Euro 2012: Round-Up of Group A Featuring Russian Dominance and Greek Spirit

Before a ball was even kicked, Euro 2012 got off to a rambunctious start. Due to UEFA’s inability to enact its zero-tolerance rule on racism, certain members of the Holland team were subjected to monkey chants during their open training session, which may well set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

Off-pitch matters aside, as soon as Poland and Greece kick-started the tournament, Europe was soon treated to a scintillating game of football. An opening game with two goals, two red cards (one very dubious and the other well justified) and with clever passages of play bodes well for the coming weeks. Though the game finished 1-1, the game went through as many twists and turns as the dancers in the opening ceremony.

If Poland-Greece was a spectacle, then the Russia-Czech Republic game was a master class in attacking football. Russia came through as 4-1 victors, but the Czechs were never out of it until the final whistle. Many would have considered Group A to have been the least glamorous of the groups, since the tournament contains the deadliest "Group of Death" in the tournament’s history, but the first day gave everything fans would have hoped for.

Poland   

Poland’s tournament hopes are pinned on the Borussia Dortmund trio of Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Błaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek who were all outstanding for the Poles. Predictably, Poland’s attacks mostly came down their right flank, with Blaszczkowski and Piszczek combining with extreme effect, rendering the Greek defence useless at times. Lewandowski, in particular, shone as a striker hungry for goals.

At halftime Poland were sitting comfortably at 1-0, after Greece’s goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias flapped at a cross from Piszczek, allowing Lewandowski to nod into the net after 15 minutes. But they really should have scored more.

Wojciech Szczesny’s blatant red card was a turning point for the Poles, as they began to lose control of the tie. His replacement, Przemyslaw Tyton, became an instant hero by saving a penalty which would have put Greece ahead.      

Up next for Poland is Russia. The co-hosts will need to recreate their creative vigour they showed in the first half against Greece if they are to have any hope of a result against Russia.

Greece

The 2004 winners started the tournament in abysmal style. They didn’t look like a defence that hadn’t conceded a goal since November last year. Though Georgios Samaras tried his best to hold the ball in attack, he was unable to create/convert any significant chances for the Greeks.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos became the first player of the tournament to be sent off after Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo harshly gave two yellow cards at 40 minutes. From there on, it looked like Greece was going to do anything but damage limitation from there.

Dimitrios Salpingidis came on after the break, though, and completely changed the game. An almost identical flap to Chalkias from Szczesny let Salpingidis slot home to equalise. Poland struggled to feed Lewandowski with opportunities, but when he did, he spurned them.

Salpingidis had a goal ruled out for offside before Szczesny was sent off, which created a nervy but exciting finish to the game. Greece’s next game is against Czech Republic, which won’t seem so daunting after a hard-earned draw in Krakow.

Czech Republic   

The Czechs started as the brighter team in their encounter with Russia but couldn’t convert any opportunities that came their way.  Tomas Rosicky could be given 10/10 for effort, but the Arsenal playmaker was completely outshone by another Gunner in Andrei Arshavin, who ran the show (for a change).

Baros couldn’t put himself in the game effectively, and the Czechs suffered because of it. Gebre Selassie, the Czech’s right-back, was an effective outlet who bombed forward at every chance he had to get goals.

The Czechs weren't completely void of any attacking verve, as a fine Jaroslav Plasil pass and Vaclav Pilar’s deft dink over the Russian keeper made it 2-1 to the Russians, and by that point the Czechs were in the game.

They should have no problem dispatching a damaged Greece side, but they need to ensure they convert their chances and be wary of counterattacks.

Russia   

The tournament’s dark horses showed the world what they are capable of after putting on an exciting attacking show.

Though Alan Dzagoev may have received all the plaudits with his two well-taken goals, Andrei Arshavin should not be forgotten. He set up two goals and came close to many more. His energetic runs, flurry of step-overs and pin-point passing signal the Russian is back to his best. Arsenal fans may be hoping he stays after all.        

Not only is Russia’s starting 11 incredibly strong, but the two players they brought on from the bench slotted into the team seamlessly. Roman Pavlyuchenko’s blistering goal and Aleksandr Kokorin’s trick-filled eight-minute cameo shows a depth to their squad, too.

Russia will be keen to solidify their reputation as serious tournament contenders with their next game against Poland. Hopefully, Alexander Kerzhakov will find his shooting boots in time for the Poland game (the striker had eight shots, no goals), but it won’t matter if Arshavin, Dzagoev, Roman Shirokov and Igor Denisov are all in form.