Euro 2012 team guide

group a

CZECH REPUBLIC

Qualifying: The Czechs had a rather lacklustre campaign but still finished ahead of Scotland and second to Spain in Group I, securing a place in the play-offs where they made light work of Montenegro, winning 3-0 on aggregate.

Star man: Tomas Rosicky has been something of a forgotten man in recent years because of injury. But the Arsenal playmaker remains the Czechs’ most creative threat and if he can replicate the form he showed in early spring then the diminutive midfielder may lead his side to the knock-out stages.

Did you know? Since their first appearance in 1996, the Czech Republic have beaten five previous winners of the European Championship – Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands – in the four tournaments they have qualified for.

GREECE

Qualifying: The Greeks qualified top of Group F and went through the whole campaign unbeaten, finishing ahead of Croatia and conceding just five goals in the process.

Star man: Theofanis Gekas, a striker who currently plays in Turkey, has scored 21 goals in 58 games. He is thought to be a volatile character, who could either be a hero or a hindrance.

Did you know? Greece are the only team to have beaten the host country twice en route to winning the championships, which was against Portugal in the opening game and the final in 2004.

POLAND

Qualifying: As co-hosts the Poles sat back and relaxed as the other 14 teams fought hard for their place at the tournament.

Star man: Undoubtedly Robert Lewandowski. The Borussia Dortmund striker has scored 30 goals in 67 matches, including a hat trick in the 5-2 rout of Bayern Munich in the German Cup final. He has also scored 14 goals in 42 matches for Poland and will be the team’s focal point in attack.

Did you know? Poland have twice finished third at the World Cup, but have only previously appeared at the Euros on one occasion, in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

RUSSIA

Qualifying: Russia qualified strongly, coming out on top of a tough Group B, which included the Republic of Ireland and Slovakia. They lost only once in ten matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only four.

Star man: Alan Dzagoev, a 21-year-old midfielder, plies his trade in the Russia League for CSKA Moscow, and has made over 100 appearances for the Armeytsy. Dzagoev was awarded the Young Player of the Year award in his debut season in 2008/09.

Did you know? Andrei Arshavin has written three books and has a degree in Fashion Design.

Group B

DENMARK

Qualifying: The Danes’ campaign perhaps surpassed their own expectations, as they finished ahead of Portugal to claim top spot in Group H. They lost only once.

Star man: At 27, Daniel Agger is approaching the peak of his career, and his defensive strengths continue to be key for both club and country. Agger played a big part in helping a poor Liverpool side finish the Premier League season with the third best defensive record.

Did you know? Harald Bohr, mathematician and brother of Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr, won a silver medal while playing for Denmark during the 1908 Olympic Games.

GERMANY

Qualifying: A perfect record of ten wins from ten matches and an incredible 34 goals scored in a group including Turkey and Belgium.

Star man: Phillip Lahm, the marauding Bayern Munich full-back, is as talented as he is adaptable and is captain for both club and country. Solid in defence and influential in attack, the 27-year-old will likely play a key role in any German success.

Did you know? Germany have won three and lost three in the six finals they have played.

NETHERLANDS

Qualifying: Almost perfect, their only defeat came against Sweden after they had already secured their place at the finals. They topped Group E, but will face sterner opposition in the tournament than Finland, Moldova and San Marino.

Star man: Robin Van Persie enjoyed an incredible season with Arsenal. He landed the Footballer and Player’s Player of the Year awards after scoring 37 goals in 47 appearances for the Gunners.

Did you know? In 1988, the Netherlands lost to the USSR in their opening game, but beat them in the final.

PORTUGAL

Qualifying: The Portuguese made tough work of it, finishing second in Group H behind Denmark and above Norway on goal difference, and needed to beat Bosnia Herzegovina in the play-offs. They were involved in some high-scoring games such as a 4-4 draw with Cyprus and a 5-3 win over Iceland.

Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo is the obvious choice after guiding Real Madrid to the La Liga title. His 112 goals in 102 appearances for the Galacticos is some record.

Did you know? Manager Paulo Bento was one of three Portugal players to receive a lengthy ban following a decision to award France a penalty in their defeat at Euro 2000.

Group C

CROATIA

Qualifying: Croatia qualified second to Greece in Group F and made light-work of Turkey in the play-offs, beating them 3-0 away from home to secure their place.

Star man: Luka Modric was one of the star players at the European Championship four years ago and the Spurs midfielder will again be the man Croatia look to to create the openings for the strikers.

Did you know? In the their first appearances after gaining independence, Croatia reached the quarter-finals of Euro 96 and finished third at the World Cup 98.

ITALY

Qualifying: Qualified convincingly at the top of Group C, ten points ahead of Estonia. They conceded only twice in ten games, the best defensive record of all the teams, and were unbeaten throughout the campaign.

Star man: Antonio Cassano, the AC Milan striker, is set to start for Cesare Prandelli’s side despite suffering a stroke on the plane back from a match at Roma in October. He scored six goals in qualifying.

Did you know? Goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon has won 114 caps for the Azzuri.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Qualifying: The Irish came second in Group B behind Russia, and conceded just seven goals in the campaign.

Star man: LA Galaxy and former Spurs striker Robbie Keane is an assured finisher and will represent the best chance of goals in Giovanni Trapattoni’s defensive set-up.

Did you know? Trapattoni began coaching 37 years ago, before any of the Republic squad were born.

SPAIN

Qualifying: The reigning World and European Champions won all their matches, scoring 26 and conceding six.

Star man: After a fantastic title winning season with Manchester City, David Silva will be expected to be instrumental in Spain’s rhythm and movement when attacking. The lightweight forward has been in impressive form and the space he creates will free up his team-mates to attack in force.

Did you know? Spain are one of three teams to hold both the Euros and World Cup concurrently. France achieved the feat in 2000, as did West Germany in 1974.

Group D

ENGLAND

Qualifying: Qualified unbeaten and top of Group G, finishing five points clear of Montenegro.

Star man: Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. Wayne Rooney’s absence for the opening two matches means that along with Ashley Cole, Hart is England’s only real world-class talent. His form has been exceptional this season and a huge boost to an England team who have often been undermined by goalkeeper errors in major tournaments.

Did you know? Wayne Rooney was booked only once in the Premier League last season.

FRANCE

Qualifying: There were big concerns early on when the French lost their opening fixture at home to Belarus, but Les Bleus soon put that defeat behind them and went undefeated through the rest of their matches.

Star man: Franck Ribery has scored in his last three internationals and the pacy little Bayern Munich winger is starting to form a productive partnership with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Did you know? Two of France’s three major titles have been won on home soil.

SWEDEN

Qualifying: The Swedes qualified second to the Netherlands in Group E, three points behind the Dutch, and booked their place at the tournament as the best runners-up.

Star man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the tall, skilful and temperamental AC Milan striker, divides opinion. He often performs better for club than country but there is little doubt he is still Sweden’s best player. Lately there has been an argument against his inclusion, with some critics believing that the team functions better without him, citing their 3-2 victory over the Dutch in qualifying as an example. However, in reality, he’ll be a first pick.

Did you know? Sweden have only lost six times against England in 21 matches.

UKRAINE

Qualifying: Like Poland, as co-hosts, Ukraine also sat back and waited for the other teams to fight it out for the right to join them in the finals.

Star man: Dynamo Kiev striker Andriy Shevchenko might not have the pace which made him one of the best strikers in the world a decade ago, but if he can stay free from injury then his ability to score goals could prove vital.

Did you know? Oleg Blohkin has been elected twice to the Ukrainian Parliament as a member of the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine.