The Euro 2012 draw will take place tomorrow, Friday December 2 at 12 noon EST, live on ESPN News and ESPN3.com for those of us in the US. The pots are as follows: Pot 1-Poland (A1), Ukraine (D1), Spain, Netherlands Pot 2-Germany, Italy, England, Russia Pot 3-Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden Pot 4-Denmark, France, Czech Rep, Ireland The draw will start with pot 1 to place Spain and the Netherlands in position B1 or C1. Then it will move on to pot 4. The first team pulled out of the bowl will go to group A with Poland and a second draw will determine its position (A2, A3 or A4). The process will be repeated for the other three teams in pot 4. Then it's on to pot 3 followed by pot 2. Of course, it would be great if we could avoid Spain or the Netherlands, but if we do draw one of them, then position B4 or C4 is what we want (we'd play them on the last group match day when they might already have qualified). Otherwise, I know everybody's dream group would be Poland/Ukraine - Russia - Greece - France. Personally, I wouldn't mind drawing England or Italy from pot 2 and other than Portugal, there's no real scary team in pot 3. I'll go with Ukraine (D1) - England (D2) - Greece (D3) - France (D4) as my preferred draw. The nightmare draw, which everybody's talking about, would be Spain/Netherlands - Germany - Portugal - France. If that happens, I give us a 20% chance absolute maximum to come out of the group.
Did a mock draw for fun and we're in group D: Ukraine (D1) - France (D2) - Germany (D3) - Sweden (D4) I'll take it
Group D: Ukraine - Sweden - France - England We open against England on June 11. I wasn't too far off on my mock draw
Liking the group, love having England first. What a way to kick off the tourney for us. We got a good chance of getting out of this one too. Rest of groups: GROUP C Spain, Croatia, Republic of Ireland and Italy GROUP B Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Germany GROUP A Poland, Greece, Czech Republic and Russia
what is your likely starting XI for Euro 2012? Lloris Sagna Mexes Abidal Evra Gonalons M'Vila Nasri Gourcuff Ribery Benzema Any chance of something like that?
I'll have to come up with my idea for a lineup but Jeremy Menez and Adil Rami will probably be in the starting 11. Rami has a great partnership with Mexes. Evra? Not so sure. I really hope for the best for Gourcuff but he has to prove himself just to make the list of 23.
Hi, guys! I haven't been here in a while. I'm pleased with the draw. It's been said that winning the European Championships is harder than the winning the World Cup because there tends to be a lot more parity between participants. There was a possibilty that we could have been drawn in the same group as Germany, Spain, and Portugal, so I'm glad that didn't materialize. France will start all three group games with a distinct psychological advantage. They have developed a habit of beating England in recent years, haven't lost to Sweden since 1968, and have never lost to the Ukraine. Out of all the big name players the French backline will face in the group stage next summer, the one who worries me the most is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His size and skills make him a real handful. France-England will be very special because of all the French players who ply their trade in the EPL. England have been mentioned as possible tournament dark horses by no less an authority than Arsene Wenger, but I fear that they lack the necessary guile to make a significant impact at the finals. It is important that between now and the first game on June 11th that Blanc's men guard against overconfidence and forge a real identity, something which I think puts us a tier below the likes of Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands...
starting 11 for the EURO 2012 CAPTAIN : MEXES [LINEUP-4-5-1] Benzema, Ribery, Ménez, M'Vila, Nasri, Gourcuff, Mathieu, Rami, Mexes, Debuchy, Lloris, [/LINEUP-4-5-1] Ruffier Giroud Gameiro Martin Valbuena Sakho Réveillère Abidal Mandanda Griezmann Flamini Rémy EAT YOUR HEART OUT MR BLANC!~~
I love it!! And Mexes is who I was leaning toward for captain. At this point I would find a place for Cabaye (probably at the cost of your beloved Flamini..sorry).
Yes but Blanc has said he will be naming a captain before the tournament. I believe Lloris has been awarded the armband by default until a new captain is found.
I prefer Réveillère from Debuchy. By cons, in your team, I do not Nasri and Menez. I do not like these players! I want two strikers! [LINEUP-4-4-2] Benzema, Gomis, Malouda, M'Vila, Gourcuff, Rémy, Abidal, Rami, Mexes, Réveillère, Lloris,[/LINEUP-4-4-2]
That's one of the things that I think is missing from this current team -- a lack of true leaders. I like Mexes a lot. He seems to be a little bit more vocal than some of the others.
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