This just in! Spain vs. Italy finals for Euro 2012

WOW!!! Just wow!! After a rousing month of football, Euro 2012 will end this Sunday with a finals between Spain and yes...Italy! Who'd have thought!! Spain the early favourites, secured their space, after defeating Portugal 0-0 (4-2 pen), Cesc Fabregas to score the winning penalty, as he did in 2008 against Italy. Who would then think that Italy would be sitting pretty in the finals? After what some would call an upset, some thinking Germany might have steamrolled Italy, Italy would defeat Germany 2-1, Mario Balotelli scoring 2 GREAT goals to seal it. FANTASTIC!!!

So there you have it!!!!! SPAIN vs. ITALY!!! in the finals of EURO 2012! WONDERFUL!!!!

Next match... The finals

Sunday July 1, 1:00pm with Pre Match coverage, Match time 1:45

Be there or disappear. It's what the world will be talking about!!

Adios! Salute!!

Lis

Semi finalists for Euro 2012 decided

HOT OFF THE PRESS!! Italy wins on penalties (4-2) against England to secure their place in the semi finals. But Italy weren't the only ones. Last week Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, St. Iker Casillas and Spain and Phillip Lahm and Germany also secured a place in the final four.

As it stands, the next match up are as follows:

Portugal vs. Spain in a clash of the Iberian peninsula, the Iberian derby and
Germany vs. Italy, which will prove to be an epic encounter.

Who do you think will be in the finals??? I'm excited!

Remember there are no matches tomorrow or Tuesday

Next match up
Wednesday June 27, 2012 1:30pm Spain vs. Portugal

Round of 8 decided: UEFA Euro 2012

People, people, people! It is finished and it has been decided!!! The round of 8, the quarter finals, after some great matches, had been decided. Here it goes:

Czech Republic vs. Portugal
Germany vs. Greece
Spain vs. France
England vs. Italy.

Group Leaders: Group A: Czech Republic, Group B: Germany, Group C: Spain, Group D: England.

Its been a great tournament so far and looking forward to some more stellar matches.

Remember, there is no football tomorrow!

Next Match.
Thursday, June 21, 2012, 1:30pm:  Czech Republic vs. Portugal

Who do you think has it? Cristiano and the Portuguese or Cech and the Czechs?

I think it could go either way, so i'm excited!!!

See ya then!

Lis.

The giants draw while Shevchenko writes Ukraine's Show Stopping Premiere

The final day of the opening stages of the UEFA Euros 2012, would be a wonderful day of football. The first match up of group D would start out with England vs. France. A game some thought would be difficult for England, given its recent selection controversies and missing key players like Rooney and Lampard really wasn’t so bad after all. While France would dominate, England would defend their hearts out, capitalize on a few errors and gladly settle with a 1-1 draw with the French at the final whistle. The Ukraine vs. Sweden match would be more than eventful, more than exciting, amazing in fact! Major Oppounities strewn in the 1^st half and great chance to capitalize, but the 1^st half would end a square 0-0. The 2^nd half? Utterly golden! Remarkable! Early half goal for both teams, Shevchenko and the Ukraine to steal the whole thing winning 2-1! Ukraine’s 1^st ever Euros! What a start!

Here’s a glimpse of what happened between France and England:

Both teams came out pressing, playing well. The 1^st real opportunity would come for England. With an open goal for England to score, Milner fails to hit the target, stabbing it into the side netting. Lost opportunity to put England 1 up.

England’s sighs wouldn’t last too long. Minute 29, Lescott scores from a header off a spectacular Steven Gerrard free kick.

France would try to get back in it. Minute 34, Diarra for France takes a go at it. Joe Hart, England’s keeper does well to deny the equalizer.

It would be soon before long for France. Samir Nasri!!! Sami stabs home a long range effort for France, for the equalizer.

Half time France 1-1 England.

The second half would be less eventful. Both teams figuring each other out enough to shut down their opportunities.

Minute 63: Karim Benzema tries to steal it for France with a long range effort. Joe Hart would not be caught.

Full time England 1-1 France.

The Ukraine vs Sweden match up, boring on paper would be anything but. Opportunities’ wagon turned over, the spoils waiting to be capitalized on.

Here’s a bit how that went:

Both teams would have a tonne of opportunities, though Ukraine would have better breaks.

Best opportunity in the 1^st half for Ukraine would come in the 23^rd minute for Shevchenko. His shot goes just wide!

Best opportunity for Sweden in the 1st would come from no one else but Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who heads a try away, it goes just off the post.

Half time Ukraine 0-0 Sweden.

The second half would be just spectacular!

Minute 51, Ibrahimovic of Sweden would open scoring up with a smart, sensational shot.

NOT SO FAST SWEDEN! Just 3 minutes later in minute 54, Shevchenko of Ukraine would equalize!

If it wasn’t going to be these guys, I don’t know who it was going to be.

Minute 61: Its Shevchenko again!!! GOAL!! Beautiful header! Ukraine now 1 goal up!

Ibrahimovic would try for the equalizer in the 76^th minute. His shot is on target! Ukraine’s goal keeper makes a worthy save!

Sweden would fail to get back in it.

Full time: Ukraine 2-1 Sweden.

Great games! Ukraine vs. Sweden probably the best of the competition so far!

Next match ups:

Tuesday June 11 10:45am Czech Republic vs. Greece

Tuesday June 11 1:30pm Poland vs. Russia

Enjoy!!

Lis

St. Iker and the Irish flop: Day 3 Euro 2012

Day 3 of the Euros 2012 didn’t disappoint! Fantastic games featuring Spain vs Italy and Ireland vs Croatia. The match up featuring Spain and Italy, decent goals, decent skill, excellent saves and ended a fair 1-1. The only shocker of today was Ireland’s utter spanking by Croatia. Ireland goes down 3-1.

Here’s a few highlights from the Spain vs Italy clash:

Both teams would start out playing well. Spain with an interesting formation of no identifiable strikers.

In the 19^th minute, Italy would try to open it up. Iker Casillas has to make a wonderful save to deny them.

Both teams continue to press, unable to break down each other’s defence.

43^th minute Iniesta tries a shot to trick the keeper. It goes over the bar.

44^th A brilliant header by Motta of Italy,  an even more brilliant save by Iker Casillas!

Half time Italy 0-0 Spain.

Both teams came out starting out positively.

2 opportunities for Spain from Iniesta and Fagregas.

51^st minute, after a mistake from Sergio Ramos, the ball is taken by Balotelli of Italy. One on one with Casillas, Balotelli goal gazes a bit too long and is disposed by Ramos in the box.

In the 60^th minute, Di Natale, subbed in for Balotelli, pills the trigger for Italy. GOAL!!

Italy’s triumph would not last long. In the 63^rd minute, Cesc Fabregas of Spain would make a perfectly timed run, resulting in a goal.

74 th minute Torres gets a golden ball, the Italian keeper does well to tackle it from him.

Full time Spain 1-1 Italy.

The second game, which some thought might be a drag, was in fact just the opposite. An Irish spanking by a Croatia I don’t think anyone saw coming.

Here’s a little view:

Minute 2:44 Croatia opens up scoring by  Mandzukic. A mistake by the Irish keeper who was very indecisive. Fastest goal of the tournament so far!

Minute 18: Sean St. Ledger of Ireland equalizes! Game on!

The pressure would not be off Ireland for long. Minute 22 Ireland’s keeper has to make a good save from distance.

Just before the half, minute 42, Croatia scores again! Jelavic!

Half time, Ireland 2-1 Croatia.

Minute 48: Goal for Croatia again. Mandzukic again!

After several opportunities for Ireland, headers on end going to Andrews, It’s all over people!

Full time Ireland 1-3 Croatia.

Brilliant match ups!

Next match ups

Monday June 10 England vs France 10:45am

Monday June 10 Ukraine vs Sweden 1:30pm

Be there!

Lis

Group of Death not looking so lethal: An upset and late goal

Day 2 of the Euros wasn't what I expected. I was expecting goals, cards and controversy. What I got was slightly underwhelming in terms of goals, but not in excitement. While both matches were excellent, both would produce an astounding 2 goals ONLY, from a truck load of opportunities. The victors, Denmark (a bit of a shocker) coming out of the clash with the Netherlands and Germany, against a decent looking Portugal, headed by golden boy Cristiano Ronaldo.

Here's a few Highlights from the Denmark vs Netherlands clash

Both team would start off well. The Netherlands however with the lion's share of the possession.

Despite this, after several squandered chances by the Dutch, in minute 23, Krohn- Dehli of Denmark opens up scoring.

In minute 35, Arjen Robben of the Netherlands would try to equalize. His shot hits the post. Having Van Persie to his left, perhaps a selfish shot?

The Netherlands go to half time 1 down.

Several chances would break for the Netherlands in the first 8 minutes of the second half. Attempts by Van Persie, Van Bommel and Affelay. Nothing results!

In the 73th minute Huntelaar, brought on the breathe new life, finds himself in the box to break for the Dutch. The Danish keeper however is quick to collect the ball, he then loses it and is in the process fouled, voiding Van Persie's follow up attempt.

Despite all of the possession and opportunities, the match ends full time Denmark 1-0 Netherlands. The Danes stealing 3 points in the first real upset of the Euros 2012.

The Portugal vs Germany match was one that left the fans upset, glad, mad, cursing, on the edge of their seat, hands in the air. Plenty of opportunities and close calls.

Here's a few highlights.

Both teams started out brightly. Both playing hard and defending and creating opportunities. Pretty equally matched. Not quite the Portuguese massacre people had predicted.

Up until the 44th minute both teams were square. However, in this minute, Pepe hit a wonder strike to attempt to open up scoring. The ball hits the post and bounces on the line. The ball doesn't cross! No goal! Portuguese fans are up, pulling their hair in disbelief, urging their team onward!

Half time Portugal 0-0 Germany.

At the very start of the second half, Germany would be out the gates, guns blazing in a spectacular series of attacks. Portugal would do well to resist them.

In the 72nd minute, Portugal could no longer deny what seemed inevitable. Mario Gomez of Germany scores a text book header.

Portugal would spend the remainder of the match trying to equalize, the best opportunity coming in the 87th minute. Close but no cigar.

Full time: Germany 1-0 Portugal

Wonderful day of football!

Next match ups

Sunday June 10 Spain vs Italy 10:45 am

Sunday June 10, Croatia vs Ireland 1:30pm

See you there!

Lis.

Red Cards, Penalty, Controversy and Goals Galore: Euro 2012 starts off HOT HOT HOT!!

Surely no one thought the 1st day of the Euros would be so exciting and BOY! did it not disappoint. The day started off with Poland v.s Greece, a game racked with cards and controversy.


Here's a little how it went:


The game started off a little slowly, but in minute 16, Lewandowski of Poland opens up scoring. Poland are up 1-0.


Minute 43, the landscape of the game changes when  Papastathapolous is sent off after another soft yellow card. Gone. HARSH! Greece are down to 10 men.


In added time, there is a handball in Greece's penalty area. The call is not given.


Greece are 1-0 at half time. Down to 10 men.


Greece would not be defeated! In minute 51. Greece equalizes!  Dimitris Salpingidis makes it 1-1


Minute 68 schezny, Poland's Goal keeper IS GONE!! Red card for a foul in the box and Penalty for Greece!


Minute 71  Sub keeper Tyton saves from Karagounis! WHAT A GAME!!


In minute 73 Greece finds the back of the net, but the goal is offside by a hair!


Full time Poland 1- 1 Greece. Both take away 1 point in the opener!




The following match between Russia and the Czech Republic would be much less exciting, but you couldn't tell from the scoreline. Russia 4-1 Czech Republic.


A few highlights from that game:


Minute 14, Russia opens up the scoring with Dzagoev scoring a beautiful goal.


Just shortly after in minute 23, Shirokov of Russia would add a second. Russia now 2 up.


Half time, Russia 2-0 Czech Republic.


The Czechs would not take it laying down! In minute 51, a cool finish by Pilar of the Czech Republic find them self back in the game. Score Russia 2-1 Czech Republic.


The Czech come back would last too long. In minute 78 Dzagoev of Russia scores again!


To add insult to injury, Pavyluchenko of Russia makes the score an interesting 4-1


Full Time Russia 4-1 Czech Republic.


WHAT A START!!  The Euros are off with a bang!! \0/


Next match ups: Group B: Group of death


Tomorrow Sat June 9 10:45 Denmark v The Netherlands
Tomorrow Sat June 9 1:45 Germany v Portugal


See you There!