Monday, 21.11.2011
As soon as all 16 teams qualified for EURO 2012, UEFA was first in taking action and revealed seeding pots. Therefore, it was bookmakers who had the second reaction to the playoff qualifiers. Big British bookmaker agency has already started receiving bets for the European championship winners. So the leaders are Spain (coefficient 1/3.5), Germany (1/4.33). Netherlands are backwards (1/7) however, they’ve left behind Italy (1/11), England and France (1/12). At the bottom of Top-10 come Portugal (1/17), Russia (1/21), Ukraine (1/34) and Croatia (1/41). Poland chances to win EURO 2012 are estimated at the level 1/51.
Evidentially, Spain, Germany and Netherlands will be pared as the finalist of the European football tournament.
EURO 2012 Prohibition?
Zakopane, famous Polish touristic center for winter sports decided to be “EURO 2012 free zone”. “Therefore, supporters are very loud and a lot of people will desire calmness and serenity. So we will be able to make their dreams come true,” was cited Andrzej Kawecki, the director of Zakopane promo-agency by information center “Ukraine 2012”.
However, it will differ. In fact, Zakopane Municipality is going to give a shelter for those who search for calmness and tranquility and want to run away from EURO 2012 “noise”. Nevertheless, information sites claim following: “Although Zakopane won’t host any football match, we’re expecting to welcome thousands of tourists!” Local journalists stress out that at least England and Netherlands’ national teams are going to accommodate in Krakow near Zakopane. Moreover, the winter touristic center is next to Ukraine’s border, so it definitely will attract tourists there. For this reason, according to the statements of information agencies, local business of Zakopane isn’t agree with loud declarations and announcements of authorities.
Russia Chose Ukraine and Portugal Chose Both Countries at the Same Time
On Monday November 14, Sergei Fursenko, President of Russian Football Union commented upon the city-base of his team for EURO 2012. It was predictable that Russia chose the country that is the nearest in both cultural and geographical ways – Ukraine, and decided to settle in its capital Kiev. In fact, they can’t expect to accommodate at the suburbs training camp of Dynamo Kiev, one of the best trainings camps in Europe and whole world. The reason is clear because it almost occupied by the host-country.
Nevertheless, Portugal that qualified for EURO 2012 though the playoffs stage, decided to distinguish so wouldn’t change their minds about the counties and training camps one hundred times in a week. After the win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Portuguese (i.e. Carlos Godinho, sports director of the Portugal football association) confessed that had booked two training camps – in each host-country! The final choice to be made after the draw scheduled on December 2.
Genius or Hooligan?
How can you estimate the act of Conor Cunningham that assisted the playoff match Estonia – Republic of Ireland as – Estonian team employee?
If someone doesn’t know: this boy is an active supporter of Republic of Ireland team, arrived to Tallinn for the important match of his team. He made a 24-hours trip without a ticket in his pocket! However, it didn’t stop this Irishman. After wandering around the stadium, he found door to the service rooms opened. On entering he saw a card with Estonian team symbols. So he put it on took the net with balls and went for the field. There he sat down at the substitutes’ bench and didn’t provoke any suspicions. Only 15 minutes later, UEFA functionaries asked Connor to leave the bench and field.
Isn’t he cool?!
