Euro 2012

With some extra time to relax this Christmas weekend and no games until Boxing Day, I can catch up on some posts that I’ve been meaning to write. I’m of course very much focused on FC Nurnberg, Newcastle United, and Oxford United, but outside of these three clubs and their respective league games and cups there’s of course much more going on in the football world. The largest non-league event is of course the Euro 2012 tournament.

I think it was about a month and a half ago that they had the final playoff games to determine the final teams to round out the 16 that make up the final tournament. Although I normally cheer on Germany (having 98% German background), I was cheering on Ireland (that last 2% of me is Irish) to make it through the extra playoff round and into the final 16. (Germany had already qualified anyway.) Luckily, Ireland managed to handily fend of Estonia and locked in their place for the final tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

After being left mistakenly out of the 2010 World Cup and having been hit hard by the recent economic downturn, making the Euro 2012 tourney meant a lot to Ireland. There is a good write-up on ESPN’s SoccerNet that you can read here. (You may also enjoy the first section of this article, detailing how one Irishman earned his seat for the second match between Ireland and Estonia match.)

Earlier this month, they then had the final draw to set the groups for the Euros. Group A, which is probably the weakest group, places together the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland (automatically qualifying as hosts), and Russia. Group B is being hailed as this tournaments “Group of Death” as it contains Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, and Portugal. Another tough group is Group C groups Croatia, Ireland, Italy, and Spain together. Group D then has England, France, Sweden, and Ukraine (also automatically qualifying as hosts).

I feel confident that Germany should get through group play even in their tough group. They are being hailed as the favorites as they have been very dominant in international friendlies and in the Euro 2012 qualifying. My concern however lies with my other favorite, Ireland. I think they can beat Croatia, are probably on par with Italy, and would lose to Spain. That’s basically a win, a draw, and a loss, which would not be an automatic move through to the quarter-finals. If they could beat Italy and draw with Spain they would be much better off.

I should mention that I have ulterior motives for the Irish to get through group play as I may be in Ireland during the later stages of the Euros. It would just be amazing to be in a pub in Ireland, enjoying a pint, and watching the game with rowdy Irishmen and women. Ireland may need some luck to get past group play, so it’s good that Ireland is known for a bit of that.