Euro 2012

[Jimmy]

And it's only a matter of time before Kerzhakov does his best Myke impression and misses a sitter.

[MDK]

Between the two of us we are either the perfect striker or the worst striker.

[Jimmy]

Alright, which Prem club is signing this kid up?

[IAceI]

Dzagoev is in beast mode this tournament.

[MJB]

Russia take the lead but I thought Poland had looked the better side. Shame for the hosts but great delivery from Arshavin.

[Dan]

Proper end to end stuff in this game.

[DavidMarrio]

What a goal

[Summers]

Summers-esque! Beauty!

[MDK]

FUCK YEAH, PICK THAT ONE OUT KEEPER!

[Dan]

How was that not a foul

[MDK]

Never a foul.

Pav on for Myke.

[Jimmy]

Pav must've felt a bit hard done by not to start this game - surely another goal would earn him a starting place.

[Sam]

Good result for Poland, fancy them against the Czechs

[Adam]

So do I actually, Czech really don't look all that good. They got tanked by Russia and then just about held on to beat an extremely poor Greece side. On that note I think Russia could steamroll them in the final game.

[GoGo Yubari]

Yeah, I'm liking Poland and Russia to advance from this group. Maybe the Czechs can pull off a draw, but I doubt it. Greece even drawing against Russia would really surprise me.

[Katsuya]

Russia have pretty much qualified now, right? Greece would need to win 3-0 against them?

[MJB]

Russia have pretty much qualified now, right? Greece would need to win 3-0 against them?

Yeah exactly right. Greece need to win at least 3-0.

[Pesci]

My bet on Dzagoev to be top scorer is looking quite tasty at the moment, saw his odds of 100/1 at Coral and jumped straight on. Only bet 50p but I'll take £50 if it should happen.

Really enjoying the tournament so far. There look to be quite a few exciting teams that will put on a good match when they meet. Russia and Poland were two of them, glad they had a fun game.

[Lineker]

Italy striker Antonio Cassano has apologised for comments he made about homosexuals on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old AC Milan forward claimed he hoped there were no homosexuals in the Italy squad at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

But he subsequently released a statement insisting he had been misinterpreted.

"I sincerely regret that my statements have sparked controversy and protest from gay rights groups," Cassano said.

"Homophobia is a sentiment that is not mine. I did not want to offend anyone and I can not question the sexual freedom of other people.

"I only said that it is a problem that does not concern me and it is not for me to pass judgment on the choices of others, who are all respected."

Cassano was asked during a news conference whether he thought there were any homosexuals in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad.

He responded: "The coach warned me that you would ask me this question. If I say what I think... I hope there are none."

Cassano started Sunday's 1-1 draw with Spain just eight months after undergoing heart surgery.

He was taken ill on the team's plane following Milan's 3-2 win over Roma in October.

Cassano returned to club duty in April but admits that he never expected to feature for the national team this summer.

He added: "I honestly didn't think I would play at the European Championship. I was scared.

"When you arrive to a certain point where it is a case of live or die, everything else becomes secondary.

"I saw the future as grey, very grey, but fortunately I am here. I have been blessed, and even if I am not a believer I do feel I have been blessed."

Uefa is to investigate alleged racist chanting during the Euro 2012 matches between Spain and Italy and Russia v Czech Republic.

A Spanish fans' group has said some of its supporters abused Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli.

Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie told reporters he "noticed" racist chants directed at him.

Uefa said that no disciplinary proceedings had been started at this stage.

The Uefa statement added: "Following the provision of new independent information today, regarding the two cases of alleged racist chanting in the Spain-Italy and Russia-Czech Republic matches, Uefa is now conducting further investigations."

No official complaints have been made to Uefa by Italy or Czech Republic.

The admission by a Spanish fans' group that some of their supporters racially abused Balotelli during Sunday's game was sent to Uefa by an anti-racism network.

Piara Powar, the chief executive of the Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare) network, told BBC Sport that the statement, along with testimony from photographers at the game given to the Daily Mirror, has been handed to Uefa.

"Eye witness accounts like this are very important," he said.

"It adds to the Daily Mirror account. And it gives Uefa something to go on when they look at this.

"Fare monitors didn't hear the abuse. We only have two observers in each stadium. And it hadn't come to the attention of Uefa's own officials at the game."

Thomas Herzog, spokesman for the Football Supporters Europe Fans' Embassy team for Spanish supporters, said in a statement that around "200 supporters started monkey chants when the Italian player Mario Balotelli touched the ball".

He added: "We're glad to report that the majority of Spanish supporters reacted in a very positive way, because many of them tried to intervene very quickly and stop the fans in question from singing.

"We are clearly angry about this small section of Spanish supporters showing this kind of racist behaviour. But we have to stress that most of the Spanish supporters inside the stand were very aware of this issue and tried their best to intervene."

Powar believes Uefa needs to take action over racist incidents within Euro 2012 if the evidence is presented to them.

"When it comes to tournament situations it's important to see proper sanctions taken so that the message can be given to the world," he said.

"So it's good to hear Spanish fans taking this action and self-policing."

Cesare Prandelli, head coach for Italy, told BBC Sport on Monday that "no incident had taken place" with regard to Balotelli during the Spain game.

The same day Uefa wrote to the mayors of Polish and Ukrainian cities hosting Euro 2012 training sessions to ask for an increased police presence to avoid racist behaviour from fans.

Some members of the Netherlands squad complained of hearing monkey noises at an open training session at Wisla Krakow's stadium last week when thousands of people turned up to watch.

[GoN_]

So today we either win or go home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uOfit06xes

Let's do this again.

Edited June 13, 2012 by GoN_