by DFE
For those of you that hang out under a rock, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that the European Championship is about to start on June 8th. For those of you new to soccer/football, this is basically a world cup tournament for Europe only. Last year the United States played in a similar tournament that we have over here called the Gold Cup. The Gold cup by no means is as large as the Euro, however it is basically the same tournament. The winner of the European Championship will receive an automatic bid to the 2013 Confederations cup hosted in Brazil.
Qualified nations
| Country |
Qualified as |
Date qualification was secured |
Previous appearances in tournament |
 Poland |
Co-hosts |
18 April 2007 |
1 (2008) |
 Ukraine |
Co-hosts |
18 April 2007 |
0 (Debut) |
 Germany |
Group A winner |
2 September 2011 |
10 (1972,1 3 1976,3 1980,1 3 1984,3 1988,3 1992, 1996,1 2000, 2004, 2008) |
 Russia |
Group B winner |
11 October 2011 |
9 (1960,1 4 1964,4 1968,4 1972,4 1988,4 1992,5 1996, 2004, 2008) |
 Italy |
Group C winner |
6 September 2011 |
7 (1968,1 2 1980,2 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) |
 France |
Group D winner |
11 October 2011 |
7 (1960,2 1984,1 2 1992, 1996, 2000,1 2004, 2008) |
 Netherlands |
Group E winner |
6 September 2011 |
8 (1976, 1980, 1988,1 1992, 1996, 2000,2 2004, 2008) |
 Greece |
Group F winner |
11 October 2011 |
3 (1980, 2004,1 2008) |
 England |
Group G winner |
7 October 2011 |
7 (1968, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996,2 2000, 2004) |
 Denmark |
Group H winner |
11 October 2011 |
7 (1964, 1984, 1988, 1992,1 1996, 2000, 2004) |
 Spain |
Group I winner |
6 September 2011 |
8 (1964,1 2 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 20081) |
 Sweden |
Best runner-up |
11 October 2011 |
4 (1992,2 2000, 2004, 2008) |
 Croatia |
Qualifying play-offs |
15 November 2011 |
3 (1996, 2004, 2008) |
 Czech Republic |
Qualifying play-offs |
15 November 2011 |
7 (1960, 6 1976,1 6 1980, 6 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) |
 Republic of Ireland |
Qualifying play-offs |
15 November 2011 |
1 (1988) |
 Portugal |
Qualifying play-offs |
15 November 2011 |
5 (1984, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2 2008) |
SCHEDULE
| SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 12:00 ET |
Spain |
v |
Italy |
Group C |
 |
PGE Arena Gdansk |
| 2:45 ET |
Ireland |
v |
Croatia |
Group C |
|
Municipal Stadium |
| MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 12:00 ET |
France |
v |
England |
Group D |
|
Donbass Arena |
| 2:45 ET |
Ukraine |
v |
Sweden |
Group D |
|
Kiev Olympic Stadium |
| THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 12:00 ET |
Italy |
v |
Croatia |
Group C |
 |
Municipal Stadium |
| 2:45 ET |
Spain |
v |
Ireland |
Group C |
|
PGE Arena Gdansk |
| FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 12:00 ET |
Sweden |
v |
England |
Group D |
|
Kiev Olympic Stadium |
| 2:45 ET |
Ukraine |
v |
France |
Group D |
|
Donbass Arena |
| MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 2:45 ET |
Croatia |
v |
Spain |
Group C |
|
PGE Arena Gdansk |
| 2:45 ET |
Italy |
v |
Ireland |
Group C |
|
Municipal Stadium |
| TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 2:45 ET |
England |
v |
Ukraine |
Group D |
|
Donbass Arena |
| 2:45 ET |
Sweden |
v |
France |
Group D |
|
Kiev Olympic Stadium |
| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 2:45 ET |
W25 |
v |
W27 |
Semi-finals |
|
Donbass Arena |
| THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 |
| Time |
|
|
|
Stage |
TV |
Venue |
| 2:45 ET |
W26 |
v |
W28 |
Semi-finals |
|
National Stadium Warsaw |
HISTORY
- * : hosts
Soviet Union
Yugoslavia
Belgium
