Giorgios Karagounis scored a dramatic winner as Greece produced one of the shocks of Euro 2012 to knock Russia out of the tournament and seal their place in the last eight. 
Russia had utterly dominated the game before Karagounis pounced on a Yuri Zhirkov mistake to drill in a low shot past Vyacheslav Malafeev. Roman Shirokov had earlier been denied a penalty after claiming a push by Karagounis, who also had a strong spot-kick shout himself waved away later on - and, to add insult to injury was booked for diving meaning that he will miss the quarter final. A Giorgos Tzavellas free-kick struck the post for Greece as Russia went out. Who'd've thought that was likely to happen as they crushed the Czechs in their opening group game just a week ago? if a week's a long time in politics it's an eternity in football. So, whilst the Greeks might be pulled out of the Euro, they're still in the Euro Zone. if you see what I mean.
And, just to complete what was a thoroughly bizarre night, Petr Jiráček scored the only goal of a scrappy game in Wroclaw to break Polish hearts and send the Czech Republic - spanked 4-1 in their opening game by the Russians, remember - into the quarter-finals as winners of Group A.
The Wolfsburg midfielder poked the ball beyond Poland goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń eighteen minutes from time to dump the co-hosts out of Euro 2012. Poland came into the game knowing that a win would have taken them into the last eight for the first time. But while Poland's attacking quartet created a succession of clear-cut chances in an opening half hour they dictated, all of them were, crucially, spurned. Robert Lewandowsk had the best of them, linking up delightfully with Jakub Błaszczykowski only to slice a left-footed shot wide of the upright under pressure from Theodor Gebre Selassie. Captain Błaszczykowski had a last-gasp header cleared off the line by Michal Kadlec. The Czechs, for whom Václav Pilař was outstanding in midfield, held on during a frantic final few moments.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson both claim that England were lucky to escape with a win in Kiev on Friday that saw Sweden depart Euro 2012. At one stage the Swedes led the Group D fixture 2-1 but a Theo Walcott-inspired rally secured a 3-2 win for England which propelled them into second place and sending the Swedes back home to Stockholm with nul point. Ibrahimovic said: 'I think we were the better team against England.' Mackem midfielder Larsson agreed: 'We were definitely better.' Yeah, yeah, what ever. Enjoy your summer off, lads.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation following racist chanting during their recent game with Italy. It was investigating reports that a banana was thrown onto the pitch during the Group C match with Italy on Thursday. A photographer reportedly saw a steward retrieving a banana and heard monkey chants directed at Mario Balotelli. The disciplinary proceedings are outlined for 'racist chants [and] racist symbols' in the crowd. 'UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation for the setting-off and throwing of fireworks, and the improper conduct of supporters (racist chants, racist symbols) at the UEFA Euro 2012 Group C match against Italy in Poznan on Thursday,' it said in a statement. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Tuesday 19 June. Football Against Racism in Europe announced on Friday that their observers heard between three hundred and five hundred Croatia fans chanting monkey noises, which prompted UEFA to investigate the matter. The Croatian Football Federation has condemned the 'deviant" fans who had shamed their country but urged UEFA to spare them further sanctions. In a statement it said: 'The Croatian Football Federation distances itself from all deviant behaviour of the part of the fans during the final tournament of UEFA Euro 2012 and strongly condemns it. The HNS, its national team players and members of the technical staff support all UEFA activities aimed at identifying individuals whose behaviour damages the reputation of the competition, no matter which country they come from. The HNS appeals to UEFA not to punish the Croatian national team, which is for a number of years at the top of world football because of its performances and behaviour, both on and off the field of play, and not to associate it with the part of the fans who actually are not supporters, but hooligans which should be isolated from all sports events.' Or, in other words 'please sir, don't cane me I was led astray by older boys.' Croatia were fined fifteen grand by FIFA just under four years ago after England striker Emile Heskey was subjected to monkey chants during a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb. They were also given a small fine during Euro 2008 for racist abuse from their fans during their game against Turkey.
Alleged racist chanting in the Spain versus Italy and Russia versus Czech Republic games are already subject to investigations. A Spanish fans' group has said that some of its country's supporters abused striker Balotelli in their game with Italy, while Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie told reporters he 'noticed' racist chants directed at him. Balotelli, who started the 1-1 draw against Croatia, said before Euro 2012 that he would 'not accept racism at all' and would walk off the pitch if racially abused by fans. The latest allegations emerged after an AFP photographer and a racism monitoring body said they heard racist chanting at the match. The photographer, who was positioned in front of the majority of Croatia fans, also saw a steward pick up a banana from the pitch.
Russia had utterly dominated the game before Karagounis pounced on a Yuri Zhirkov mistake to drill in a low shot past Vyacheslav Malafeev. Roman Shirokov had earlier been denied a penalty after claiming a push by Karagounis, who also had a strong spot-kick shout himself waved away later on - and, to add insult to injury was booked for diving meaning that he will miss the quarter final. A Giorgos Tzavellas free-kick struck the post for Greece as Russia went out. Who'd've thought that was likely to happen as they crushed the Czechs in their opening group game just a week ago? if a week's a long time in politics it's an eternity in football. So, whilst the Greeks might be pulled out of the Euro, they're still in the Euro Zone. if you see what I mean. And, just to complete what was a thoroughly bizarre night, Petr Jiráček scored the only goal of a scrappy game in Wroclaw to break Polish hearts and send the Czech Republic - spanked 4-1 in their opening game by the Russians, remember - into the quarter-finals as winners of Group A.
The Wolfsburg midfielder poked the ball beyond Poland goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń eighteen minutes from time to dump the co-hosts out of Euro 2012. Poland came into the game knowing that a win would have taken them into the last eight for the first time. But while Poland's attacking quartet created a succession of clear-cut chances in an opening half hour they dictated, all of them were, crucially, spurned. Robert Lewandowsk had the best of them, linking up delightfully with Jakub Błaszczykowski only to slice a left-footed shot wide of the upright under pressure from Theodor Gebre Selassie. Captain Błaszczykowski had a last-gasp header cleared off the line by Michal Kadlec. The Czechs, for whom Václav Pilař was outstanding in midfield, held on during a frantic final few moments. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson both claim that England were lucky to escape with a win in Kiev on Friday that saw Sweden depart Euro 2012. At one stage the Swedes led the Group D fixture 2-1 but a Theo Walcott-inspired rally secured a 3-2 win for England which propelled them into second place and sending the Swedes back home to Stockholm with nul point. Ibrahimovic said: 'I think we were the better team against England.' Mackem midfielder Larsson agreed: 'We were definitely better.' Yeah, yeah, what ever. Enjoy your summer off, lads.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation following racist chanting during their recent game with Italy. It was investigating reports that a banana was thrown onto the pitch during the Group C match with Italy on Thursday. A photographer reportedly saw a steward retrieving a banana and heard monkey chants directed at Mario Balotelli. The disciplinary proceedings are outlined for 'racist chants [and] racist symbols' in the crowd. 'UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation for the setting-off and throwing of fireworks, and the improper conduct of supporters (racist chants, racist symbols) at the UEFA Euro 2012 Group C match against Italy in Poznan on Thursday,' it said in a statement. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Tuesday 19 June. Football Against Racism in Europe announced on Friday that their observers heard between three hundred and five hundred Croatia fans chanting monkey noises, which prompted UEFA to investigate the matter. The Croatian Football Federation has condemned the 'deviant" fans who had shamed their country but urged UEFA to spare them further sanctions. In a statement it said: 'The Croatian Football Federation distances itself from all deviant behaviour of the part of the fans during the final tournament of UEFA Euro 2012 and strongly condemns it. The HNS, its national team players and members of the technical staff support all UEFA activities aimed at identifying individuals whose behaviour damages the reputation of the competition, no matter which country they come from. The HNS appeals to UEFA not to punish the Croatian national team, which is for a number of years at the top of world football because of its performances and behaviour, both on and off the field of play, and not to associate it with the part of the fans who actually are not supporters, but hooligans which should be isolated from all sports events.' Or, in other words 'please sir, don't cane me I was led astray by older boys.' Croatia were fined fifteen grand by FIFA just under four years ago after England striker Emile Heskey was subjected to monkey chants during a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb. They were also given a small fine during Euro 2008 for racist abuse from their fans during their game against Turkey.
Alleged racist chanting in the Spain versus Italy and Russia versus Czech Republic games are already subject to investigations. A Spanish fans' group has said that some of its country's supporters abused striker Balotelli in their game with Italy, while Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie told reporters he 'noticed' racist chants directed at him. Balotelli, who started the 1-1 draw against Croatia, said before Euro 2012 that he would 'not accept racism at all' and would walk off the pitch if racially abused by fans. The latest allegations emerged after an AFP photographer and a racism monitoring body said they heard racist chanting at the match. The photographer, who was positioned in front of the majority of Croatia fans, also saw a steward pick up a banana from the pitch.
