Spain made history in magical fashion as they outclassed Italy and claimed a successive European crown to add to their 2010 World Cup triumph.

Vicente del Bosque’s side staged a compelling claim to be the greatest international side of all time as the Euro 2012 final was transformed into an exhibition with Italy – who performed creditably for long periods – passed brutally into submission.

[from the BBC]

[ A 0-0 tie and England lost in penalty shoot outs ]

There seems to be a pattern (or curse?! nah, don’t think so) with England losing in quarter-finals and/or penalties since they won the World Cup back in 66. England hasn’t won or reached a semi-final since the 1996 Eurocup played in England nor won any major tournaments.

Yesterday was no different, leaving a that horrible yet familiar feeling in the air: almost.

Almost because England did not play a bad match. The Three Lions created chances and fought Italy in the same level, so to rise from disbelief to hope and then down again… sucks.

But then again, I go back to this: England has not produced any top talent lately (apart from Rooney?!) and the Premiership’s rise in media coverage/attention is mostly due to its international mix rather than to what the English are producing in-house.

Really, FA, this is not so hard to see. Can you manage another 30 years like this?

So England is quite alright eh? Today they beat Ukraine 1-0 to send (or keep?!) the hosts home and qualify first in group D – they now face Italy on Sunday.

Rooney scored on his first match and Gerrard brought on his top game. Ukraine was strong though, dominating most of the first half but at the same time stopping at a very strong English defense. There was even the traditional “did the ball get it or not?” that is quite common when England is playing (Devic’s ball almost hit England’s goal. Terry kicked it out. Was that a goal or not? Shush the pie hole: Milevskiy – who passed the ball to Devic – was off in the first place).

Good for you, Three Lions. Luck or not, you are through.

France lost to Sweden 2-0 (with one amazing goal from Ibra) and took the second spot in the group, facing the strong Spanish squad on Saturday.

Will take your opinion for that one (and England’s as well, of course) as I did not watch it.

Today the group of death in EURO 2012 killed two: Denmark and Netherlands are going home. Germany and Portugal are off to the quarter-finals.

The Danish go home having shown a good fight. The Dutch not so much.

Portugal v. Netherlands was an exciting match. The Oranje started strong, scoring the first goal with Van der Vaart 10 minutes in, but could not keep up with the Portuguese speed (or their own?!) and an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo (who put in the other two for a final score of 2-1 to the Portuguese).

I mention this again because I don’t seem to grasp it: it is quite odd to see a Nederlander squad full of huge stars perform so badly and irrationally at times. It makes absolutely no sense. Either they got caught up on the quick Portuguese dynamics or they are simply getting too old for this. Or too nervous?

Huge kuddos to Portugal. They were smart, fast, skilled… I have not seen a counter-attack this fast in a long time. The Dutch men did create some solid chances but did not get close to the volume of game presented by the Gajos.

Well done. Looking forward.

I love it when I tell myself “ha, look at that… you were wrong!”.

England today (against Sweden) was nothing like this.

The Queen’s squad managed to score first, take 2 goals in from the Swedes, tie, and score a third one for a final match result of 3-2. Cheeky boys! I love it.

With a squad that clearly is still adjusting (Roy Hodgson is still, after all, not able to play Rooney, suspended until the next group match), the Three Lions kept it solid, aggressive and cool. Walcott was essential to give England more game.

It was indeed an exciting match – the second half especially, that is. The Swedes had plenty of chance to do their part but like we always say here in Brazil: who doesn’t score, gets scored in. And like they say in England: “They can be adventurous; John Terry is slowing up; strikers have star quality; better passing helps; beware poetic justice” … and Robert is your father’s brother.

What will England’s next match look like? They are still in limbo and need a good win against Ukraine.

So why is it that the Oranje has a solid squad with only top football talent and skill, yet could not manage to not shake when facing Germany?

I do not have the answer. Maybe you do?

The Dutch faced the Germans today for their second group match in EURO 2012 – needing a victory after losing 1-0 to Denmark -and, for the initial 50 minutes seemed like a child who was too shy to join the rest of the kids in play-time. Yes, Germany was amazing – precise, creative, fast. However, for most of the match, the squad from Van Marwijk was ineffective and at times unlucky.

Robben, Sneijder, Van Persie, Kuyt, Van der Vaart… maybe they have all been having bad days.

As for the Deutsche Männer , Gomez – who exemplifies a true striker – and Schweinsteiger were absolutely precise, the former reminding me of some of Ronaldo’s (the original one, not the Portuguese one who did not do much today against Denmark) moves.

The Oranje now needs a solid, high score win against Portugal so they can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Netherlands 1 – 2 Germany
Kharkiv

So EURO 2012 has started and I am back to SeeTheCup.com. I must to say that it’s off to an interesting start.

Germany looks solid. Did not see much of the game so your comments are welcome (Brazil was playing Argentina at the same time – Messi destroying us).

The Dutch got nervous agaist Denmark, as they do so many times, and could not manage a tie – not such a difficult task. It is amazing how they can get unbalanced emotionally and screw up everything. Robben has been disaster since the Champions League final and seems to get everyone else nervous. It could get quite complicated for the men in orange if they don’t get their act together from now on – not like they lack talent or skill.

Spain and Italy played the nicest match so far. Both teams were creative, challenging each other’s style, so the game was interesting. So far the two strongest in the competition.

The French… eh… potato-potahto. Ribery and Nasri dictated most of the pace against England today, however the match was quite a boring one. Which brings me to the Three Lions.

I leave this for last because England is who I wish would take the trophy home (after all when is football really going to go back home?).

I am not sure why or how but somehow people (and I mean the English ones… and myself, a little) are always misled to believe they will go onto doing great things.

They are not. Not in a million years. Not like this. I really hope I am wrong.

But it is quite difficult to see how a team with zero creativity and ability to change the pace of the game could potentially lift the trophy. The British school of football is stuck in times were keeping a steady pace and putting long balls inside the box would do it.

Sorry to spoil it.

Rooney is probably the only one who deviates a bit from this standard.

Alas, let’s be realistic: unless England pulls a conscious effort of changing their style (like Germany did 10 years ago) the people with the loveliest accents on earth will all be stuck in this loop of believing football is coming home, when it is not.

A ‘Group of Death’ is ascribed to every major football championships, and Euro 2012 is no different, with Group B hosting prospective champions, the Netherlands and Germany, and perennial under-achievers, Portugal, leaving poor Denmark to sweep up last place.

Denmark will be seen as the whipping boys for nations looking further than simple group qualification. Yet, they have the potential to create a real stir in Group B, and could provide an upset, amid three teams focussing to beat each other.

The Netherlands are first up for Denmark, and it’s difficult to see how Morten Olsen’s side can take anything away but a negative goal difference, against a team that netted 37 times in 10 qualification games, and are ranked fourth in the world.

However, Denmark’s second match against Portugal is definitely winnable for a nation that finished three points clear of Paulo Bento’s side, beating them 2-1 in Copenhagen along the way.

Resolute in their 4-4-2 formation, Olsen’s side benefit from a savvy back line, sat behind midfield all-rounder ,William Kvist.

Kvist’s defensive capabilities means that his midfield partner, Christian Eriksen, will run the show going forward, and the Ajax starlet is already expected to nail a big-money transfer off the back of this tournament.

If Eriksen can run the game as well as he did against England, back in February 2011, Denmark can overcome Portugal’s firepower.

It can be assumed that whoever wins between Germany and the Netherlands will top Group B, and, if Denmark can scalp Portugal, they should be level in second place going into the Germany clash.

Germany should control the game, but Denmark will have their chances; if they can hold their nerve, they could escape the dreaded Group of Death.

Find out the odds on Denmark to escape their European quagmire, with Euro 2012 betting online.

Kenny Dalglish has guided Liverpool to their Carling Cup triumph and the FA Cup final, where they lost out to Chelsea, but when it comes to their league campaign, it has been one of displeasure and anguish around Anfield.

After a summer of heavy investment, punters who like to bet on the Premier League had tipped the Merseysiders to push for a Champions League place.

However, they have struggled to show any consistency, and just lost too many games in front of their home fans, which means their dreams of finishing in the Premier League top four were extinguished months ago, and cup success was their only hope for triumph.

Liverpool have almost lost as many games at home as they have won, with that not being good enough for a side who spent big during last summer.

Joining the £50 million-plus spending on Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, the previous January, Dalglish brought in Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam for big money. None of these big signings, bar Suarez, have really justified their cost.

Danish international defender Agger has begun looking ahead to next season, and he reckons there are real signs of growth and progress being shown around Anfield and that means they can challenge the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal in the 2012/13 campaign.

“Can we challenge the top teams next season? Yes, of course”, he told the club website. “We have moved forward a lot this season but right now the only feelings are of disappointment.”

With Dalglish having spent so big over the last 18 months, and with so many of these signing proving ultimately disappointing, it remains to be seen how much money the Liverpool owners will commit to spending, this coming summer.

If Liverpool really want to get into the Premier League top four and challenge for the title, then a massive improvement job must go on around Anfield.

Don’t forget: with an exciting final day of Premier League action, as well as the Football League play-offs, the Champions League final, and Euro 2012, make sure you check out all the live football, this summer.