This year’s Eurocup left us with so many great images! Below, a brief selection of those involving our blaugrana heroes.
Images courtesy of EFE, MD, PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images, and Martin Rose/Getty Images.
FC Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta (28) has been named the Best Player of UEFA Euro 2012 by the UEFA technical team, as Spain went on to be crowned Champions and complete a historic double. UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh says the Spain midfielder “symbolised the tournament”.
Spain vs. Italy, UEFA Euro 2012, Final
Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 20:45 CET (Convert to your local time)
Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine (Capacity: 64,640)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
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Portugal vs. Spain, UEFA Euro 2012, Semi-finals
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 20:45 CET (Convert to your local time)
Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine (Capacity: 49,400)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
Two Iberian teams meet today, with the winner earning a spot in Sunday’s final. After an opening game draw with Italy, Spain have gone on to win their next three games without conceding a single goal. Can they stop Portugal for the chance to defend their title this weekend?
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Spain vs. France, UEFA Euro 2012, Quarterfinals
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 20:45 CET (Convert to your local time)
Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine (Capacity: 49,400)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
The knockout stages have arrived for Spain, with the winner of this quarterfinal set to take on Portugal next Wednesday in the semi-finals.
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Croatia vs. Spain, UEFA Euro 2012, Group C, Game 3
Monday, June 18, 2012 at 20:45 CET (Convert to your local time)
Arena Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland (Capacity: 40,000)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
A win today for Spain will ensure top spot in Group C and a place in the quarterfinals for the reigning champions. A couple of other scenarios will also claim the top spot for Spain: a tie against Croatia of 2-2 or higher, any tie against Croatia if Italy does not win, a tie of 1-1 against Croatia if Italy cannot beat Ireland by 5-1 or more. Spain will finish second with a 0-0 tie against Croatia if Italy beats Ireland, or with a loss if Italy does not win. Spain faces elimination only with a loss if Italy also beats Ireland.
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Portugal vs. Netherlands, UEFA Euro 2012, Group B, Game 3
Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 20:45 CET, 21:45 local time (Convert to your local time)
Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, Ukraine (Capacity: 35,000)
Barça player to watch: Ibrahim Afellay
It’s do or die today for the Netherlands. Afellay’s team still has a chance of advancing out of Group B, provided they earn a big win today against Portugal and Germany does its part by beating Denmark in the other group match.
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Spain vs. Ireland, UEFA Euro 2012, Group C, Game 2
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 20:45 CET (Convert to your local time)
Arena Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland (Capacity: 40,000)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
FC Barcelona Chat: http://apps.facebook.com/fcbarcelonachat/ (direct chat through Facebook)
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Netherlands vs. Germany, UEFA Euro 2012, Group B, Game 2
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 20:45 CET, 21:45 local time (Convert to your local time)
Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, Ukraine (Capacity: 35,000)
Barça player to watch: Ibrahim Afellay
The Netherlands will try and bounce back from an opening game loss to Denmark when they face Group B leaders Germany this evening.
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Spain vs. Italy, UEFA Euro 2012, Group C, Game 1
Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 18:00 CET (Convert to your local time)
Arena Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland (Capacity: 40,000)
Barça players to watch: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez
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The 23 players from the Dutch football team, who are stationed in Poland for the UEFA Euro 2012, pooled in money to set up a Johan Cruyff football court in Primary School 93 in Bronowice, Krakow. Radio Netherlands reports that “high-rise concrete buildings abound and so do children apparently [in Bronowice]. There are 6,000 of them, who have to make do with just three playgrounds.” But thanks to a fenced football pitch - 42mx28m – the kids now also have an artificial turf to play on. The official statement from the Holland squad said that it “wishes to leave a tangible legacy to the local community and offer children a safe spot close to home where they can play football.” And who better to name it after other than Holland and Barca football icon Johan Cruyff. The Orange Cruyff Court in Krakow is the 158th of its kind and the 22nd outside the Netherlands.
Netherlands kick off their Euro campaign in Kharkiv, Poland Ukraine facing Denmark on June 9.
There was some good news for Spain ahead of Euro 2012. FC Barcelona’s Cesc Fábregas resumed training with his national teammates after recovering from an injury that saw him out of the initial training sessions and friendlies which served as prep work for the Euros. Fabregas along with 22 other players and the coaching, medical and technical staff later left for Gdansk, Poland, which will host the three games of the defending champions in the group stage of the tournament. The door of the plane boasted the message of ‘Orgullosos de nuestra selección’ (Proud of our national team). Marca reports that Ramos’ new hairdo – the long locks have gone – was the subject of much conversation during the flight. From Gdansk, the team travelled to Gniewino, a small town of 2,000 inhabitants which will be the players’ base.
More pictures after the jump.
The draw for UEFA Euro 2012 took place in Kyiv, Ukraine and the defending Euro champions Spain have been slotted in Group C alongside Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. Meanwhile, Netherlands, the national team of injured FC Barcelona player Ibrahim Afellay, who would hope to recover in time for the biggest European competition, will be in the tough Group B. It will see the 2010 World Cup finalists alongside Euro 2008 finalists Germany, and Denmark and Portugal. Eric Abidal’s France is in Group D with host nation Ukraine and Sweden and England. See the complete draw after the jump.
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