Warsaw: Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine have "already won the European Championship" for the legacy it will leave, UEFA president Michel Platini said on Monday. Despite disappointment on the pitch for Poland and Ukraine's chances of reaching the quarter-finals depending on them beating England in their final group match, Platini said both countries could be proud of what they had delivered after problematic preparations, mainly involving infrastructure. "It's not...
10:39 PM, Jun 18, 2012
CNN-IBN's football experts Karim Bencherifa and Novy Kapadia preview the Group C encounters in Euro 2012 on Monday. ...
08:27 PM, Jun 18, 2012
Gdansk: Slaven Bilic has condemned the Croatia fans guilty of racist abuse during the Euro 2012 Group C game against Italy. A banana was allegedly thrown in the direction of Azzurri striker Mario Balotelli, while chants and banners of a discriminatory nature were on display between the two sides on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Monday's match with Spain, Bilic fumed: "Look, of course, this is my...
11:25 PM, Jun 17, 2012
Krakow, Poland: Giovanni Trapattoni may be a proud Italian but he knows he has a professional duty as Ireland coach to try his hardest to deny Italy a passage into the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Monday. Italian media is obsessed with fears Spain and Croatia will play out a 2-2 draw in the other Group C game and knock out the Azzurri even if they beat the Irish in Poznan....
05:59 PM, Jun 17, 2012
Gdansk: After thrashing an accommodating Ireland side 4-0, holders Spain may find Croatia a tougher nut to crack when they meet in Gdansk on Monday in a game that will decide who tops Euro 2012 Group C. A 2-2 draw would put both sides into the quarter-finals even if third-placed Italy beat Ireland and a defeat would probably mean an early flight home. Spain played sparkling football against Ireland when...
05:52 PM, Jun 17, 2012
Poznan: Italy striker Mario Balotelli could miss the Azzurri's last Group C game against Ireland after he reportedly left Saturday's training session complaining of pain in his knee. The Manchester City forward started both of his team's fixtures at Euro 2012, against Spain and Croatia, but failed to find the back of the net. Balotelli left training early with a knee problem, and will require a scan to determine the...
01:32 AM, Jun 17, 2012
Warsaw: UEFA moved to act against racism at Euro 2012 when it charged Croatia's Football Federation on Saturday for racist chants by the national team's fans in the Group C match against Italy in Poznan on Thursday. European soccer's governing body has already sanctioned the Russian FA for the displaying of "illicit banners" by their fans at the tournament, but the Croatians are the first to face disciplinary proceedings for...
07:56 PM, Jun 16, 2012
Krakow: Italy wrote to UEFA on Friday expressing "great regret" that their national anthem was booed by groups of Spanish and Croatian fans during their Euro 2012 Group C matches. A statement from the Italian federation said vice president Demetrio Albertini had sent a letter to UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino to complain. The statement acknowledged that Italians fans had booed anthems in the past. There was no mention of...
07:38 PM, Jun 15, 2012
Gdansk: Watching Spain play is a lot of fun for Germany striker Mario Gomez, and it will be even more enjoyable if he can beat the land of his father at the European Championship. Germany was beaten by Spain at the last two major tournaments " in the final of Euro 2008 and in the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker says "I've been watching Spain...
07:27 PM, Jun 15, 2012
Krakow: Mario Balotelli appeared to lose his place in Italy's starting lineup after two disappointing performances at the European Championship. "He has huge potential, but he needs to improve," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said Friday. "He needs to be more ruthless and pay more attention. These are the areas he needs to improve." Balotelli wasted several chances in the first half of Italy's 1-1 draw with Croatia on Thursday, appearing...
07:22 PM, Jun 15, 2012
CNN-IBN's football experts discuss Spain's 4-0 win over Ireland and Italy's 1-1 draw with Croatia. ...
09:57 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Roy Keane has slammed Republic of Ireland's performance following their 4-0 thrashing by Spain, calling the defence "absolutely shocking". The Boys in Green are the first team to be knocked out of Euro 2012 following convincing defeats against Croatia and the current holders. Keane, a former Republic of Ireland international captain, was very critical of the mistake-ridden displays of Giovanni Trapattonis charges, and was particularly damning regarding their defensive display...
09:22 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Gdansk: Spain midfielder Xavi has hailed the team's display following their 4-0 victory against Republic of Ireland on Thursday. The European champions bounced back from the 1-1 draw in their Euro 2012 opener against Italy on Sunday and cruised to a comfortable victory against Ireland to move to the top of Group C. "We played well and this match will help to build up the confidence in the team," Xavi...
09:10 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Gdansk, Poland: Republic of Ireland are heading home from Poland and Ukraine after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Spain in a Euro 2012 Group C encounter at the PGE Arena on Thursday evening. Fernando Torres, omitted from the starting line-up in the first match, scored a brace and David Silva and Cesc Fabregas each bagged a goal in a match that saw total Spanish domination from start to...
02:12 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Poznan: Fabio Capello has taken the time to praise Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo following his stellar performances against Spain and Croatia at Euro 2012. The Juventus playmaker provided the assist for the opening goal in the Azzurri's 1-1 draw versus the titleholders last Sunday, and scored an exquisite free-kick in the stalemate with Croatia on Thursday. "The player who has made the difference is [Andrea] Pirlo," Capello stated to Uefa.com....
01:00 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Warsaw: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli rued his team's missed chances after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Croatia, leaving them with just two points from two games in Group C. The Italians created several openings in the first half but strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano were unable to convert. Although Andrea Pirlo's superb free-kick gave the Azzurri the lead six minutes before the break, the advantage was...
12:27 AM, Jun 15, 2012
Poznan: Croatia came back from behind to secure a vital 1-1 draw with Italy at Euro 2012 on Thursday to make for an exciting last round of matches in Group C. Andrea Pirlo gave the Azzurri a deserved lead towards the end of the first half with a sumputous free kick from the edge of the box, but goalscoring revelation Mario Mandzukic earned his side a point late on to...
11:15 PM, Jun 14, 2012
