Euro 2012 finals general thread

[Exiled_red]

FA goes on the defensive over England kit change

When the FA signed a new eight-year deal with Umbro just after the World Cup, it was made clear in the contract that kits would be changed roughly every 18 months, rather than the two-year cycle previously in operation.

However, it is only now that the full impact is being discovered following confirmation that England will be wearing a new shirt when they take on World Cup finalists Holland in a prestigious Wembley friendly on Feb 29.

It also means the home kit will be changed during the middle of the next lot of World Cup qualifiers.

The FA insists the move is not of their making and that Umbro called for an 18-month turnaround in their negotiations.

And, whilst they understand the complaints of some fans, in completing their lucrative contract with Umbro, the FA were mindful of the funds required to help develop the grassroots of the game.

"The FA is a not-for-profit organisation that reinvests more than £100 million every year, including more than £50 million into grassroots football," said an FA spokesman.

"The FA and Umbro have a long-standing partnership including investment at all levels of England teams and in St George's Park which opens this year.

"As a sportswear company with great history and expertise they are best placed to take decisions on kit cycle, and we support them in their long term strategy."

It was confirmed on Thursday afternoon that interim manager Stuart Pearce will unveil his squad for the game next Thursday.

Previous coach Fabio Capello informed clubs of a provisional squad in the week prior to the game, then confirmed the actual party on the weekend.

However, Pearce, who will also face the media on Thursday for the first time since Capello lost his job last week, has decided to change the format to give players more notice, even if it leaves him open to a number of withdrawals following the weekend Premier League fixtures.

Linkage: The Telegraph

That's just passing the buck, the FA didn't have to agree to changing the kit every 18-months. They did it presumably because it got them more money from Umbro.

[Liverpel]

http://www.balls.ie/2012/02/20/norn-iron-team-photo-is-in-place-of-irelands-on-the-euro2012-app/

[Craig_H]

[Craig_H]

FRIDAY 8th JUNE
GROUP A
Poland v Greece (5pm BBC1)
Russia v Czech Republic (7:45pm ITV1)

SATURDAY 9th JUNE
GROUP B
Holland v Denmark (5pm BBC1)
Germany v Portugal (7:45pm BBC1)

SUNDAY 10th JUNE
GROUP C
Spain v Italy (5pm ITV1)
Ireland v Croatia (7:45pm ITV1)

MONDAY 11th JUNE
GROUP D
France v England (5pm ITV1)
Ukraine v Sweden (7:45pm BBC1)

TUESDAY 12th JUNE
GROUP A
Greece v Czech Republic (5pm ITV1)
Poland v Russia (7:45pm ITV1)

WEDNESDAY 13th JUNE
GROUP B
Denmark v Portugal (5pm ITV1)
Holland v Germany (7:45pm BBC1)

THURSDAY 14th JUNE
GROUP C
Italy v Croatia (5pm BBC1)
Spain v Ireland (7:45pm ITV1)

FRIDAY 15th JUNE
GROUP D
Ukraine v France (5pm ITV1)
Sweden v England (7:45pm BBC1)

SATURDAY 16th JUNE
GROUP A
Czech Republic v Poland (7:45pm BBC)
Greece v Russia (7:45pm BBC)

SUNDAY 17th JUNE
GROUP B
Portugal v Holland (7:45pm ITV)
Denmark v Germany (7:45pm ITV)

MONDAY 18th JUNE
GROUP C
Croatia v Spain (7:45pm BBC)
Italy v Ireland (7:45pm BBC)

TUESDAY 19th JUNE
GROUP D
England v Ukraine (7:45pm ITV)
Sweden v France (7:45pm ITV)

THURSDAY 21st JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 1
Winner Grp A v Runner Up Grp B (7:45pm)

FRIDAY 22nd JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 2
Winner Grp B v Runner Up Grp A (7:45pm)

SATURDAY 23rd JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 3
Winner Grp C v Runner Up Grp D (7:45pm)

SUNDAY 24th JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 4
Winner Grp D v Runner Up Grp C (7:45pm)

WEDNESDAY 27th JUNE
SEMI FINAL 1
Winner QF1 v Winner QF3 (7:45pm)

THURSDAY 28th JUNE
SEMI FINAL 2
Winner QF2 v Winner QF4 (7:45pm)

SUNDAY 1st JULY
FINAL
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (7:45pm)

[Angryred]

FRIDAY 8th JUNE
GROUP A
Poland v Greece (5pm BBC1)
Russia v Czech Republic (7:45pm ITV1)

SATURDAY 9th JUNE
GROUP B
Holland v Denmark (5pm BBC1)
Germany v Portugal (7:45pm BBC1)

SUNDAY 10th JUNE
GROUP C
Spain v Italy (5pm ITV1)
Ireland v Croatia (7:45pm ITV1)

MONDAY 11th JUNE
GROUP D
France v England (5pm ITV1)
Ukraine v Sweden (7:45pm BBC1)

TUESDAY 12th JUNE
GROUP A
Greece v Czech Republic (5pm ITV1)
Poland v Russia (7:45pm ITV1)

WEDNESDAY 13th JUNE
GROUP B
Denmark v Portugal (5pm ITV1)
Holland v Germany (7:45pm BBC1)

THURSDAY 14th JUNE
GROUP C
Italy v Croatia (5pm BBC1)
Spain v Ireland (7:45pm ITV1)

FRIDAY 15th JUNE
GROUP D
Ukraine v France (5pm ITV1)
Sweden v England (7:45pm BBC1)

SATURDAY 16th JUNE
GROUP A
Czech Republic v Poland (7:45pm BBC)
Greece v Russia (7:45pm BBC)

SUNDAY 17th JUNE
GROUP B
Portugal v Holland (7:45pm ITV)
Denmark v Germany (7:45pm ITV)

MONDAY 18th JUNE
GROUP C
Croatia v Spain (7:45pm BBC)
Italy v Ireland (7:45pm BBC)

TUESDAY 19th JUNE
GROUP D
England v Ukraine (7:45pm ITV)
Sweden v France (7:45pm ITV)

THURSDAY 21st JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 1
Winner Grp A v Runner Up Grp B (7:45pm)

FRIDAY 22nd JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 2
Winner Grp B v Runner Up Grp A (7:45pm)

SATURDAY 23rd JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 3
Winner Grp C v Runner Up Grp D (7:45pm)

SUNDAY 24th JUNE
QUARTER FINAL 4
Winner Grp D v Runner Up Grp C (7:45pm)

WEDNESDAY 27th JUNE
SEMI FINAL 1
Winner QF1 v Winner QF3 (7:45pm)

THURSDAY 28th JUNE
SEMI FINAL 2
Winner QF2 v Winner QF4 (7:45pm)

SUNDAY 1st JULY
FINAL
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (7:45pm)

Is there an outlook calender of these dates knocking about somewhere?

[Craig_H]

http://www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=106&tid=117347

http://www.fixturebox.com/football/euro2012

http://www.fsf.org.uk/freelions/news/Euro-2012-Fixtures-for-Outlook-Google-Calendar.php

[Angryred]

http://www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=106&tid=117347

http://www.fixturebox.com/football/euro2012

http://www.fsf.org.uk/freelions/news...e-Calendar.php

Craig, you're the man!

[Vermilion]

Ashamed fans want Austria ban

Austrian fans are embarrassed by their team.

Austrian football fans are so frustrated with their national team's dire results they have launched a petition to have them banned from Euro 2008.

As co-hosts Austria get an automatic place in next summer's finals, but a dismal run of friendly results has convinced fans they will only embarrass themselves, while denying a better team the chance of a place.

The petition, hosted at the wesite 'Osterreich Zeigt Ruckgrat [Austria Shows Backbone]' describes itself as an Initiative for an Austria-free Euro 2008'.

In an open letter, its creators explain: 'Dear friend. Your entering this site is no coincidence.

'It means you care about attractive football. It means you appreciate a blind pass that actually reaches its destination. It means you thoroughly enjoy amazing dribbling skills.

'It means you jump for joy when a free kick is expertly bent into the far corner of the goal. In short: it means you love this great sport for the sheer beauty of it.

'However, it also means you fall into a dismal state of depression when watching a match featuring the Austrian national team.

'For all those displays of true skill, on a field taken by our team, occur about as frequently as meteorite impacts.'

Austria, coached by Josef Hickersberger have slipped to 85th on the latest Fifa world rankings, just five places from their lowest-ever position.

They have failed to win in eight games this year with Scotland and, most recently, Chile both beating them at home.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddball...#ixzz1pkQ41bVD

[Craig_H]

Euro 2008?

How many accounts has Bender hacked lately??

[Vermilion]

Euro 2008?

How many accounts has Bender hacked lately??

Oh bugger!

Do you think there's such a thing as 'Benderitis' ?

Better check just in case i think.

Tbh, i posted that without any thought at all to any date.

Anyway....Er....back on; topic...? Gotta love those Austrian fans though eh.

[Craig_H]

[Fivex]

****ing hell

[Vermilion]

Ok Ok. It's just a couple of years....or so.

[Craig_H]

52 days to go.

Anyone else excited?

[RichC]

nope.