The European Championships are now only a few days away, so we at Spirit of Mirko have decided to predict the entire tournament. Rather than predicting the results by analysing each individual side, their players, formations, recent form, we have decided to use hard, cold facts. So, for this set of predictions we have used the previous meeting for each side to predict which side will win.
Group A
Greece 0 – 0 Poland (29/3/2011)
Russia 3 – 3 Czech Republic (19/6/1996)
Greece 1 -0 Czech Republic (1/7/2004)
Poland 2 – 2 Russia (22/8/2007)
Greece 1 – 1 Russia (11/11/2011)
Poland 0 – 2 Czech Republic (10/10/2009)
Group A is won by Euro 2004 winners Greece on a fittingly meagre 5 points, in second place it’s Czech Republic on 4 points. Russia finish 3rd with 3 points and exit the competition after not losing a game, whilst hosts Poland bow out at the group stage on 2 points.
Group B
Netherlands 2 – 0 Denmark (14/6/2010)
Germany 3 – 2 Portugal (19/6/2008)
Denmark 2 – 1 Portugal (11/10/2011)
Netherlands 0 – 3 Germany (15/11/2011)
Denmark 2 – 2 Germany (11/8/2010)
Portugal 1 – 0 Netherlands (25/6/2006)
Unsurprisingly Germany top Group B after picking up seven points from their three games. In second place it’s Denmark with four points. Netherlands and Portugal are out before the knock out stages have even begun after finishing with three points apiece.
Group C
Spain 1 – 2 Italy (10/8/2011)
Ireland 0 – 0 Croatia (10/8/2011)
Italy 0 – 2 Croatia (16/8/2006)
Spain 1 – 1 Ireland (15/6/2002)
Croatia 1 – 2 Spain (7/6/2006)
Italy 0 – 2 Ireland (7/6/2011)
A shock in Group C as two draws and a win against Italy is enough to see Ireland finish as group winners. Second spot in the group goes to Spain on four points who sneak through by virtue of their head to head with Croatia. Italy finish rock bottom on three points.
Group D
France 2 – 1 England (17/11/2010)
Ukraine 1 – 1 Sweden (9/2/2011)
Ukraine 1 – 4 France (6/6/2011)
Sweden 0 – 1 England (15/11/2011)
England 0 – 1 Ukraine (10/10/2009)
Sweden 2 – 3 France (20/8/2008)
France win their group with a storming nice points from a possible nine. Local interest in the tournament is maintained as hosts Ukraine sneak through in second place on four points. England finish third with three points and the Swedes last with a solitary point.
Quarter Finals
Greece 1 – 2 Denmark (AET) (11/2/2009) & (8/10/2005)
Germany 0 – 3 Czech Republic (17/10/2007)
Ireland W/O Ukraine
France 0 – 2 Spain (3/3/2010)
In February 2009 Greece and Denmark fought out a 1-1 friendly draw, so you have to go further back in time to 2005 to find an occasion where a positive result was gained. Denmark defeated Greece in a World Cup qualifier – enough to get them through to the semi-finals of Euro 2012. In qualifying for Euro 2008 Czech Republic achieved an impressive 3-0 victory over Germany. That’s enough to see them through to the final four.
Interestingly Ukraine and Ireland have never met in a senior international. Therefore we have to fall back on the trusty FIFA world rankings that predict the 18th-placed Irish would see off the 50th placed Ukraine. Ireland through to the semi-finals. Spain‘s 2-0 win over France in a friendly in March 2010 is enough for them to make up the last spot in the semi-finals.
Semi Finals
Denmark 0 – 4 Ireland (22/8/2007)
Czech Republic 1 – 2 Spain (25/3/2011)
Ireland make it to the final of a major tournament for the first time by virtue of their 4-0 friendly victory in August 2007 (bear with me..). Ireland will face Spain who saw off the Czech Republic 2-1 (qualifier for Euro 2012).
Final
Ireland 1 – 1 – Spain [Spain win on penalties] – (15/6/2002)
Heart-break for Ireland as Spain win a third consecutive major honour. Spain’s penalty shoot-out win from the 2002 World Cup is enough to hand them the European Championships. Well done Spain.
