense in order to thwart any scoring attempt of Republic of Ireland – a feat which can determine La Roja’s defense of their championship title. Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, has to recoup from their fatal mistakes against Croatia which caused the Croat’s currently wide gap from the rest of Group C.

Previous Matches

The most recent match between Spain and Republic of Ireland was during the 2002 World Cup. The match was a closely-fought one at 1-1, only to be won by Spain via a penalty shootout.

Spain won all of their last 15 competitive games, including their 2010 World Cup championship title. They are also the champions of EURO 2008.

Republic of Ireland was unbeaten in 14 matches (both competitive and friendly). Their 3-1 loss to Croatia was their heaviest major tournament loss.

Pre-Match Developments

It is unsure whether Vicente Del Bosque will pit in Fernando Torres in Spain’s starting lineup after the striker failed to show competence during their match against Italy. Their six-man midfield against the Azzurri might be altered, although changes have yet to be announced.

Giovanni Trapattoni, on the other hand, is persistent with his current starting lineup. Despite his team’s poor performance versus Croatia, no changes have been announced on Republic of Ireland’s starters.

Spain-Republic of Ireland Predictions

Sports Statistics Information Centre

(as of June 14, 2012)

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Republic of Ireland is placed at a difficult time after their focus on strengthening their defensive and counterattacking techniques have been shattered by a solid Croatia. The Irish squad lacked strikers in their roster, thus they are faced with the challenge of how to shoot the ball inside the net.

Spain, on the other hand, has to return to playing formidable possession football, which helped them gain their 2008 EURO and 2010 World Cup championship titles. Their recent match against Italy was far from resembling their usual possessiveness of the ball, which became apparent when the Azzurri treaded comfortably on La Roja’s midfield.

Overall, Spain can expect a convenient win against the Republic of Ireland, especially if they choose to become more firm in their possessive playing approach. Spain can be countered with frustrations if Republic of Ireland strengthens their defensive play for this match. 

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Denmark meets up Portugal in 2012 European Championship

Portugal (N) vs. Denmark June 14, 2012 12:00am GMT+8

June 13, 2012 – for the fifth time after four years Denmark and Portugal will meet again I a competitive fight on Wednesday. This two teams have been drawn together and both qualify the 2010 world Cup and Euro 2012. Portugal was known for their qualifying through playoff while Denmark directly qualified for the finals from gaining more points.

This is the first of those five games that will be played at a neutral site, and based on the results of the last four games, this should add some serious unpredictability to the match. In World Cup qualifying, Denmark shockingly upset Portugal on the road, then drew them at home. In both of their Euro 2012 qualifying matches, the home side won.

Portugal played seventy odd minutes of defensive football against Germany, they set out their stall to be defensive and relied on Ronaldo creating something on his own up front but the one positive from the loss to Germany was once they went behind Portugal opened up and played football creating three guilt edged chances that should have been converted and should what they can do going forward. Hopefully the Portugese will be let off the leash from the start here against a dogged Denmark. In two games in qualifying for the tournament Portugal beat Denmark 4-1 at home but lost 2-1 away. This is an intriguing game and with the likes of Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Meireles, Pepe and Contreau there is plenty of talent here in this Portugal side and they know they must win.

Denmark pulled off the shock of the first round beating the Netherlands 1-0. While the Oranje dominated the game and created a heap of chances Denmark did defend well. Daniel agger the Danish captain is the rock at the back and will be the key player for Denmark in the marshalling of Cristiano Ronaldo who will play through the center. With Bendtner and Eriksen through the center this is a solid side built on hard work. Coach Olsen will look for more of the same agaisnt Portugal, play on the counter attack and hold a high solid defensive line. Ericksen wasnt great for me in the first game in the group but he is still young and it was hard for an attacking player as Denmark were defending for so long.

Possible Lineups

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GREECE TO FACE ZECH REPUBLIC AGAIN AFTER 8 YEARS

Czech Republic (N) vs. Greece LIVE 12:00 AM GMT+8 @ 12BET.COM

Group A makes its second match day foray into Euro 2012 action as Greece take on the Czech Republic on Tuesday June 12 at the Municipal Stadium Wroclaw, Wroclaw.

With Greece having churned out a 1-1 draw with Poland, and the Czech Republic having been thumped by Russia 4-1, there is plenty to play for going into this clash.

Having the more attacking potential, Greece and has the additional option of Dimitris Salpingidis, a substitute against Poland who came on to score the equalizer and win the penalty that was subsequently missed.

Undefeated in the tournament qualifiers and plucky winners eight years ago, Greece provides both inspiration to other small footballing nations and hope to its fans so in need of a sporting distraction.

Greece contributed admirably to the thrilling tournament opener and, in Giorgos Samaras and Theofanis Gekas, coach Fernando Santos has two frustrating yet proven goal scorers to call on. 

Playing for Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2010-2011 season, Gekas scored so many goals that his underrated team was in the top four of the top German league with around half all matches played. Then, mysteriously, he stopped scoring, and Eintracht was relegated.

However, Jaroslav Plasil and Petr Jiracek are part of a Czech midfield that should be able to dominate the central parts of the pitch. Plasil, in particular, is one to watch after setting up five of his side's first eight shots against Russia, according to Opta Sports.

Completing a tricky trio is Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky. Arsene Wenger, his club coach, when recently asked about Rosicky said simply, "I love Tomas Rosicky, personally, as a man and as a player."

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EURO 2012 MATCH 7 | France and England Meet Again in UEFA 2012

EURO 2012 MATCH 7 | France and England Meet Again in UEFA 2012 Live 12:00AM GMT+8

England (probable) : Hart, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Downing, Welbeck, Young.

France (probable) : Lloris, Debuchy, Mexes, Rami, Evra, Cabaye, Diarra, Malouda, Nasri, Ribery, Benzema.

There has been a 714-day wait between England's disappointing World Cup exit and their opening Euro 2012 game.

Much has happened since then - but most of it during the last six months. First there was Uefa's two-game suspension for Wayne Rooney as a result of his sending off in qualifying. Then, in February, Fabio Capello quit as head coach following the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy for a second time.

Most recently a spate of injuries has seen pundits and punters alike write Roy Hodgson's England off before the tournament has even begun. Can the new England manager and his class of 2012 change opinions on the pitch when it matters most?

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

·         France beat England 2-1 in their opening match of Euro 2004, the last competitive meeting between the two countries. Zinedine Zidane scored an injury-time double after Frank Lampard had headed England ahead.

·         Their only other European Championship finals meeting was a goalless draw in Malmo at Euro 92.

·         France are unbeaten in five matches against England (W4, D1), and have won the last three. Their last defeat was at Le Tournoi on 7 June 1997, when Alan Shearer scored the only goal.

France

·         Laurent Blanc could emulate Germany's Berti Vogts, the only man to win the European Championship as both player and coach (in 1972 and 1996).

·         Les Bleus have claimed just two points from six group matches at the last two major tournaments.

·         France scored 15 times in qualifying - Greece (14) are the only side at Euro 2012 who netted fewer. The Danes and the Czech Republic also scored 15, with the Czechs' tally including three play-off goals.

·         Karim Benzema has scored more goals (seven) and recorded more assists (five) than any other French player since Blanc took over.

·         In 202 minutes of football for France, Olivier Giroud has delivered three assists and scored one goal.

·         Only five players have featured in the Champions League and European Championship final in the same season. France could potentially add two more names to this group in the form of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda.

England

·         England have played in the most European Championships (seven) without managing to win the tournament. They have also been eliminated in the group stage four times, more than anyone else.

·         They have failed to win their opening match in all seven previous European Championships (D3, L4). They have lost the last two - 3-2 v Portugal in 2000 and 2-1 v France in 2004.

·         Manager Roy Hodgson has faced France once before in international football. His Switzerland side won 2-1 against them in a friendly match in Lausanne in May 1992.

·      Sixteen of the 19 goals that England have scored since the turn of 2011 have come in the opening hour.John Terry and Joleon Lescott have started just two games together for England - both wins against Andorra in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. 

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Russia Vs. Czech Republic, 2012 UEFA European Championships

According to the statistics, Russia has 56% sure of winning the play-off while Czech has 21%.

Jun 8, 2012 - Russia's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup was probably the biggest shock of that qualifying cycle. It was stunning enough that the surprise darlings of Euro 2008 were forced into a playoff, but to lose to Slovenia -- a nation of two million people where soccer is not the most popular sport -- was stunning. And this was before Slovenia's best current attackers were even first choice guys. It was a shocking collapse.

Now, Russia is back in a major finals with a lot to prove. They were drawn into a weak Group A and they're the clear favorites to win the group. The first team in their way is a spectacularly anonymous Czech Republic side. Most of the great players from the late 90's and early 2000's Czech teams that romped through every youth tournament in the world are gone, and they're left with Tomas Rosicky, Milan Baros, Jaroslav Plasil and a bunch of dudes from Viktoria Plzen.

If it wasn't for terrible injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere over the last couple of years, most people probably wouldn't be aware that Rosicky was still a thing. A lot of people are probably reading this right now, stunned that Baros is still a thing. Incredibly, Baros -- who transferred to Liverpool in 2002 -- is only 30 years old. He's still scoring for Galatasaray.

Other than those two and the always reliable, but never flashy Plasil, the Czech team won't be familiar to too many people. Their "Golden Generation" flamed out at the 2006 World Cup, and it's easy to forget that they even made Euro 2008. They didn't make the 2010 World Cup. The guys who have brought them back to respectability are solid, but unspectacular guys in their mid-20s playing outside of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. It's amazing that, in this day and age, a team that qualified for the European Championships is essentially unknown.

If you're looking for an underdog story or a piece about how the anonymous Czechs are dark horses, you've come to the wrong place. To get to this point, they had to beat a very bad Scotland team to second place in their group and then beat Montenegro in a playoff. Fans of Juventus, as well as general fans of industrious footballers, will be horrified to learn that the frequently-lethargic Mirko Vucinic was probably the hardest-working Montenegro player in that playoff tie. Seriously, the Czechs couldn't have had an easier road to this point.

Russia didn't exactly have a tough road to this point either. They were in a group with Ireland, but the other big threat to their spot was Armenia. Slovakia underachieved horribly in qualifying. Russia did not have to be at their best to get through to this stage and they might not have to be at their best to defeat the Czech Republic. Quite simply, they have the much better squad.

Why are half the players in this game from Zenit St. Petersburg or Viktoria Plzen?

That's a good question. If your follow-up question is "Who are Zenit St. Petersburg and Viktoria Plzen," then all I can say to you is, lol l2p noob. Both Plzen and Zenit participated in the UEFA Champions League this season and both teams take a lot of pride in developing domestic talent. Dick Advocaat has kept Zenit's entire midfield three together, and he'll probably put five Zenit players in his starting XI.

The Czechs might only start one Plzen player, but it wouldn't be surprising to see three Plzen players on the pitch together at some point. Also, all of Petr Jiracek, Jan Rezek and Vaclav Pilar, who no longer play for Plzen, had recent stints there. Plzen winger Milan Petrzela could be an important game-changing sub for Michal Bilek.

That meerkat-looking dude, I recognize him from somewhere. Who is he again?

That's Andrei Arshavin. He won the 2007-08 UEFA Cup with Zenit, then went on to star for Russia in Euro 2008. That helped him seal a transfer to Arsenal. He got off to a decent start there, but his last 18 months or so at Arsenal were very, very bad. They loaned him to Zenit. He looked pretty good there. He hasn't been at his best since Euro 2008, but don't be stunned if the little Meerkat brings his best stuff for his national team yet again on Friday.

Projected Russia Lineup (4-3-3): Igor Akinfeev; Yuri Zhirkov, Aleksei Berezutskiy, Sergei Ignashevich, Aleksandr Anyukov; Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Roman Shirokov; Andrei Arshavin, Aleksandr Kerzahkov, Alan Dzagoev

Projected Czech Republic Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; David Limbersky, Michel Kadlec, Tomas Sivok, Theodor Gebre Selassie; Tomas Hubschman, Jaroslav Plasil; Jan Rezek, Tomas Rosicky, Vaclav Pilar; Milan Baros

Monty the Psychic Metal Disk says: Czechoslovakia would have been a worthy opponent for mother Russia, but the Czech Republic are Czechoslovakia without all of the good players. The Russian who looks like a meerkat will rise again. Russia over Czech Republic 2-0.

source:

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3072012/czech-republic-vs-russia-euro-2012-uefa

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