The Euro 2012 tournament has kicked off in Poland and Ukraine, with strong performances by Russia, Greece and Poland.
Russia stunned the pundits with a dramatic 4-1 win in Wroclaw, as Poland and Greece drew 1-1.
Initial fears over Ukraine’s right-wing “ultra” fans sparking trouble in Poland failed to materialise, as a strong start by the Czechs faded badly.
Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov put Russia 2-0 up at the interval, before Vaclav Pilar notched one up for Czechs.
However, a second from Dazgoev and another from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko consigned the Czechs to a defeat which not only knocked their confidence for the rest of their group A campaign, but which could have been worse had it not been for Russia’s finishing lacking confidence.
Meanwhile, Striker Robert Lewandowski gave Poland a goal in the first half of their opener against Greece, only to see substitute Dimitris Salpigidis equalise in the second half, in a match which saw both teams down to just ten men.
Saturday will see big names Netherlands and Germany open their campaigns when the tournament switches from Poland to Ukraine on Saturday.
Euro 2012 Fixture List
Group Stage
8 Jun, 17:00 A Poland v Greece
8 Jun, 19:45 A Russia v Czech Republic
9 Jun, 17:00 B Netherlands v Denmark
9 Jun, 19:45 B Germany v Portugal
10 Jun, 17:00 C Spain v Italy
10 Jun, 19:45 C Republic of Ireland v Croatia
11 Jun, 17:00 D France v England
11 Jun, 19:45 D Ukraine v Sweden
12 Jun, 17:00 A Greece v Czech Republic
12 Jun, 19:45 A Poland v Russia
13 Jun, 17:00 B Denmark v Portugal
13 Jun, 19:45 B Netherlands v Germany
14 Jun, 17:00 C Italy v Croatia
14 Jun, 19:45 C Spain v Republic of Ireland
15 Jun, 17:00 D Ukraine v France
15 Jun, 19:45 D Sweden v England
16 Jun, 19:45 A Czech Republic v Poland
16 Jun, 19:45 A Greece v Russia
17 Jun, 19:45 B Denmark v Germany
17 Jun, 19:45 B Portugal v Netherlands
18 Jun, 19:45 C Italy v Republic of Ireland
18 Jun, 19:45 C Croatia v Spain
19 Jun, 19:45 D England v Ukraine
19 Jun, 19:45 D Sweden v France
Quarter-final
21 Jun, 19:45 QF1 Winner of Group A v Runner-up of Group B
22 Jun, 19:45 QF2 Winner of Group B v Runner-up of Group A
23 Jun, 19:45 QF3 Winner of Group C v Runner-up of Group D
24 Jun, 19:45 QF4 Winner of Group D v Runner-up of Group C
Semifinal
27 Jun, 19:45 SF1 Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF3
28 Jun, 19:45 SF2 Winner of QF2 v Winner of QF4
Final
1 Jul, 19:45 Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2
