Poland's Euro 2012 stadium clears new hurdle

By Jonathan Fowler (AFP) 

 

WARSAW — Poland's national stadium, where Euro 2012 kicks off in two months, cleared a new hurdle on Tuesday with its first ever club game, pitting Polish league leaders Legia Warsaw against Spanish side Sevilla.

The friendly, which ended 2-0 for the Spanish side, was seen by the stadium management as a way for the staff to hone their skills. Drawing 20,000 supporters, it followed the 58,000-capacity arena's February 29 footballing debut, a sell-out friendly between Poland and Portugal that was hailed as a logistical success.

Euro 2012: Racism, anti-Semitism concerns linger in Poland, Ukraine

By Matt Brooks

 

Racism remains a very real problem in European soccer despite widespread campaigns to quash its presence from the world’s most popular sport. But from former England national team captain John Terry to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, instances of on-field racism remain while rabid fanbases too frequently resort to racist chants and taunts to degrade opposing players and their fans. It’s a troubling reality for a sport build on its global appeal — and its one organizers for the upcoming European Championships must be prepared to tackle.

 

Cheap Trains for Russia's Euro 2012 Fans

Russian fans traveling by train to Ukraine and Poland for Euro 2012 are to get cut-price tickets under an agreement announced Saturday by state-owned Russian Railways. The continent's top national team competition is June 8 to July 1, with matches in the Polish cities of Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan; and the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Lviv, Donetsk and Kiev.

Euro 2012 - Balotelli says sorry for red card

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for his red card at Arsenal on Sunday and says he should not be punished by Cesare Prandelli. The 21-year-old was sent off in the dying seconds of Easter Sunday's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium for clattering into Bacary Sagna, after earlier getting away with a knee-high challenge on Gunners midfielder Alex Song.

Whitehead backs Stoke star for Euro 2012 call

By Sportsmail Reporter

Stoke midfielder Dean Whitehead believes there are few strikers in the top flight better than Peter Crouch at the moment. Crouch headed home the winner from Jermaine Pennant's free-kick in the Potters' 2-1 home victory over Wolves on Saturday to take his goal tally for the campaign to 13 in all competitions.

Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland – what to expect from the host venues

By garethmcknight on April 5th, 2012

With Euro 2012 just round the corner, the footballing world will have their eyes on Ukraine and Poland this summer. With Europe’s leading nations competing in June and July, fans and supporters from across the continent and further afield will descend upon the eastern European nations.

However, despite the hosts having some sway in the European game, many fans from the United Kingdom and western Europe will never have been to Ukraine or Poland; here is a definitive guide of where, what and when:

Euro 2012 still a distant dream for Bent

By ESPN staff

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent is on the road to recovery but remains unsure whether he will be fit enough to challenge for a Euro 2012 place. Ruled out for the rest of the domestic season, Bent has begun rehabilitation work after undergoing ankle surgery at the beginning of March.

Poland lacks foreign hooligan list for Euro 2012

WARSAW — Euro 2012 host Poland lacks a database of foreign hooligans banned from stadiums in their homelands, raising the risk of trouble at the looming tournament, monitors warned on Tuesday.

Poland's National Audit Chamber (NIK) said the issue was a cause for concern just two months before the 16-nation European football championships, co-hosted with neighbouring Ukraine, kicks off in the capital Warsaw.

Orange Signs Up Sony Mobile as Handset Partner for UEFA EURO 2012™

If you hadn’t noticed there is a big sporting event in London this summer, but another tournament is also taking place before the Olympic baton is handed over in July.

In June UEFA EURO 2012™ kicks off (boom-boom!) in the Ukraine and Poland, and official sponsor Orange has announced that Sony Mobile will be the global handset partner for the event. The two companies will be running online competitions, in-store promotions, and live events giving football fans hundreds of opportunities to win tickets to the games, Xperia smartphones and ‘other great gifts’.

Ox not thinking about Euro 2012

By ESPN staff

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes the success of young English talent at Arsenal bodes well for England, but he insists he is not thinking about his chances of playing at Euro 2012.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has impressed this season since his arrival at the club in the summer, while Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs have also been key members in the Gunners' Premier League campaign.