Group A will most likely to appear “dark horse”. A wide-open group which any of the four teams could win. Probably one of the more wide-open groups in the competition, although Poland will have a slight advantage by virtue of being a co-host. Russia have an experienced manager in Dick Advocaat and some talented players, but are a team that's hard to get a read on. Greece and Czech Republic are hard teams. Greece may be that none of their Group A opponents have enough talent to beat them either.
With the vocal backing of their own supporters driving them on, Poland will hope to make a big impression on home soil in just their second UEFA European Championship final tournament. FIFA World Cup semi-finalists in 1974 and 1982, Poland had to wait until 2008 before making their UEFA European Championship debut. Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker's side exited after the group stage, as they had at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and their bid to reach South Africa...
Fernando Santos's team remained undefeated in qualification, a series of narrow victories helping them finish first in Group F as they target a repeat of their shock 2004 success. Fernando Santos's team were unbeaten in qualifying, owing much of their success to narrow wins. Those were a familiar feature during their stunning UEFA EURO 2004 success, and an emphasis on team spirit to compensate for the shortage of star names remains an overriding characteristic. Before Portugal...
After topping a major tournament qualifying group for the first time in five attempts, Dick Advocaat's Russia go to Poland and Ukraine looking to better their 2008 run to the semi-finals. Semi-finalists in 2008, Russia approach UEFA EURO 2012 confident after topping a major tournament qualifying group for the first time in five attempts. That ensured no repeat of two years ago, when Slovenia claimed a surprise away-goals triumph in the FIFA World Cup play-offs...
Czech Republic was founded in 1901, existing under the previously mentioned names before the separation of Czechoslovakia in 1992. Their first international competition as the Czech Republic was Euro 1996 where they finished runners-up, their best finish in any international competition. Despite their early success, they have only featured in one FIFA World Cup, the 2006 tournament, where they were eliminated in the first round of the competition...