Euro 2012 Draw: England Get Hosts & France, Republic Of Ireland Get Spain & Italy (Plus Competition To Win UEFA’s Balls)

Chris Wright

2nd, December 2011

16 Comments

By Chris Wright

The interminable dancing and utterly pointless cavalcade of ‘together as one’ yadda yadda yadda-ing is finally over, the new Adidas Tango matchball has been rolled out and looks glorious (more on that later) and, as an aside to the entire carnival of shite, UEFA’s all-important balls of destiny have been drawn from the hat of fate in Kiev.

The four groups for the 2012 European Championships in Ukraine and Poland will be as follows…

Group A: Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia

Group B: Holland, Denmark, Portugal, Germany

Group C: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Republic of Ireland

Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

Initial thoughts: Group A looks rubbish, Group B looks beautiful, Group C looks like too much for Ireland and Group D looks like England will play Sweden at a major tournament…again.

Bang! See you in 189 days.

Any thoughts on the draw folks? I mean other than it being physical painful to sit through.

* * * * *

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Strange question, but do you fancy winning the actual UEFA balls (and paper slips) drawn from the Group B pot?

Provided you don’t ask us how we got our hands on them, you could win yourself a little bit of football history simply by answering the following question correctly…

Q: What was the name of the Adidas match ball that was used when the highest total of goals were scored at a UEFA European Championships?

Send your answers to us waatpies@gmail.com (with ‘UEFA Balls’ in the subject field) and we’ll select a winner at random from the correct replies when the competition closes at midnight (GMT) on Monday 5th December, 2011.

Terms & Conditions…

  • – The representative’s decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • – The winner agrees not to sell, offer to sell or use the prize for any commercial or promotional purpose (including placing the prize on an internet auction site).
  • – By entering, you agree that if you are chosen as the prize winner, you will allow the Promoters and their partners to use your name, face-book ID, photograph, video, voice recording and general location for its publicity promotional and news purposes during this and any future competitions, promotions or advertising in any and all media in relation to the adidas brand and products including publishing your name ID and the fact you won on www.adidas.com
  • – By entering into the competition you acknowledge and agree that all rights in the ownership of copyright in any imagery created in relation to the competition (individually and collectively the “material”) shall vest in the Promoters. As such, you hereby assign to the Promoters all past, present and future copyright (including by way of present assignment of future rights) and all other rights (including all intellectual property rights and all rights of syndication) in the Material, throughout the World in perpetuity.
  • – Further, to the extent that the benefit of such rights can not be assigned under applicable law, then you acknowledge that such rights are held and exercisable for the sole benefit of the Promoters and hereby waive and undertake not to assert any and all so-called “moral rights” to the same.
  • – The Promoters reserve the right to change, alter or withdraw the competition or any prize at any time.
  • – No purchase is necessary for entry of the Competition and purchase will not increase chances of winning.
  • – To the maximum extent permitted by the law, the Promoters shall not be liable for any claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership and/or use of the prize.
  • – The Promoters will use the information which you provide or which they obtain from their dealings with you, to administer the competition.
  • – The Promoters also wish to use it to tell you about our products and offers, and for market research.
  • – The Promoters will not pass on the information to partners or third parties. If you agree for the Promoters to use your information for these purposes, then please indicate this by ticking the relevant box on the entry form.
  • – If any of these terms and conditions are found by a competent court or other competent authority to be void or unenforceable, that term or condition shall be deemed to be deleted and the remaining terms and conditions shall continue in full force and effect.
  • – The Competition is void where prohibited by law.This promotion is run in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
  • – This competition is organized by We Are Social of 1 St John’s Square, London, EC1M 4PN. Promoters: We Are Social

Posted in Competitions, Euro 2012

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16 Comments

  1. Nick says:

    Totally called it when I said Holland would be in the Group of Death with Germany and Portugal.

  2. Jamie says:

    With a little bit of belief and luck Ireland can sneak through. We’ve played Italy and Croatia in the last 12 months and picked up a win and draw respectively.

    Typical jammy England mind you :)

  3. Papi says:

    UEFA’s balls? Didn’t know they had any!

    Thank you, I’m here all night.

  4. Alan says:

    England meet France and Sweden in the Group stages – it’s 1992 all over again. The omens are not good!

  5. Mr. Sparkle says:

    Overall all the groups look pretty harsh. Poland, Greece, Czech and Russia. Can’t see a clear winner but I also can’t see the host getting out.

    Holland, Denmark, Portugal, Germany; I’m not even going to predict one out of this one, but I hope that Portugal don’t make it out or those dirty cheating Dutch. So I guess I have my mind made up as to whom I’d like to see come out of this one but who actually will, well that’s another question.

    Spain, Italy, Croatia, Republic of Ireland; all four teams have a fighting chance but I think the usual favourites will get out unfortunately. Spain and Italy.

    Ukraine, Sweden, France, England; personally, I’d like to see England fail at this tournament. Perhaps it would be a wake up to the stupid prats at the FA to get rid of the ‘golden’ generation on the team and start with only younger players or players who actually try. It would maybe also serve to shut up the idiot media and the idiot fans who believe that England has a God given right to waltz into every tournament and win it. France, I’d like to see crash and burn in this one as well.

  6. uncle ted says:

    Oh man the look on Van Basten face when he drew Germany was priceless. Literally looked like he saw a ghost. From what i garnered from my time staking research is that in recent tournaments Germany beats Portugal, Portugal beats Holland and Holland beats Germany.

  7. Terry Sheddingham says:

    Can I be terribly optimistic and suggest that England are in with a chance this time, as for the first time in ages the first choice keeper isn’t a dodgy one?

  8. Dr. Roberts says:

    @Teddy Sheringham – No.

  9. tendon not is says:

    Wouldnt be so quick to write england off to progress far …they might not have the most creative attack but they seem solid at the back especially if they play scotty parker to cover. I predict alot of 1-0 grind outs with them reaching the semis atleast. Ireland will look at the italy and croatia games as a real chance to pick up points . dont see them getting anything against spain though. hoping for an England Ireland QF

  10. MaxMad says:

    Denmark will go through, no worries mates.

  11. aj says:

    These structure of these draws is just silly

    Should look something like:
    Spain, DK, Russia, Poland
    Ned., Italy, Greece, Ukr.
    Germany, Croatia, Fr, Cz.
    Eng., Port., Swe., Ireland

    Balanced groups – still plenty of compelling games.

  12. Mr. Sparkle says:

    @Aj

    That would only benefit the big teams getting out of their groups. I personally, don’t want to see Portugal, Germany or the Netherlands winning the competition every other tournament.

  13. Philly Phil says:

    Group A is WEAK poland really lucked out eh

  14. sloth says:

    The uncanny ability of certain teams to choke is really what makes groups interesting. England, France, Italy, Portugal, and Russia all have great teams who somehow find a way to lose. 2 of these 5 will not progress from the groups. My money is on England and Portugal, with Russia 3rd bet.

  15. Terry Sheddingham says:

    @tendon not is

    Oh don’t worry, I’m sure Carrick will get the nod ahead of Parker again and everything will go tits up once more.

    @Dr. Roberts

    Oh. Oh well…

  16. Matthew says:

    @ Mr. Sparkle

    While I agree with your point of it only benefiting the so-caleld “big teams”, Portugal have never won a major tournament…let them have their chance. Although, their chances are slim thanks to being drawn in the group of death, once again.
    I’m Portuguese, and I’m terribly excited to witness what’s going to happen this summer.
    The other groups seem easy enough to predict.

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