634x258 Euro 2012
23 May 2012 532 comments
Paul Paul
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In addition to the Team Preview articles for Euro 2012, we’re also covering any friendlies between now and the tournament kick-off on Friday June 8. Last night saw Poland and Holland get their preparations under way, with showdowns against defeat Latvia and Bayern Munich respectively:

Poland 1-0 Latvia
Poland kicked off their run of friendlies ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 tournament with a 1-0 win over Latvia last night. With three players still to omit from his provisional squad, Franciszek Smuda fielded a handful of reserve options and regulars in his first XI, while Wojciech Szczesny and Robert Lewandowski were given the night off after both arrived at the national team’s training camp earlier in the day. Hannover forward Artur Sobiech – on as a sub for Pawel Brozek just before the hour mark – grabbed the only goal, with Kamil Grosicki providing the assist.

Poland Team: Fabianski; Jodlowiec (Kaminski 64), Wasilewski, Wojtkowiak, Boenisch (Wawrzyniak, 71); Polanski, Murawski; Grosicki, Mierzejewski (Kucharczyk 46), Wolski (Matuszczyk 46); Brozek (Sobiech 56).

Bayern Munich 3-2 Holland
Holland fielded a mainly second choice backline for the game against Bayern – Joris Mathijsen was the only regular – and shipped three goals at the Allianz Arena. Up front, Jan Klass Huntelaar started ahead of Robin Van Persie and grabbed a goal, as did winger Luciano Narsingh; Dirk Kuyt and Rafael Van der Vaart provided the assists. Bert Van Marwijk rang the changes at half-time, making seven substitutions, and also introduced Arjen Robben later in the second half – the winger was jeered by many in the home crowd after his Champions League Final penalty miss against Chelsea last Saturday.

Holland Starting XI: Vorm; Boulahrouz, Mathijsen,Vlaar, Willems; De Jong,Van der Vaart; Narsingh, Sneijder, Kuyt; Huntelaar

Other news

David Villa is out of Spain’s plans for the upcoming tournament. The Barcelona man has failed to recover from the broken leg sustained in Barcelona’s World Club Championship game with Al Sadd last December. With Carlos Puyol almost certain to miss out when Vicente Del Bosque names his squad on Sunday, Villa took to twitter to reveal:

I’ve tried, but I can’t be 100% to play the Eurocup. I called Del Bosque. It’s the honest thing. Thanks to all of you for your support. I’ll continue working to return as soon as possible with Barca and Spain.

Shay Given has picked up a minor knee injury in training for the Republic of Ireland. The Aston Villa man is rated “touch and go” for Saturday’s friendly against Bosnia after a scan on Monday confirmed the problem. The FAI revealed the keeper is set to skip the next few days training as a “precautionary measure”.

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532 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Shanty Toon
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 7 months ago

    RMT?

    Čech - Isaksson
    M. Kadlec - Strinić - Zhirkov - Evra - Piszczek
    Iniesta - Ninis - Srna - Sneijder - Shirokov
    Robben - Ibrahimović - Benzema

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    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      No Germany.

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      1. Shanty Toon
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah, I'd noticed that. They're just all so expensive. Could swap Evra for Debuchy and bring Muller in for Robben I guess?

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      2. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 7 months ago

        +1
        I recommend getting one of Podolski, Muller or Ozil as a replacement for either Sneijder or Robben.
        The rest is good though.

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  2. skindogg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 7 months ago

    what about a captin choice for each day on GW1?

    avoiding rotation risks perhaps,,,,,,

    Hopefully by the time the 4th games are going on you have stuck with someone from ealier, but just for the sake of it who would you go for?

    Heres mine,,, i think.

    Lewandowski, ozil, hmmmm - keane ? jelvic?, group D,,,, blimey,, dare I say defoe? lol

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    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      Lewandowski, Sneijder, Mandzukic, Yarmolenko

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    2. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      Kadlec, Ozil, Iniesta, Benzema

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  3. Scratch
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 7 months ago

    I've just ripped my Euro team apart... again 😐

    The only players i'm 100% set on seem to be: Given, Zhirkov, Kadlec, Ozil and Benzema.
    Aaaaaaarrrgghhhhhhh

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    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      I haven't tinkered with my front 8 for a week now.

      It's the defense and keepers which are killing me.

      Keep yoyo-ing between choosing group A players and doubling up.

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      1. emperikal
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 7 months ago

        5 of my 7 defenders are from Group A and play on Day 1. Better to hedge your bets across multiple teams you think? Since you only really need two good defender scores to hold up. Doubling up is riskier but higher possible reward I guess.

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        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 7 months ago

          I don't like that.

          If you have forward players from Group A too, you're basically guaranteeing that at least two of your players will draw a blank.

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          1. Scratch
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 7 months ago

            Ya I had Lewandowski, Robben and Benzema for a while.

            But with Villa out i'm fairly tempted by Llorente, really class player. Dont know if he'll be guaranteed but he's easily Spain's next best forward.
            Podolski's another interesting option and i'm almost sure he's on penalties.
            Jelavic is a bargain if he's guaranteed but at the same time, Spain, Italy and Ireland are probably the toughest collection of teams to get goals from.

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          2. emperikal
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 7 months ago

            Well I will only have one forward player from Group A in Lewandowski or Blaz. So maybe I can get rid of my Greece cover.

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  4. Open Controls
    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      It is hard to predict a winner in golf. The best way is to bet each way. Which means that you will get a quarter odds if your player does not win and finishes in the top ten.
      But if the there are five players tied for 2nd, for example the player below that would be 7th.

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  5. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 7 months ago

    Sky Euro Team:

    Hart
    Pique Kadlec Mathijsen
    Robben Ozil Zhirkov Mandzukic Polish Theo!(Blaszczykowski)
    Kherzakov Big Lebowski(c)

    Five starters for game day 1, with Captain Lewandowski. One captain change allowed per day, so can change to Kerzakov during game for evening match, then Ronaldo in for Kherzakov on day 2 and keep the strikers/mids rolling depending on form!

    Mc D's game

    Hart Lindy
    Pique Mathijsen Kadlec Olson.M Strinic
    Ozil Iniesta Mandzukic Polanski Elm
    Ronaldo Lewandowski Robben

    My thinking England should get couple of cleanies, Hart a certain starter, same as for Pique. Might change Mathijsen for Italien in due course, not sure there.

    Ozil nailed on German attacker as Gomez/Klose bit dodge there. Robben cheapest Dutch attacker, Iniesta nailed on Spanish though watch out for Llorente, Ronaldo well I reckon he's up for it can't see how you can not pick him? Bench all starters too!

    Quite happy at the mo! 🙂

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  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 7 months ago

    Regardless of price who would you have for GW 1?

    Robben, Podolski or Ronaldo?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      Robben

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      1. Messimerized- Join My FPL L…
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 7 months ago

        +3

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    2. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 7 months ago

      Ronaldo

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