Euro 2012: Exciting Group Draw Sets Up Next Summer's Tournament to Be a Classic

Ever since the seeding pots were announced for next summer's European Football Championship on December 2nd, doubts were cast over the credibility of UEFA's formulas, calculations and systems for sorting their tournament's structure.

The joint hosts Poland and Ukraine, two teams ranked 66 and 55 in FIFA's rankings respectively, were placed alongside The Netherlands and Spain, 2010's World Cup finalists, in pot one. 

Meanwhile, France found themselves cast down to the fourth and final pot after a resurgent 2011. With Ireland also placed in pot four, a collective sigh of disappointment permeated from the ranks of football fans savouring the prospect of a group stage grudge match against Les Blues.

Worried voices feared that the hosts' placings would damage the integrity and balance of the group draw, and cause a lopsided and predictable competition.

Although today's group draw is hardly a rebuttal to such legitimate concerns, it did give us a surprisingly exciting image of how next summer's Euros could spring to life.

Each and every group looks well-balanced and wide open. Speaking from an English perspective, we'll look at the groups back to front, starting with Group D.

Looking at the other three groups, Fabio Capello can hardly curse his side's company in the opening round. All of the four combination of sides would be classed as the perennial "Group of Death" in any other tournament year.

Progress from Group D will be far from easy however, with the path into the second round blocked off by France and Sweden, two old footballing foes with unpalatably strong records against England on the international stage.

Ukraine should not be underestimated as whipping boy cannon fodder either, and will need to be approached with cautious respect as their dormant talents are thrown into home-nation overdrive.

Group D teams to progress into the second round: France (1st), Ukraine (2nd)

Group C is another difficult group, although current European and World champions Spain have to be favourites to top the table.

Irish eyes will be smiling at the prospect of three contests against top-drawer competition, but Trapatonni will need both Italy and Croatia to stall for his Ireland side to have any chance of hustling through into second place.

Matching up the Italians with the Croatians, the Azzurri have to be favourites purely because it's Italy at a major international tournament. Need I say more?

Group C teams to progress into the second round: Spain (1st), Italy (2nd)

The best group stage viewing could well come from Group B. With Germany producing Teutonically-charged total football these days and The Netherlands looking to recapture hearts and minds after their violent World Cup antics, fans and neutrals alike will be keeping tabs on their tussle for top spot superiority.

Let's not forget the history between these two nations from former editions of the Euros either!

Besides battling it out for bragging rights over their rivals, both Germany and The Netherlands must be mindful of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Denmark, a team containing the impressive young talent that is Christian Eriksen.

Whilst the likes of Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels will look to cement their reputations for Germany, 2012 could be the year a Danish superstar explodes onto the international stage.

Group B teams to progress into the second round: Germany (1st), Denmark (2nd)

Having already covered three open and exciting groups, your mind may drift onto our fourth and final collection of teams with suspicion. There is always a dead rubber of a group, lacking in quality and drama.

Group A may not include a true, top-drawer headliner, but the group's four teams could ignite the tournament early on with an explosive scramble for progress just outside the obvious attention of the obvious spotlight.

The combination of Russia's unpredictable brilliance, Poland's pride-powered drive, the perpetual dark horses of the Czech Republic and Greece's stoic determination to mix things up in whatever way they can offer up some classic contests and unlikely entrants into the next round.

Group A teams to progress into the second round: Greece (1st), Russia (2nd)

Admittedly, there's some controversial selections in there, but with such an unpredictable draw, almost anything could happen!

What are your thoughts on today's Euro group stage draw? Who are the teams, players and groups to watch out for next summer? Just how mad or bad are my predictions? Jot down your thoughts in a comment below and join the debate!