Greece has been handed a favourable draw for next year’s European Football Championships to be played in Ukraine and Poland. The 2004 winners, will take on hosts Poland along with Russia and the Czech Republic in Group A.
Just like in Portugal in 2004, when Greece went on to win the trophy, the national team will take part in the competition’s curtain-raiser facing the host on June 8 in Warsaw. Its other games will be on June 12 against the Czech Republic at Wroclaw and on June 16 against Russia in Warsaw. These will be the third Euro finals in a row in which Greece will be facing Russia in the group stage. Coach Fernando Santos’s team will be aiming to clinch one of the two top spots in the group to qualify for the knockout quarterfinals.
“It’s a very open group and each team has a 25 per cent chance of progress,” coach Santos said after the draw. “In theory it’s a good draw for us, but we need to prove that on the pitch. Such a draw is like a double-edged sword, because you focus more on the stronger teams,” added Santos. The Portuguese coach of the Greek team also said; “I’m sure many of you are thinking back to 2004, when Greece also played the hosts in the opening match and the last group game was against Russia. That surely brings back good memories and could be considered an omen. However, the most important thing now is preparation. I believe in my players and I know they will be ready for the tournament.”
The four Euro 2012 groups to be played in Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1 are as follows: Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic Group B: Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Denmark Group C: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Ireland Group D: Ukraine, England, Sweden, France