The UEFA Euro 2012 tournament will be jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine. The competition is the last one to be 16 teams as the subsequent one in 2016 will increase in size to twenty four teams. Poland and Ukraine overcome Italy and Croatia/Hungary for the right to host the competition.
The fixtures will basically be split 50/50 between the two hosts. Polish cities to hold matches will be Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Poznan. The Ukrainian venues will be Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv and Donetsk.
The final will be held in Kiev which will also hold a semi-final. This will be at the Olimpiysky National Sports Complex which after construction will be one of the best stadiums and sporting complexes on the planet. The new arena in Warsaw is also under construction and guarantees to be a state of the art arena.
The draw for the finals has been carried out and qualifying fixtures will commence following the World Cup in South Africa. Every one of the nine group winners and the best runner-up will gain direct entry into the tournament. Following that the other 8 runner-up will be drawn into two-legged playoffs.
From Group A you would assume Germany and Turkey would be too resilient with Austria and Belgium being the contenders.
Group B looks to be a three way battle between Russia, Slovakia and Ireland.
In Group C it looks like it will be straightforward for Italy and Serbia. France is the most likely from Group D with Romania looking at the one to take 2nd.
There is a northern European feel to Group E where it really should be Netherlands and Sweden.
Croatia and Greece are the likely challengers in terms of Group F as are England and Switzerland for Group G.
From Group H it looks like Portugal and Denmark and last of all from Group I it would appear to be Spain and the Czech Republic.
Qualifying ends in October 2011 by which time passion and anticipation for the UEFA Euro 2012 Finals will be well and truly underway.
Tags: euro 2012, euro 2012 poland, uefa euro 2012, Ukraine euro 2012