Do you smell that? That’s the wafting flavour of Euro 2012 getting ready to hit us. It all kicks off in Poland on 9 June, when Europe’s finest footballers hit the field to try and etch their team’s name into history.
Poland and Ukraine host the 14th installment of the UEFA European Football Championships, with Spain touted as favourites to defend the crown they won in Austria and Switzerland four years ago.
Opponents such as Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, England, Croatia and Denmark all rank inside FIFA’s top 10 teams, while Russia, Italy, Greece, France, Sweden and Republic of Ireland are all ranked inside the top 20.
These teams will not make life easy for Spain.
Below is a list of the groups, and fixtures throughout the tournament:
Group A: Poland (co-host), Greece, Russia and Czech Republic.
Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Portugal.
Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia.
Group D: Ukraine (co-host), Sweden, France and England.
Fixtures (all times EST):
Saturday 9 June
Group A: Poland v Greece, Warsaw, 2am
Group A: Russia v Czech Republic, Wroclaw, 4.45am
Sunday 10 June
Group B: Netherlands v Denmark, Kharkiv, 2am
Group B: Germany v Portugal, Lviv, 4.45am
Monday 11 June
Group C: Spain v Italy, Gdansk, 2am
Group C: Republic of Ireland v Croatia, Poznan, 4.45am
Tuesday 12 June
Group D: France v England, Donetsk, 2am
Group D: Ukraine v Sweden, Kiev, 4.45am
Wednesday 13 June
Group A: Greece v Czech Republic, Wroclaw, 2am
Group A: Poland v Russia, Warsaw, 4.45am
Thursday 14 June
Group B: Denmark v Portugal, Lviv, 2am
Group B: Netherlands v Germany, Kharkiv, 4.45am
Friday 15 June
Group C: Italy v Croatia, Poznan, 2am
Group C: Spain v Republic of Ireland, Gdansk, 4.45am
Saturday 16 June
Group D: Sweden v England, Kiev, 2am
Group D: Ukraine v France, Donetsk, 4.45am
Sunday 17 June
Group A: Czech Republic v Poland, Wroclaw, 4.45am
Group A: Greece v Russia, Warsaw, 4.45am
Monday 18 June
Group B: Portugal v Netherlands, Kharkiv, 4.45am
Group B: Denmark v Germany, Lviv, 4.45am
Tuesday 19 June
Group C: Croatia v Spain, Gdansk, 4.45am
Group C: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Poznan, 4.45am
Wednesday 20 June
Group D: England v Ukraine, Donetsk, 4.45am
Group D: Sweden v France, Kiev, 4.45am
Quarter-Finals
Friday 22 June
QF1: Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, Warsaw, 4.45am
Saturday 23 June
QF2: Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, Gdansk, 4.45am
Sunday 24 June
QF3: Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, Donetsk, 4.45am
Monday 25 June
QF4: Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, Kiev, 4.45am
Semi Finals
Thursday 28 June
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF3, Donetsk, 4.45am
Friday 29 June
SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF4, Warsaw, 4.45am
Final
Monday 2 July
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Kiev, 4.45am
Will Spain defend their crown and become champions of Europe once more?
Or will the refurbished England squad finally live up to expectations and win an international competition?
All will be revealed in Euro 2012 Kiev on 2 July.
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