In terms of emotion & quality football played, what was the best match of Euro 2012, the one you'd watch again??
A quick re-cap on the games then I'll rate some. I enjoyed the opener, a tale of two halves. Good action with Poland playing brilliantly and looking as though they could create some havoc in the group and perhaps the next round. Complexion changed completely in the 2nd half and if anything the Greeks deserved to win. Goal, another send off and saved penalty adding spice in the match. The next game was beautiful with the Russian's producing some great football and many missed opportunities. 2 good strikes late on secured the win topping off a great opening day of football. Holland vs Denmark was fantastic as the dutch dominated but went a goal down against the run of play. 2nd half more of the same but wasn't anything to write home about. Was memorable for the upset more for the match itself which was dominated by the dutch. Germany v Portugal failed to live up to expectation although the final 30 minutes or thereabouts the game opened up and there were some good chances. Especially for Portugal. The ending was exciting as the Iberians could and should have drew level. Enjoyed day 3 of the tournament. I think us Italians proved we could play some great football and weren't the team of 2010 with some creative brilliance by the Spanish. The Spaniards matched that creativity themselves and grafted some good chances with Torres squandering a couple towards the end. Match of the tournament so far for me as both displayed supreme world class football. Croatia vs Ireland had some great action in the first half after the Croats went ahead after barely 3 minutes. The Irish drew level after 18 minutes but the Croatians took the lead again to lead 2-1 at half time and Mandzukic headed his second of the game to capture a 3-1 Croatia win. Ireland denied a clear penalty in the seond half. Day 4 saw England take the lead after a superb free kick found the head of Julian Lescott and should have really made it 2-0 after a player shot wide in a one-on-one. Nasri's superb equaliser saw the French take control of the game and finished the better side in a one all draw. Ukraine vs Sweden was a good watch as Shevchenko struck two goals in a come from behind win for the Ukrainian's. Day 5 - The Czech Republic jumped Greece leading 2 nil after just 7 minutes. Greece pulled a goal back after a howler by Peter Cech reviving memories of 2008 where he cost his nation a side in the quarter finals after gifting Turkey a way back into the contest. The Czech's held on to win and Greece were left languishing at the bottom of the group where a meeting with Russia loomed to decide their fate. Russia themselves couldnt hold their 1-0 lead although they should have been given a penalty before they conceded to Poland. Poland equalised with one of the goals of the tournament and the match finished 1-1. Day 6 and an epic 3-2 Portugal win over Denmark put them back in cup contention after a late strike by substitue Varela after he barely came on. Bendtner's double cancelled out an opening header by Pepe and a brilliant finish by Postiga who met Nani's terrific cross. Ronaldo wasted severa very good chances in the match but Varela spared his blushes with his late rocket. Mario Gomez's double saw the Germans eclipse arch rival Holland, who before the tournament were touted by many as favourites to win the comp, 2-1 who now looked set to go out surprisingly after just two games. RVP's goal wasn't enough for Le Oranje but if they beat Portugal by 2 goals and had Germany beat Denmark they could still amazingly find a way through to the next phase. Day 7 - Italy played the best half of football in the tournament for me with 11 shots against Croatia and went to the break 1 nil up thanks to a master strike from playmaker Andrea Pirlo direct from the free kick. Matters changed in the second half and Croatia equalised through Mandzukic, his third of the tournament, helping secure a vital point for the Croats who kept their unbeaten record against the Azzurri well and truly in tact. Spain demolished Ireland with the most one sided result so far where Torres struck after just 3 minutes and a further 3 were put past a hapless Shay Given and Irish side. Spain once again completely dominated possession and the 4-0 scoreline empahtically reflected the pattern of the game. Day 8 - France sent an ominous warning to the competition after completely dominating the home Ukrainian side winning 2-0 with a quick brace. That warning would be quickly dispatched in the next game by Sweden who won 2-0 with a shout for goal of the tournament by Zlatan. Sweden were involved in another great game going down 3-2 to england after trainling, taking the lead then conceding two great goals to Theo Walcott and Ashley Young. One of the games of the tournament no doubt that yieled 5 goals with England emerging triumphant 3-2. Day 9 - The final group games where all 4 teams in group A could advance. Greece and Karagounis against all odds upset the highly fancied Russia 1-0 but the inspirational leader would wrongly get a yellow card after he was adjudged to have dived and subsequently miss the next game through suspension. Poland with a win before their home fans could advance to the next phase but were upset by a spirited Czech side as Jiracek scored his second of the tournament on 70 minutes to eliminate the more fancied Polish. Poland came close to levelling proceedings late on that would have seen the greeks eliminated but no cigar as the Czech's and Greeks both advanced to the quarter finals. The Czech's topped their group after a hectic start where they got trounced 4-1 by the Russian's. How their paths would both change so drastically no one would have guessed after their first meeting. Day 10 - Group B. Holland came out guns blazing and took an early 6th minute lead after a wonder strike from Rafael Van Der Vaart making his first start against Portugal. Portugal quickly came back into the game where Ronaldo got one of his 2 goals as the Portuguese put on one of the most offensive displays of the tournament against a clueless and defenceless Dutch to book a quarter final appearance with the Czech's. Germany beat the Dane's 2-1, Bendtner scoring his 3rd of the campaign and perhaps should have got a penalty but nothing giving as Germany topped the group with a 100 percent record. Day 11 - Italy could have been eliminated no matter how many goals they beat the already expired Ireland if Croatia and Spain played out a 2-2 draw or higher, and even perhaps if other scorelines occurred. Italy would beat Ireland 2-0 in a scrappy encounter and would have to wait for the game between Croatia and Spain to finish to find out their fate. Jesus Navas scored late on as Spain won 1-0, very lucky however as Rakitic missed a golden opportunity where his header went straight at Casillas. Croatia were also denied what seemed to be 2 legitimate penalties and still could have gone through if they could find a last ditch equaliser but came up short. Spain and Italy would advance, Italy by the skin of their teeth. Day 12 - Sweden, with a wonder strike and contender for goal of the tournament if not the goal of the tournament were led by an inspired Zlatan Ibra upset the French by 2 goals to nil meaning England could top group D with just a draw against Ukraine who had to win to secure passage into the quarter finals. Ukraine thought they were back into the contest with an equaliser after Rooney put england ahead in his first game at the eruo's but the linesman incorrecly adjudged that the ball didnt cross the line. Maybe a bit of justice as the pass that led to the goal in the first instance was offside. England still however getting a slice of luck which was owed to them from an incident themselves involving the ball crossing the line back in South Africa 2010. England qualified as group winners, France as Runners up. Both would have stern tests in their next rounds as England would meet Italy who they'd much rather because that meant they would avoid reigning european and world champions Spain. Quarter Finals Czech Republic vs Portugal Germany vs Greece Spain vs France England vs Italy Quarter Final 1 - Czech Republic vs Portugal. No Tomas Rosicky again as the czech's were completely overwhelmed by a Portuguese team that was starting to take wing with another strike from Ronaldo. A headed goal after 78 minutes didnt reflect the true dominance by the Portuguese but it was enough to advance to the semi finals where they would meet old rivals Spain or France with the former looking more likely. Quarter Final 2 - Germany vs Greece. The germans put in perhaps the most ominous performance the competition had seen thus far trouncing Greece 4-2 with goals from Lahm, Kheidera, Klose and Reus. Samaras did equalise for Greece but that would only send Germany on a rampage with 3 quick goals snuffing out any chance the greeks had of repeating their heroic 2004 run where they captured the Henry Delauney trophy. Greece pulled back a consolation goal in the dying stages which imo wasn't a penalty as those weren't given all tournament. Quarter Final 3 - England vs Italy. De Rossi hit the bar for Italy 3 minutes in and england conjured a chance themselves just 2 minutes later as Johnson shot was saved by the mercurial Buffon. Johnson could have did better in truth, and there were chances aplenty early on for both but no one could take them. Italy asserted control of the match and amassed 65 percent possession and 35 shots on goal but couldnt break the tired yet successful english defence. The game would go to extra time and penalties were Mario Balotelli would be the first to step up against clubmen Joe Hart. Balotelli after a rise smile would win this battle to fire Italy one up in the shootout. Liverpool's Inspirational leader would match that feat by levelling up the shootout beating Gian Luigi Buffon. Riccardo Montolivo would be the first to miss as he shot wide and wayne rooney would then convert to put england 2-1 up. A clutch, delicate chip by Azzurri playmaker, who won another man of the match award put Italy back to level pegging. Ashley Young would relieve the english of their advantage as he fired hard off the cross bar and Nocerino of Milan would then send Italy 3-2 ahead as Ahsley Cole stepped up looking to keep england alive not only in the shootout, but in the competition. Cole did score in the champions league final for chelsea against Bayern but would have no such luck however as he shot weakly and Buffon guessed the right way. If Diamanti would convert the next spot kick he would then fire Italy into the semi finals and convert he did as Italy made ammense for their penalty exit at the same stage 4 years earlier. Quarter Final 4 - Spain vs France. Spain had never beaten the French at an International tournament and this match would revive many great meetings between the two nations most notably in the Euro 84 Final and the euro 2000 quarter final. France were also the last team to both score and knock Spain out of an international tournament back in 2006. One of the most boring games of the tournament saw Spain take the lead through a Xavi Alonso header and he would complete his double and spains victory with a late goal from the spot. Semi Final 1 - Spain vs Portugal. Spain had beat Portugal in the world cup 2010 en route to winning their first world crown. Portugal had eliminated Spain with a Nuno Gomes goal in the group stage of euro 2004. In a cagey and rather boring affair Ronaldo had a great chance to knock Spain out and advance to the final right on but he skied high over Casillas's net. Spain dominated in extra time and Iniesta should have scored, but he shot straight and was denied. Alonso the hero for Spain in the match before had his penalty kick saved in the shootout only for Moutinho to do the same and couldnt beat Casillas to give Portugal the early lead. Iniesta could convert and so to could Pepe. Pique fired home and Nani answeed Sergio Ramos who couldnt in the champions league semi vs Bayern, but he emulated Pirlo's effort days before and chipped cooly to give Spain a 3-2 lead. Bruno Alves stepped up who wanted to take the earlier kick but was sent back by nani and would see his shot fire back cruelly off the cross bar. Up stepped Cesc Fabregas who finished off Italy on penalties 4 years earlier in the quarters and would do so again to the portuguese as his shot went in off the post. The fine lines between victory and defeat as Bruno Alves hit the bar and his shot went out where as Fabregas's shot met the post square on and went in. Spain were through to their 3rd successive final.
Semi Final 2 - Germany vs Italy. The Highly fancied Germans went in as favourites after a 100 percent record. However, they were up against a rather unusual free flowing attacking Azzurri outfit whom they had never beaten at a major tournament. Germany had 2 chances early on after a scuffed shot went straight to Buffon and an own goal almost occurred. Germany had a shot from long range and were clearly on top. Italy settled however and after just 19 minutes a beautiful piece of magic saw Cassano turn in against two defenders and put a sublime ball for Mario Balotelli to nod home. Balotelli fired Italy 2 goals to the good 20 minutes later after a beautiful ball played from long range by Montolivo saw him beat the offside trap. In what was one of the tournaments greatest images and memories, Balotelli smacked the ball home with so much power and precision that the German keeper apllauded his effort and Balotelli celebrated by ripping his shirt off and proceeded to just stare into space. Germany pushed and came close a couple times but it was Italy were the far better chances as they caught Germany on the counter and wasted several good one on one opportunities. Germany would get a late penalty which Ozil would convert setting up a frantic last minute or two but it wasnt enough. Germany went out in a shock exit as they were joint favourites to lift the trophy and Italy once again, continuing their hoodoo over Germany went to yet another final with their backs against the wall and after another scandal in their domestic league. The Final - Spain vs Italy. Spain were looking to defend their crown they won 4 years earlier and took on the Azzurri whom they knocked out on penalties in the quarter finals en route to capture that crown. Italy hadnt won a european title since 1968, a 44 year drought. Ironically it was Spain who also went 44 years between capturing the trophy before they won it in 2008 and maybe the trend would see Italy crack that next pattern, after Spain. The Azzurri were rocked after just 14 minutes when Fabregas cut in and beat Chiellini before he put in a wicked cross on the by-line where David Silva would finish in style from the head. Iniesta and La Fujora were working their magic and dominated proceeding as Italy couldnt get in the game. Jordi Alba, a revelation of the torunament capped off a superb run and made it 2 nil on 40 minutes. A tired Italy looked gone as they went to the half time break. Chiellini went off injured early too. Cassano was subbed off for Antonio Di Natale to start the second half and came close twice, and possibly should have taken one. Thiago Motta came on as a sub but went off injured shortly after meaning Italy who had already used 3 subs, would be forced to finish the rest of the match with just 10 players on the pitch. A full half hour against the reigning world and european champions already down 2 goals was an insurmountable task and spain would add further insult to injury by scoring 2 more goals where substitue and 2008 final hero Fernando Torres would score one and turn provider in the other to earn the golden boot. Spain demolished Italy 4-0 and became the first team in history to win 3 major tournaments in a row. Iniesta would be awarded player of the tournament. My top ten games no order Spain vs Italy group game England vs Sweden Germany vs Greece Italy vs England Portugal vs Denmark Italy vs Croatia Sweden vs France Russia vs Czech Republic Italy vs Germany Poland vs Greece
Whoa, Jason! You really went the distance there. That's a blog post. I didn't even vote because I missed Denmark - Portugal and Sweden - England.
Hahaha I just got a little too excited and had some spare time. I thought I'd give people a quick run down of each game.
Poland vs Russia was amazing (I was watching it at a pub, everyone at the edge of their seats, very memorable). Portugal vs Denmark Poland vs Greece (although I'm not objective here, it was the opening match plus Poland played in it