[Zoe]

So it's getting quite close to the start of Euro 2012 and I think the event justifies its own thread considering it was never the original intention of the football thread to go into detailed discussions about specific matches.

Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic

Group B
Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal

Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia

Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18265377

England will be without Frank Lampard this tournament due to a thigh injury. He is to be replaced by Jordan Henderson.

[tigerroar]

I'm starting to feel really underwhelmed by the whole thing and wonder how injured some of these players really are. Do they have the hunger to play for the national team anymore?

[SS4]

I still maintain it's a blessing that Lampard won't be fit, he's been terrible for England recently. Give the kids a run out instead of chopping and changing friendlies and build a team for the future

[sonic2009]

'Fat Frank' ate too many pies .

Id agree that England need to ditch the old guard, and start giving some of the kids a run out.

[Metrailway]

Lampard being out is a blessing in disguise as Roy won't be able to make the same mistake every England manager in recent history has committed which is to play the two similar minded players, Lampard and Gerrard, together.

[tigerroar]

Originally Posted by SS4

I still maintain it's a blessing that Lampard won't be fit, he's been terrible for England recently. Give the kids a run out instead of chopping and changing friendlies and build a team for the future

Watching him in either the Barcelona game or the Final I thought he was superb under pressure. I not sure what it is that he does that makes people seem to dislike him so much. Club rivalry?

[SS4]

Originally Posted by tigerroar

Watching him in either the Barcelona game or the Final I thought he was superb under pressure. I not sure what it is that he does that makes people seem to dislike him so much. Club rivalry?

I was referring specifically to England players, virtually anyone can look good in the right team.
Lampard represents the old guard who we need to get rid of in the interests of team cohesion. Although speaking of Chelsea it's remarkable how quickly their season turned around once someone the old guard liked was put in charge.
The sad fact with the national team is that in some cases it's secondary to club football and players have too much power to the point where they're always in the team and, at Chelsea, dictating it - look at the furore around Rio Ferdinand not getting in, I remember one paper (the metro iirc) calling it a snub as though the manager had a vendetta with the player. Nobody is bigger than the team

[jonmorris0844]

That's England through and through. A load of good players (and some who are only good because of the people that support them) and they all want to be the man of the match and compete with their fellow players, not work with them.

Remember when we had all the nonsense with the WAGs following them around, and players were clearly just trying to show off how big they were - and not really caring about the football.

Maybe England simply reflects our society in general!

[Zoe]

John Terry has been cleared to play at Euro 2012 after concerns about a hamstring injury but Gary Cahill is to be replaced by Martin Kelly due to a double jaw fracture.

[Ferret]

Originally Posted by Zoe

John Terry has been cleared to play at Euro 2012 after concerns about a hamstring injury but Gary Cahill is to be replaced by Martin Kelly due to a double jaw fracture.

Any more injuries and Beckham will be getting a call up. FFS! I watched the Belgium game yesterday evening and was distinctly underwhelmed. I may need waking up when it's all over.....

[gordonthemoron]

while I was in Krakow & Warsaw last week, work was still ongoing to tart the city centres up, so it's not just Britain who leaves things to the last minute

[Butts]

Perm one from Germany, Netherlands or Spain for the winner in my view.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ah well the wait is almost over and no doubt this thread will go nuclear - particularly after England matches (good or bad)

First match Poland v Greece 4.15 tommorrow

Saturday looks like a cracker.....

Netherlands v Denmark

Germany v Portugal

Time will tell

[gordonthemoron]

I thought it was 5pm

[Paul Sidorczuk]

Reports from the Dutch team headquarters saying that "monkey chants" were directed at their black players at an open training session..

[Johnuk123]

Have we ever been in a football competition that has less interest than this one.