There was good news and bad news in today's Euro 2012 draw for the Republic of Ireland. The big good news is that Ireland will play their Group games in POLAND; based in Gdansk and Poznan - two stadia which are just 190km apart.
The draw however was not quite so kind to the Republic of Ireland. Before the draw; Ireland manager Giovanni Trapatonni had said that he didn't want to get Spain, England or Italy. We ended up with two of those three.
Spain are of course defending World and European Champions and are aiming to become the first European nation ever to win three consecutive major international tournaments. Italy had a very poor 2010 World Cup, becoming the first defending champion not to win a game at the next tournament. However, with new players and a new manager, Cesare Prandelli have improved since then and Gli Azzurri were unbeaten in Euro 2012 qualification, winning their Group by 10 clear points. Having said that though; Giovanni Trapatonni will certainly have plenty of information on Ireland's final Group stage opponents.
There is a so called "Group of Death" at every major international football tournament. At this tournament, it has to be Group B where FIFA's World Ranked 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 11th sides square up to each other. Any side who emerges from a Group of Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Denmark will be happy to reach the Quarter Final stage.
From the Group of Death to the Group of Life; Group A where co-hosts Poland face Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic with each side fancying their chances of progressing. It promises to be a tight (and likely boring) Group, but there are no clear favourites here.
England got a favourable draw, if something of a logisitical nightmare given their Krakow base and the fact that the games will be in the Ukraine. Easy for the squad of course, but not fans. England's opponents will be France and Sweden before closing the Group against hosts Ukraine. If England win this Group, they could well face the Republic of Ireland in the Quarter Final for what would be a mouth watering Anglo/Irish/Italiano showdown. The fact that Ireland and England avoided each other in the Group stages draw also paves the way for a lucrative Anglo/Irish international match at the AVIVA Stadium some time before June 2012.
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| Ireland drawn in same Group as World & European Champs |
The draw however was not quite so kind to the Republic of Ireland. Before the draw; Ireland manager Giovanni Trapatonni had said that he didn't want to get Spain, England or Italy. We ended up with two of those three.
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| IRELAND: First time at Europeans since 1988 |
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| Holland & Germany: set to resume ancient rivalry/hatred |
There is a so called "Group of Death" at every major international football tournament. At this tournament, it has to be Group B where FIFA's World Ranked 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 11th sides square up to each other. Any side who emerges from a Group of Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Denmark will be happy to reach the Quarter Final stage.
From the Group of Death to the Group of Life; Group A where co-hosts Poland face Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic with each side fancying their chances of progressing. It promises to be a tight (and likely boring) Group, but there are no clear favourites here.
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| Ireland set to face England for first time since 1995 Dublin riot |
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