Euro 2012 (Qualifying Groups)

[Rappy Veteran]

Hosts: Poland and Ukraine

Euro 2012 is set to feature 16 national teams, as has been the format since 1996. Many European football associations were in favour of expanding the tournament to 24 teams due to the much-increased number of UEFA members in recent years (53 in April 2006 compared to 33 prior to the break up of the Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia). However, on 17 April 2007, UEFA's Executive Committee formally decided against an expansion in 2012. This will be the last time a European Championship will feature 16 teams, as in September 2008 UEFA announced its plans to expand to 24 teams in Euro 2016.

The Draw starts at 11am GMT so discuss the groups here and I'll add them to the final post when announced!

Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, SCOTLAND Lithuania, Liechtenstein

Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group G: ENGLAND, Switzerland, Bulgaria, WALES, Montenegro

Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group E: Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group C: Italy, Serbia, NORTHERN IRELAND Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group B: Russia, Slovakia, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Edited February 7, 2010 by Rappy

[Rappy Veteran]

England and Wales in same group! :woot:

[84Mark]

Interesting! Tough group for Scotland.

[shaywood]

Difficult group for England, looking forward to facing the Welsh though!

[Steven P. Administrators]

Is it me or are the groups seeded?

[shaywood]

The groups were seeded, drawn from the below pots.

Pot One:

Spain

Germany

Holland

Italy

England

Croatia

Portugal

France

Russia

Pot Two:

Greece

Czech Republic

Sweden

Switzerland

Serbia

Turkey

Denmark

Slovakia

Romania

Pot Three:

Israel

Bulgaria

Finland

Norway

Republic of Ireland

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Austria

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Pot Four:

Slovenia

Latvia

Hungary

Lithuania

Belarus

Belgium

Wales

FYR Macedonia

Cyprus

Pot Five:

Montenegro

Albania

Estonia

Georgia

Moldova

Iceland

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Liechtenstein

Pot Six:

Azerbaijan

Luxembourg

Malta

Faroe Islands

Andorra

San Marino

[hackdoom]

Czech Republic and Scotland might provide a good challenge for Spain.

It seems like a long wait for Euro 2012... Good thing that we have the Champions League back this month, and the WC later on this year. :laugh:

[Subject Delta]

I don't think our group is bad, we should be capable of beating all those teams

[Jimmy0]

I don't think our group is bad, we should be capable of beating all those teams

Agreed, if England pull their socks out of their arse's then we should come top of that group.

[Rappy Veteran]

Czech Republic and Scotland might provide a good challenge for Spain.

It seems like a long wait for Euro 2012... Good thing that we have the Champions League back this month, and the WC later on this year. :laugh:

Yeah, but I think Spain will top the group.

[Rappy Veteran]

Fabio Capello has named Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in his England squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The Tottenham duo had been doubtful due to injury but have been included in a 24-man party ahead of England's first competitive games since a dismal World Cup campaign.

They are joined by fellow strikers Darren Bent, Carlton Cole and Wayne Rooney, with no place for Andy Carroll despite his strong start to the season with Newcastle.

There are few surprises in the squad, although Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs keeps his place and Scott Carson of West Brom has been included as the third goalkeeper alongside Ben Foster and Joe Hart.

West Ham defender Matthew Upson has also been given the chance to put his World Cup pain behind him.

Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and John Terry had already been ruled out after suffering injuries in Premier League action on Saturday, while Rio Ferdinand is still not fit and the likes of Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon have been overlooked.

The Three Lions face Bulgaria in their opening Group G clash at Wembley on Friday before taking on Switzerland the following Tuesday.

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (West Brom), Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Man City)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

[Rappy Veteran]

England tonight! I wonder if they are going to do well in their group!

[tiagosilva29]

So... what's with the blue countries in the opening post's list?

• Group A
  • Germany
  • Turkey
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Kazakhstan
  • Azerbaijan

  [*]Group B

  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Republic of Ireland
  • FYR Macedonia
  • Armenia
  • Andorra
  
  
• Group C
  • Italy
  • Serbia
  • Northern Ireland
  • Slovenia
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands

  [*]Group D

  • France
  • Romania
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Belarus
  • Albania
  • Luxembourg
  
  
• Group E
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
  • Finland
  • Hungary
  • Moldova
  • San Marino

  [*]Group F

  • Croatia
  • Greece
  • Israel
  • Latvia
  • Georgia
  • Malta
  
  
• Group G
  • England
  • Switzerland
  • Bulgaria
  • Wales
  • Montenegro

  [*]Group H

  • Portugal
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Cyprus
  • Iceland
  
  
• Group I
  • Spain
  • Czech Republic
  • Scotland
  • Lithuania
  • Liechtenstein

  [*]Hosts

  • Poland
  • Ukraine
  
  

[BGM]

So... what's with the blue countries in the opening post's list?

serious post? :ermm:

[tiagosilva29]

serious post? :ermm:

Quite serious post, explain to me if you know why are they marked that way.

[BGM]

Quite serious post.

dark blue is obviously Republic of Ireland ;)

[tiagosilva29]

dark blue is obviously Republic of Ireland ;)

Fun stuff, a regional football highlight...

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

I'm watching Belgium vs Germany atm. The German team is playing with more or less the same team as at the World Cup.

29 minutes in and still 0 - 0.

[Rappy Veteran]

1-0 to England so far...not bad but not great.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Belgium 0 - 1 Germany.

About freaking time.

[Rappy Veteran]

2-0 England (Defoe!) Dawson looks pretty crocked up though!

[Rappy Veteran]

4-0! Defoe hat-trick and Adam Johnson!

[BGM]

great show by england i thought :)

[Rappy Veteran]

great show by england i thought :)

yeah second half was pretty good and attractive football!

[tiagosilva29]

Portugal fail.