Euro 2012: 10 Must-Watch Matches at the Group Phase

As the European season nears its conclusion as the calendar turns to May, it is time to focus on the spectacle of Euro 2012.

With the exciting quality across the board in this year's competition, there will be no easy matches, even at the group stage. Every team, no matter how stacked with talent, will have to be on guard.

From the first day to the last, some scintillating football will be played in Poland and Ukraine, with some of football's top stars showcasing their talents on one of the sport's brightest stages.

Here are 10 matches that you should keep your eye on during the tournament's early stages.

Poland vs. Greece

The very first match of Euro 2012 should be an exciting one in the Polish capital.

The hosts are a very talented side who are rounding into good form just as the tournament starts to draw nearer.

The team's core of Borussia Dortmund players, including Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Błaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski will form the backbone of the side, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is turning into a world-class goalkeeper to keep the established Lukasz Fabianski out of the team.

Greece, however, are a scrappy and highly experienced side who will not take an early exit lightly.

Germany vs. Portugal

This first marquee matchup of the tournament will really be a great one.

Two teams overflowing with talent will try to match each other's technical style of play in what should be an open and exciting match.

Germany can turn to any of Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, Mario Gomez, Mario Gotze or Miroslav Klose for attacking power. They are one of the more complete national teams in the world.

Their opponents can counter with arguably the best player in the world in the form of his life, Cristiano Ronaldo, in addition to such marquee talents as Raul Meireles and Nani, ensuring that this match will be riveting from start to finish.

Spain vs. Italy

If there is any better national team in the world right now, it is Spain.

La Furia Roja simply do not lose these days, and have won the past two major international tournaments that they have contested with largely the same core of players. If Fernando Torres continues to round into form, the Spaniards might be unbeatable.

But Italy can certainly give them a run for their money. The Azzurri have reloaded after disappointment at World Cup 2010 and have an extremely talented squad that features a mix of experienced internationals and recent up-and-comers like the dynamic Sebastian Giovinco.

The Italians will likely spend most of their time defending, but if anyone can cope with the nonstop tiki-taka onslaught of Spain it is them, for whom guarding the goal is the national pastime.

France vs. England

Nothing like centuries of competition to boost the spice of a regular group stage tie.

Every time these two footballing powers meet, there is a great deal of added tension and attention due to the rivalry that France and England have, and always have had, towards each other.

From a footballing perspective, France is probably the superior of the two teams due to the multitude of technically skilled players that Les Bleus have in their squad.

England will be feeling the intense pressure that their people put on them during every international tournament, and Roy Hodgson will face his first stern test as manager without Wayne Rooney, due to suspension.

The Netherlands vs. Germany

This should be a scintillating matchup between two more of the best teams in the world.

After coming excruciatingly close to outlasting Spain the World Cup Final, The Netherlands will look to make an impression against the toughest team in their group.

The Oranje can match Germany almost player for player in every midfield and attacking position, and both are in the top four of FIFA's World Rankings.

Judging by the styles that both teams play, this should be an open game with plenty of scoring and fantastic quality from both sides.

Croatia vs. Italy

Though many do not recognize the country as a traditional footballing power, Croatia is stocked with world-class talent for this year's tournament.

The team is highlighted by an outstanding midfield and attack combination that will present a real selection headache to the manager.

Eduardo, Ivica Olic and Nikica Jelavic are all accomplished forwards, while the likes of Ivan Perisic, Niko Kranjcar and Ivan Rakitic will compete for places alongside Darijo Srna and Luka Modric.

Italy will certainly have their hands full with all these creative players.

Ukraine vs. Sweden

Both teams in this fixture will know that it will be essential to win if they want to emerge from a group that includes England and France.

Neither lacks talent either, and this might be a cagey affair in which both will try to not concede the first goal.

On paper, Sweden should have the advantage in this one with their preponderance of top-class, experienced international talent headlined by captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While this is not the flashiest matchup, it might be one of the most interesting from start to finish.

Poland vs. Russia

Group A probably features the least marquee teams of any in the tournament, and this match in Warsaw might well decide who moves on to the Round of 16.

As such, this will be a hotly contested affair between two sides that have enough attacking talent to pepper the opposing goalkeeper and both Wojciech Szczesny and Igor Akinfeev will be busy throughout.

For Russia, the key to success will be their temperamental captain Andrei Arshavin, who can shred any defence on his day, but must be in the mood to run for the full 90 minutes in order to have an appreciable impact on the game.

His form has been much better at Zenit St. Petersburg recently than at parent club Arsenal earlier in the season, but one never knows which version of Arshavin will show up on any given day.

Croatia vs. Spain

As I have said, Croatia is one of the more underrated teams in Euro 2012, and they have a legitimate chance of getting a result against defending champions Spain.

The latter will surely dominate possession, but it will only take one moment of creative genius from any number of Croatia's world-class players to nick a goal on a counterattack as Chelsea did against Barcelona, which is essentially half of the national team.

However, since this match will be on the second-to-last day of group stage matches, Spain might have already clinched qualification to the Round of 16 and might rest a few of their regular starters.

If Croatia are blessed with a slightly weakened opposition, they will look to seize this opportunity to make a final push for qualification.

England vs. Ukraine

Anyone who has followed England's national team knows that the Three Lions never do things the easy way and always seem to want to make their fans sweat.

As such, the long-suffering fans of the founders of football might have to wait until the very last group stage match of the entire tournament to see their beloved boys make it to the next stage.

If they need a win to move on, they will not face an easy task against a Ukraine side that know how to dig in and frustrate a side like England, which is not the most technically gifted of the teams represented at the European Championships.

One gets the sense that it will take one late moment of magic from Wayne Rooney, who will have recently returned from suspension for his violent conduct against Montenegro, to break the deadlock and thrust England into the next round.