Euro 2012 Match by Match Group A
Match by Match Reports
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages
Co-hosts Poland open the tournament in the new National Stadium in Warsaw. The stadium has an all-seated capacity of 58,145 and features a unique retractable PVC roof that unfolds from a nest suspended above the centre of the pitch. Half of Group A matches are played at the new home of Śląsk Wrocław, which seats 42,771.
Poland
Greece
Poland 1 Greece 1
National Stadium, Warsaw (56,826)
Friday 8 June 1700 BST
Both sides had a player sent off in an exciting opening game of Euro 2012. Greece were poor in the first half and went behind after 17 minutes and seemed doomed when Papastathopoulos was sent off. They rallied in the second half and scored their equaliser six minutes after the break. Greece could have taken all the points after the Polish goalkeeper was red carded for a foul on Salpingidis in the area but the resulting penalty was saved by the substitute 'keeper, Tyton.
Russia
Czech Republic
Russia 4 Czech Republic 1
Municipal Stadium, Wrocław (37,348)
Friday 8 June 1945 BST
Russia demolished a disappointing Czech team with a powerful display finished off by two thunderous finishes from Dzagoev and Pavlyuchenko.
Greece
Czech Republic
Greece 1 Czech Republic 2
Municipal Stadium, Wrocław (35,213)
Tuesday 12 June 1700 BST
Two goals in the opening 6 minutes revived the Czech's hopes after their heavy defeat against Russia. Greece pulled one back in the second half after having a goal disallowed for offside but in truth, there were few scoring opportunities after the initial flurry. This result leaves the final game between Poland and the Czech Republic nicely poised as a showdown.
Poland
Russia
Poland 1 Russia 1
National Stadium, Warsaw (53,617)
Tuesday 12 June 1945 BST
Russia were content with a draw against the co-hosts in the knowledge that they will progress to the knock out stages if they avoid defeat against Greece. They held the lead at half-time but Blaszczykowsky scored the equaliser in the 57th minute. The game was overshadowed by clashes between supporters before the game but a large presence of riot police prevented any repetition inside the stadium.
Czech Republic
Poland
Czech Republic 1 Poland 0
Municipal Stadium, Wrocław (44,416)
Saturday 16 June 1945 BST
With the group poised such that all four teams could progress, this was a tense and sometimes scrappy match. Nerves got the better of Poland who were particularly poor in the second half and a goal by Petr Jiracek was enough to see the Czech Republic through and eliminate the co-hosts.
Greece
Russia
Greece 1 Russia 0
National Stadium, Warsaw (58,145)
Saturday 16 June 1945 BST
Greece produced a major shock to go forward to the knock out stage and eliminate Russia.
Match by Match Reports
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages
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