Review of Days 1 and 2

It has been an eventful first two days at the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. The first games from Groups A and B have already taken place and already there has been some interesting outcomes.

Poland 1-1 Greece

Starting with co-hosts Poland who kicked of their campaign at the National Stadium in Warsaw against 2004 champions Greece. With all of the pre-tournament controversies out of the way, it was a chance for Poland to give a decent account of themselves in front of a worldwide audience. Both teams looked pretty nervous which was to be expected in the first game of the Championships. Poland improved creating a fair amount of chances before taking the lead on 17 minutes where an unmarked Robert Lewandowski headed in from Jakub Blaszczykowski's superb cross from the right. If going a goal down was a set-back for the Greeks, their task was made even trickier when they had centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos sent off for two very harsh bookings. Greece were very poor in the first half however nobody expected what was to occur after half-time.

Lewandowski gives Poland the lead

Dimitris Salpingidis came on for the Greeks after the break and made an instant impact as Fernando Santos' team aimed to get themselves back into the match. Five minutes into the second half, Salpingidis equalised for the Greeks as he was able to pounce on a loose ball after a lack of communication between Polish 'keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Marcin Wasilewski. Salpingidis was in the midst of the action once more after he was brought down in the box by Szczesny where Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo brandished his second red card of the match. It was left to substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton to try and keep his team in the match as he faced the penalty kick from Giorgos Karagounis. Astonishingly, Tyton saved the penalty to his left and the stadium celebrated as if a goal had been scored.  The match finished 1-1 which was probably a fair result given that what had happened.

INSTANT HERO: Tyton saves Karagounis' penalty

Russia 4-1 Czech Republic

The second match in Group A saw Russia take on the Czech Republic in Wroclaw where an impressive Russian performance swept pass the Czechs. Russia, the favourites to finish as group winners, took the lead after 15 minutes as Alan Dzagoev smashed the ball home from ten yards after Aleksandr Kerzhakov's header came back off the post. Dzagoev should have scored his and Russia's second moments later when he was found in acres of space to the right of the box and struck his effort into the stand. The Russians were on a mission which wasn't a surprise as they soon doubled their advantage when Andrei Arshavin threaded a clever pass through for Roman Shirokov to chip the ball over Petr Cech from close range. Kerzhakov should have put the Czech Republic out of sight before half-time after the ball was squared to him in the area however, he haplessly blazed his effort over the crossbar.

Dzagoev smashes in his first of
two goals past Petr Cech

The Czech's had to get themselves back in the match and on 52 minutes, they did just that when Plasil played an excellent through ball to Pilar who rounded the Russia 'keeper Malafeev and slotted the ball into the empty net. Russia, who were semi-finalists at Euro 2008, sent on Roman Pavlyuchenko to increase their attacking options and the Tottenham striker assisted for Russia's third as his pass set up Dzagoev who allowed himself to take a touch to blast home for his second goal of the match on 79 minutes. The rout was completed three minutes later when Pavlyuchenko wriggled his way into the Czech penalty area taking on the defender and finally unleashing a terrific strike into the top left-hand corner of the goal leaving Cech with no chance at all. An excellent all-round performance from Russia who will provide to cause a shock or two in the tournament.

Roman Pavlyuchenko's thunderous strike
finishes off the Czechs

Netherlands 0-1 Denmark

On Saturday, it was the turn of Group B to kick off their first matches where to begin with, the Netherlands met Denmark in Kharkiv in Ukraine. The Dutch started the tournament as one of the favourites however Denmark would provide a stern test for the Oranje. Bert van Marwijk's team started very brightly creating chances from the off including Robin Van Persie placing his tame effort wide of the left post. Arjen Robben was carving up the Danish defence with his crafting runs and decent deliveries however the Dutch couldn't break the deadlock. Then the soccer-punch came to hit the Dutch on 24 minutes when Michael Krohn-Dehli received the ball from a deflection from Poulsen, ran into the box, cleverly disgusing his route and stuck the ball through Maarten Stekelenburg's legs as Denmark took a shock lead against the run of play. Robben had a terrific opportunity to draw the Dutch level as Denmark 'keeper Andersen's pass went straight to the Bayern Munich playmaker and his curling effort came back off the post.

Krohn-Dehli puts Denmark ahead

In the second half, the Oranje continued their mission in searching for an equaliser with Robben sending his curling effort high and wide of the goal however for Van Persie, he was having a day to forget after a poor first touch let him down in the first half and a complete mis-kick when he was a good position in the box. Mark Van Bommel had his fizzing 25-yard drive terrifically saved by Stefan Andersen while Johnny Heitinga headed over from a corner. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was sent on to rescue a point for his team and he almost did when he was sent one-on-one with Andersen however the Danish 'keeper made a brave block to deny the Schalke striker. Despite claims for a penalty waved away, Denmark survived the Dutch onslaught to record a famous win.

Germany 1-0 Portugal

Later in the day was one of the most anticipated matches of Euro 2012 to date between 3-time champions Germany and 2004 runners-up Portugal in Lviv. The Germans didn't take long to make themselves known as Jerome Boateng delivered a cross from the right flank for Mario Gomez whose header was saved by Portugal 'keeper Rui Patricio diving to his right. On the half hour mark, Mesut Özil delivered a low cross for Arsenal-bound Lukas Podolski who blasted his effort in row Z. Thomas Muller had his first opportunity of the match however he dragged his effort wide of the left post. Portugal barely threatened the Germans in the first half however before the interval, Pepe of Real Madrid took the time to take a touch and his side-footed effort came back off the underside of the crossbar with the ball bouncing off the goal-line where TV replays confirmed the ball didn't cross the line.

Pepe sees his effort come off
the underside of the bar

In the second half, Portugal continued to frustrate the Germans with their defensive tactics however their back line was to be breached 18 minutes from time. Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez was soon to be replaced by team-mate Miroslav Klose however his header from Boateng's deflected cross put the Germans  in front to continue his prolific scoring record. Gomez eventually made way for Klose with ten minutes left and soon after, Portugal suddenly came to life where Cristiano Ronaldo's fierce strike was saved by Manuel Neuer in the German goal. Portugal almost drew level when substitute Nelson Oliviera played the ball across the six-yard box for Valera whose effort produced a marvellous block from Neuer. It was the most entertaining of games however the Germans got the all-important win in their first group game.

SUPER MARIO: Mario Gomez heads Germany's winner