Update on Euro 2012
Who has Already Clinched?
After the latest round of Euro 2012 qualifying fixtures, what was once a muddy picture is starting to become more clear. Soccer giants, and the last two squads to hoist the World Cup trophy in Spain and Italy, both clinched their tickets to the second-biggest soccer tournament in the world with their respective results against Lichtenstein and Slovenia yesterday.
The two join Germany, Netherlands, and hosts Poland and Ukraine as 6 of the 16 spots for Euro 2012 have already been filled.
As for other big-name teams, France struggled to a 0-0 draw against Romania but still remain atop their group by a single point. England on the other hand, netted a goal from ManU’s Ashley Young to top Wales 1-0. The victory gives England a clear lead in their group as they look to clinch their spot with a good result in their next fixture.
Poland’s Preparations
As for Poland, who has the luxury of skipping qualification due to their host nation status, The White Eagles played to a very respectable 2-2 draw against Germany in a recent friendly. The Poles actually led until the 90′ minute before Cacau of Die Mannschaft pulled his team even.
Granted, German coach Joachim Low, rested many from his regular Starting XI, but Poland showed that they wouldn’t back down against their superior neighbors.
38th Friend
Meanwhile and on the volunteer front of Euro 2012, 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Urania swimmer, Yana Klochkova was announced as the 38th Friend of the tourney. Klochkova won two of her gold medals in the 2000 games held in Sydney, with the other two coming in Athens in 2004.
“It is a great honour for me to become a Friend of EURO 2012,” said Klochkova in an interview with UEFA.com. “”I will do everything I can to help Ukraine host the tournament in the best possible way.”
There will be a total of 200 Friends nominated for Euro 2012, with 100 apiece coming from both host nations.