Euro 2012: Power Ranking All 16 Fanbases

With the first round of group matches done and the second round underway, there's only one question that really matters:

Whose fanbase has had the rowdiest, liveliest and downright best fans?

Yes, I understand it's the battles on the pitch that matter. But there are hundreds (if not thousands) of other skirmishes happening outside the stadiums walls—in pubs, restaurants and city centers all over Poznan, Warsaw and Kiev.

These are the battles between fans, either boasting in their country's football prowess (see: Croatia) or using a couple of pints to hide the shame of their country's first performance (see: Ireland).

How have the supporters been at Euro 2012? Join me as I give you the power rankings of all 16 fanbases.

16. Russia

They may have won their opening match 4-1 against the Czech Republic, but there's no justification for the way Russian supporters have been acting at Euro 2012.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that Russia’s soccer federation gave a warning to fans that "hooliganism could cost the team vital points at Euro 2012 after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings into reports of violence by supporters at the team’s first match."

Bloomberg told much of the same story, and The Blaze has pictures and video of Russian supporters attacking stadium staff after their victory against the Czechs.

First place in the standings, last place in life. Way to go, Russia.

15. Poland

These guys are just barely above the Russians, but what they've done so far at Euro 2012 has been despicable.

According to The Guardian, the Holland national team wasn't in Krakow more than a few days when at a public training event "several hundred people targeted [black] players such as Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel" with monkey chants.

"You need to open your ears," Dutch captain Mark van Bommel said. "If you did hear it, and don't want to hear it, that is even worse."

Ugh.

14. Ukraine

I can hardly blame the Ukrainians for getting into scuffles with the Russians at the onset of the Euro 2012 tournament. After all, the former Soviet Empire ruled Ukraine (and 14 other now-sovereign states) with an iron fist for nearly a century.

But now Ukraine has its independence and wanted a little payback on the Russians.

Yahoo reported (via Reuters) that nearly "15 Russian fans, delighted at their side's impressive 4-1 win over the Czech Republic...started shouting and swearing at a smaller group of Ukrainians."

Coincidentally, the scuffle happened in Lviv, which, according to Reuters, was "the center of a resistance campaign by Ukrainian nationalists fighting for independence from the Soviet Union during and after World War Two."

I can't imagine it was all the Russians' fault either. Ukraine was, after all, the same country that brought a frickin' Nazi flag to a football match in 2007.

13. Spain

Usually I love the passion of Spain's supporters, but according to the Daily Mail, Italian striker Mario Balotelli was singled out and taunted with racial epithets during the two sides' Group C opener.

Photographer Chris Brunskill, a 35-year-old from Liverpool, described the disgusting display by the Spaniards as "involved in monkey chanting and laughter and mockery whenever Balotelli was on the ball."

Another photographer, Getty's Michael Steele, said: "I could not see who was involved but it was obvious they were monkey chants. It was disgusting. There is no excuse for it. I am pretty sure Balotelli knew what was going on and heard it as he was close to that section of the crowd when he was booked."

Greek freelance photographer Yiannis Kourtoglou also said: "The monkey whoops were from the Spanish end."

Pretty damning evidence, Spain. Anything to say for yourself?

12. Croatia

Croatia's fans may not be yelling racial slurs at players, but they've pretty well embarrassed their country with this display against Polish police prior to their 3-1 win over Ireland.

But the worst part about it all?

"The incident ended with fans taking photos together," the NY Daily News said.

11. Germany

Great job, German supporters. Your team is flying high after a 1-0 win against Portugal, and (according to BBC) you go and throw "paper missiles" onto the pitch, earning your club possible disciplinary action from UEFA.

Way to go, Die Mannschaft. Way to go.

10. Czech Republic

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the only thing Czech fans have done wrong is booing reserve player Milan Baros who was filling in for the normal striker, Tomas Rosicky.

Considering half the countries in this tournament have fans who are either yelling racial epithets or throwing stuff onto the pitch, voicing displeasure over a rarely used backup taking the place of a star like Rosicky is pretty tame.

9. Denmark

According to the Kviv Post, the only article I could find talking about Denmark's fans at the tournament, tells the story of Euro 2012 through one young man's eyes.

The interview reads like the most boring adventure to an international football tournament in the history of ever. The 28-year-old Stig Christensen is quick to look down his nose at host nations Poland and the Ukraine for being "a bit lower standard than Denmark" and says he's notice that Eastern Europeans are welcoming "but not smiling much."

The article ends by saying "Christensen says he doesn’t have any special plans on how to entertain himself while in Ukraine and plans to spend most of his time watching football."

No special plans on how to entertain yourself?! You're in Eastern Europe! It's like the Wild West of world geography! There's no rules, more international fighting than World War II and plenty of booze! Cheer up!

Yes, that is Stig Christensen in the photo above.

8. France

The French were out in full force on Monday as they took on The Three Lions of England in their group opener, but one fan was just a wee bit tuckered out from making the trip to the Ukraine.

You lost points for sleeping in the middle of the match, but I'll call it a wash since you have a pretty rocking mustache. Makes you look like Super Mario—if he was 50 years old, had never rescued the princess and was dangerously depressed and regretful about his life.

7. England

According to The Guardian, the Brits were nowhere to be seen in their Group D opener against France. So how did the English edge out Les Blues? Who could have possibly filled the gap and made up for thousands of passionate, screaming French?

Two words—Ian Darke.

6. Portugal

When a country can do what's right, even in the face of adversity, you know you're going to do well on my all important power rankings.

That said, Portugal had no problems voicing their displeasure that star player Cristiano Ronaldo has been underwhelming for his national team the last few years.

According to Futbolita.com:

"

The Portuguese team set off on a bizarre "parade" all around Lisbon to mark their final training session before official preparations for the tournament begin. However, in the spotlight again is on our old friend, Cristiano Ronaldo, who apparently snubbed a group of waiting fans outside a restaurant after dinner on Wednesday. The supporters began to insult the player while chanting "Leo Messi! Leo Messi!" in retaliation but Cristiano paid no heed and quickly got into a car with his bodyguards.

"

It didn't technically happen in Poland or the Ukraine, but it happened. And for that, we thank you, Portugal.

5. Italy

We haven't really heard a peep out of the Italian fan base thus far in the Euro 2012 tournament, but that's why I have them ranked so high. Pretty good for a relatively passionate group, especially considering the shame stemming from the recent match-fixing scandal.

4. Greece

Anyone can get over a match-fixing scandal. Try getting over a national depression. No one turns a blind eye to potentially ruinous economies and government corruption like the Greeks.

According to SI.com, despite economic and political crisis, the Greeks have overtaken nearby Poland and Ukraine. "We'll always follow the national team, because they make us happy,'' said Theano Diakosia.

"It's a very big relief to come here. We have to get our minds off it,'' said Lefteris Moschidis. "It would be nice to celebrate together with fans that come from Greece, so they can join in the festivities.''

Ain't no party like a Greek-led party.

3. Sweden

It seems that Sweden's football fans are taking every bit of the stereotype of the Scandinavian warrior and applying it to supporting their country at Euro 2012.

TheLocal.se, a Swedish news outlet in English, reported:

"

"[Sweden's] fans are prepared to live in near-primitive conditions here so as to get a chance of seeing them in action ... electric cables lie carelessly and dangerously on the ground and there are workers vans in evidence going about their business. Public toilets are rare, and, when one does gain access, already filthy, and while water does drip from the taps of the basins it doesn't exactly pour out.

"

"We are happy to be here anyway," exclaimed Martin, a Swedish football supporter. "We came for the atmosphere and the football not for the comfort."

Rock on, Sweden.

2. The Netherlands

Not only have the Dutch not retaliated against Polish and Ukrainian citizens for rampant racial abuse against its black players, but they bought (yes, bought) the services of 3,000 Belgian football fans for the Euro 2012 tournament.

According to NDTV, football supporters from Belgium set up a Facebook group called "Belgian soccer fans for sale for Euro 2012," which has over 20,000 members. The Belgians explained that "they needed someone to shout for and would donate any proceedings from a buyer to UNICEF."

NDTV goes on to say that that "an anonymous Dutch buyer stepped in and will donate the 3,000 euros to Nordschool, a UNICEF project providing education to children living in countries hit by conflict."

Man. Holland rules.

1. Ireland

Ireland may have lost 3-1 in its opening group match to Croatia, but from how happy and lively their fans are, you'd never know it.

There's a lot to be said for how much Irish supporters bring to a tournament, and win or lose their fans never disappoint.

Check out this ESPN video, and you'll see why very little more needs to be said.