Russia - Czech Republic, Group A

After the draw between Poland and Greece, in the first match of the group, both Russia and the Czech Republic could have stepped on the first place in case o a win tonight.

Advocaat's strike force had a rubbish night in Wroclaw and managed to squeeze the best out of Chelsea's Cech. Arshavin managed to score at last, in the beginning of the second half, but the ex-Arsenal player was denied by a late equaliser coming from the head of Necid, in the dying moments of the match.

And so, all the teams in the Group A start matchday 2 from the same exact spot as they played the first matches and got stuck on the one point barrier.

Final score: Russia - Czech Repubilc 1-1

MotM: Petr Cech

Poland - Greece, Group A

The opening match of the European Championship brought a lot of joy to the home team fans. After an opening ceremony that impressed with an impressive of flower petals used to describe the football match atmosphere, the home crowd cheered early on, when Lewandowski scored the first goal of tournament with a low shot to the far post, after a quick breakthrough by Obraniak on the right side of the pitch. Former European champions, Greece, could not cope with the Polish enthusiasm but still managed to hit the post when Papastahpoulous' header from a corner took a lucky deflection.

Short after the break, Lewandoski made the double with o powerful header from just inside the 6 yard box, after an early cross from Wawryzniak. The right flank of the Polish national team, based on the Borussia Dortmund's trio Piszczek - Blaszczykowski - Lewandoski proved to be the winning formula that Smude employed pefectly in the first game of the competition.

Final score: Poland 2-0 Greece

MotM: Robert Lewandowski

EURO 2012 unveiled

With the most anticipated football tournament of this year fast approaching, the FootureFacts reviews of match outcomes is ready to rumble yet again.

Stats, analysis, tactical displays and mind blowing guesses will make the Polish and Ukrainian stadiums to witness what we already knew.

Stay tuned for the EURO 2012 score predictions, team descriptions and tactical comparisons, soon on FootureFacts.

THE FINAL

NETHERLANDS vs. SPAIN 2-1 (1-0)

Venue: Soccer City - Johannesburg

Weather: Cloudy

Attendance: 83,561

The most anticipated match of the competition brought together two European countries, that definitely proved themselves to be the most powerful national teams of the tournament, Netherlands and Spain.

Stekelenburg vs. Casillas (GK)

Van der Wiel vs. Ramos (DR)

Heitinga vs. Puyol (DC)

Mathijsen vs. Pique (DC)

Van Bronckhorst vs. Capdevilla (DL)

Van Bommel vs. Sergio (DMC)

De Yong vs. Alonso (DMC)

Sneijder vs. Xavi (MC)

Robben vs. Iniesta (AMC)

Kuyt vs. Pedro (AMC)

Van Persie vs. David Villa (ST)

Both Van Marwijk and Del Bosque went for an identical tactical display, both hoping for a creative spark from their offensive players that could make the difference. Ad they weren't wrong. The Netherlands put themselves one up when Robben's genius cross from the right met the head of Kuyt, leaving Iker with no other chance that to watch the ball as it went in off the underside of the bar. 1-0. That was the half time score and people start wondering is Paul the octopus' finally lost his intuition or if it it Torres that could save the lucky guesser?

It was indeed Torres that finally managed to equalize with 20 minutes to go but it wasn't a moment to last as Wesley Sneijder though about challenging Van Bronckhorst wonder goal from the semifinal with Uruguay. Same place, same foot, but far more cheers after the ball reached the net, after taking a deflection from Iker's right hand. 2-1 and Spain couldn't do anything more to change that. THE WORLD CUP GOES TO AMSTERDAM!

MoM. Wesley Sneijder

Last 4 - Matchday 6

Germany vs. Spain 7-5 p.s.o. (1-0 at halftime, 2-2 a.e.t.)

Both coaches had big decisions to make as they prepared for a re-run of the Euro 2008 final. For Germany, who will replace the suspended Thomas Mueller? For Spain, will they keep faith with Fernando Torres?
This was a real heavyweight clash and those selection decisions could have been the key. This looked like the tightest game so far, but German efficiency wasn't enough for Spanish style, who have done more attacking than anyone in this tournament according with the statistics.
It was a great night for football fans all over the world and after 90 minutes it was a draw. In the first half the germans took the lead after a great header from Miroslav Klose (german striker is now first along brazilian striker Ronaldo on the list of FIFA World Cup goalscorers). Spain scored the equalizer through David Villa, then the germans took the lead again and Iniesta settled for a draw in the last minutes of the game. The game decided after penalties and Cassilas was the hero of the night after two penalty saves. Spain are in the final and will face the Netherlands for the World Cup title.

MoM: Iker Casillas

Semifinals - Matchday 6

Uruguay vs. Netherlands 0-2 (0-1)

Uruguay took on the role of outsiders in the last four, after Luis Suarez's last-minute handball against Ghana helped deny Africa a first-ever semifinalist. Uruguay was the first time in the last 4 at a world championship since 1970.

The Netherlands were the only side left in South Africa with a 100 percent winning record, the Dutch had also won its last 13 competitive matches. The team looked good and prooved it's mental strength after conceding an early goal from Brazil. But coach Bert van Marwijk reminded his players of the 1992 European Championships, when Holland beat Germany 3-1 in the quarterfinals, only to lose on penalties to outsiders Denmark in the semifinals.

The South Americans' missing list was quite worrying with Suarez suspended for one game after his handball against Ghana, Jorge Fusile also suspended and captain Diego Lugano injured. The Netherlands were less worried from this point of view, with Demy de Zeeuw and Khalid Boulahrouz replacing the suspended Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel.

Uruguay looked tired after the long quarter final and Holland dominated them from the begining of the match. The Dutch also scored in the first half, through Robin van Persie, after a wonderfull race on his final after 32 years and will face the winner from the clash between Spain and Germany for the world cup title.right side. Urugay tried harder after half time, but the Dutch scored again after a great counter attack finalized by Kuyt with a well placed header. This it, the Dutch are in the final after 32 years.

MoM: Robin van Persie

Quarter Finals - Matchday 5

PARAGUAY vs. SPAIN 1-4 (0-2)

Surprise ahead! Paraguay will join Uruguay in the semis! Spain out! These were the predictions made by some inspired by the previous results in this stage of the World Cup. This so-called tipsters need to see behind the big names or the historical achievements and try to focus on football as played on the field solely.

0-1, 0-2, both Spanish goals happened so quickly that Paraguay defense could have still hoped for a clean sheet, just if the first 15 minutes could be ignored. They managed to keep hold on the game for the rest of the first half, but Villa's strike and Sergio Ramos' header will haunt them over the half time break. What happened in the 2nd half couldn't change the outcome but add to the show, Torres, followed by a late retaliation by Cardoso and a lovely finishing move by Llorente granted Spain the privilege to face the mighty Panzers.

MoM: Sergio Ramos