Euro 2012: Greece vs Czech Republic and Poland vs. Russia

Czech Republic's Petr Jiracek celebrates his opening goal (Getty Images)

The players of the Czech Republic were looking for a good dose of redemption coming into the second day of Group A play.  Sitting on zero points after a day 1 drubbing by Russia, they faced being the first team to be eliminated if they lost.  However, they came out of the gates on fire to make sure that didn't happen.  The Greeks, on the other hand, turned in another nightmare first half effort from which they could not recover this time.

The Czechs opened the scoring in just the third minute when Petr Jiracek took a through ball and slashed open the Greek defense.  He snuck into the six yard box and slapped the ball past a helpless Greek 'keeper to make it 0-1.Then just three minutes later they capitalized on more lackluster Greek defense to double the lead.  Theodor Gabre Selasssie got behind the Greek back line and fired a centering pass to Vaclav Pilar, who poked home another goal to make it 0-2 to the Czechs after just six minutes.

In the end it would be all the Czechs would need, but the Greeks did get one back in half number two.  In the 53rd minute Petr Cech, who hasn't had a great tournament so far, tried to claim a ball in the box but ran into one of his defenders.  He couldn't hang on, and the ball fell to Greece's Theofanis Gekas who blasted the ball into the empty net to make it 1-2.  However, they never really threatened again and the Czechs held onto the win 2-1.

Poland's Jakub Blaszczykowski after equalizing against Russia

Meanwhile, the day's second match took place in Warsaw between Poland and Russia.  Unfortunately, the match was preceded by a march to the stadium by Russian fans celebrating a national holiday.  The Russians had cleared it with the local authorities, but it ended up leading to violence between the Russians and Polish Ultras that resulted in some injuries.

As for the match itself, Russia could punch it's ticket to the knockout stage with a win over the co-hosts, but found that the Polish football team was just as up for the fight as their fans were.  Still, the Russians controlled much of the of the first half and got on the board first in the 37th minute.  Andrei Arshavin sent a free kick into the box that found Alan Dzagoev unmarked.  The hero of the first match for Russia calmly flicked a header into the goal to make it 0-1 Russia.

The Poles were not about to roll over though, and they fought back hard in the second half.  The pressure paid off in the 57th minute when Arshavin reverted to Arsenal form and passed the ball right to a Polish defender.  In the end, Jakub Blaszczykowski ended up smashing an equalizer into the Russian net to make it 1-1.  That score would hold through full time as both teams seemed to come up a little weary toward the end.

The day's results did little to clarify the Group A situation.  Greece's lone point against Poland keeps them alive, and the Poles sit one point behind the Czechs, 2 vs 3.  Russia still tops the group on four, but they are not through yet.  That means both of Saturday's games will figure into the group scenario.

Euro 2012: Ukraine vs. Sweden

Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko celebrates his first goal of the match (Getty Images)

The last two sides to open up play in Euro 2012 were co-hosts Ukraine and Sweden.  The battle of yellow and blue started off slowly, but by the end of the evening in Kiev, a European legend would turn back the clock and give everyone, not just the home supporters, what was sure to be one of the defining memories of the tournament.

Neither of these sides were on any pundit's list to win this year, and the first half seemed to leave a lot to be desired.  For awhile it seemed like they were destined to replicate the lackluster showing put forth by France and England.  The first clean cut chance of the match fell to the Ukraine on 23 minutes when Andriy Shevchenko took a ball from Andriy Yarmolenko and seemed poised to put a shot on target.  However the angle was too tough and the Ukrainian captain drug his shot across the six.

The Swedes did get a couple of chances of their own in the first half, especially as the match started to pick up late.  The best chance came in minute 39 through AC Milan's Ztalan Ibrahimovic.  The big forward took a cross from Rasmus Elm after a throw in but only managed to head it off the post.  The teams finished the half still at 0-0 with the Ukraine looking more likely to open the scoring.

That wasn't the case though as the Swedes were first to break through in the 53rd minute.  The Ukrainians missed a chance to clear a cross from Sebastian Larsson and Kim Kallstrom passed it over to an onrushing Ibra.  The Milan man didn't miss the tap in, and the score was 0-1 to Sweden.

It was just a few minutes later that Shevchenko, the Ukranian captain and European legend rose to the occasion.  In the 56th minute he dove in, just like a superhero, and headed in the equalizing goal to send the home crowd into a frenzy.  Then in the 62nd minute he drove home the final goal of the match.  Oleg Gusev sent in a corner and Shevchenko, formerly of Chelsea among other clubs, rose above the towering Swedes to head home what would be a legendary winning goal, 2-1.

Sweden did have a good chance late though, and perhaps should have equalized.  In the 89th minute Johan Elmander took a flick from Ibra and found himself 1v1 with the Ukrainian keeper.  Unfortunately for Sweden, he volleyed the ball over the crossbar as they watched their hope for a point sail into the stands. 

The fairytale win for Ukraine, whom nobody expected to do anything, puts them top of the group after the England/France draw.  They get the French next, while the English will be licking their chops for a chance to get at a Sweden side that was largely underwhelming.

MLS Suspends, Fines Jon Busch

My personal favorite Jon Busch moment (Screengrab: Justin Johnson)

More news from your friendly neighborhood MLS Disciplinary Committee.  It seems that Sideshow Lenhart has rubbed off on 'keeper Jon Busch.  He's been suspended for 1 match and fined for "aggressively retrieving a ball" in the final minutes of their match against Sporting KC a couple of weeks back.  MLS didn't provide any video of the incident but accounts that are being posted on the site accuse Busch of aggressively taking a ball from a ball boy as the Quakes pushed for a last minute equalizer.  One comment even accused him of slapping the ball boy.  I didn't see it, so I don't know.

Anyway, above is a photo of Busch losing his mind at Rio Tinto last year.  Fun times.

Busch will miss the Quakes tilt at Colorado on June 20.

Chelsea Appoint Di Matteo Permanently

Roberto Di Matteo holds the European Cup at Chelsea's Victory Parade

The speculation is now over.  Today Chelsea FC announced that they have hired "Interim Manager" Roberto Di Matteo on a permanent basis with a two year contract.  Di Matteo took over from Andre Villas Boas midway through last season.  He couldn't rescue a top four spot for Chelsea in the Premier League, but he did win not only the FA Cup, but the UEFA Champions League as well.  Champions League had been the white whale for Roman Abramovich ever since he took over ownership of the Blues.

Despite Di Matteo's success, rumblings through the summer had suggested that he still hadn't secured the job, despite clinching the European Cup.  Even former England manager Fabio Capello's name was kicked around.  However, the wondering is now over with the club's official announcement today.

As a Chelsea supporter, I think it's a good move.  Good luck to him and the boys for a good season next year!

Euro 2012: France vs. England

England's James Milner reacts after missing a chance against France.  (Getty Images)

This is likely to be one of my shortest match reviews on this blog.  Even as an England fan, I'll say this match sucked.  However, I'm sure the Three Lions will probably be happier to come away with just the single point than France will.

The first shot of the match didn't come until the 11th minute from France's Samir Nasri.  The effort itself was nothing but speculative though and sailed harmlessly off target.  England should have taken the lead four minutes later as James Milner sprung loose to get 1v1 with the French 'keeper, but somehow he managed to find side netting instead of the actual target.

Nothing else happened until the 30th minute when England got on the board.  Captain Steven Gerrard sent a free kick into the box and Man City defender Jolleon Lescott eased it off his head and into the goal to make it 0-1 to England.  The lead lasted less than ten minutes though.  In the 39th Nasri sent in a shot that just managed to sneak into the near post to equalize the match at 1-1.  Joe Hart probably should have done better.

That was it for the first half and pretty much for the game as both sides seemed to sit back and be satisfied with the draw.  In the 64th minute Karim Benzema forced a rather meek save out of Hart to account for France's best chance.  The best look of the half for England was even worse.  In the 66th minute Glen Johnson fired a shot over the bar that ended up in row ZZZ.  That was all she wrote and the match finished 1-1.

For my money, it was the worst match of tournament so far.

Euro 2012: Ireland vs. Croatia

Croatia's Darijo Srna wins a header over Ireland's Aiden McGeady (Reuters)

The Irish brought over 30,000 supporters to Euro 2012, and they came to witness the first Irish involvement in a major tournament in 20 years.  Their last appearance was at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.  Their fans made their presence known, but unfortunately for the green faithful, the team's showing ended up being lacking.

The supporters, whether wearing green or the blue/red and white checkers of Croatia had hardly settled into their seats when the Croats opened the scoring.  They sent in a corner kick on three minutes that the vaunted Irish defense failed to clear.  Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic eventually got his head on it and put it in the net while the defense ball watched.  It was 0-1 to Croatia.

Ireland responded pretty well and their best spell of the match came in the next 10-15 minutes after the opening goal.  In the 7th minute Damien Duff tried a shot and missed, announcing Ireland's intentions.  In the 19th minute Sean St. Ledger got his head to a free kick from Aiden McGeady and scored the equalizer for Ireland, the match proceeded at 1-1.

However Croatia took control of the match pretty much from that point on.  In the 22nd minute Ivan Perisic sent in a blistering volley to the Ireland goal but it was well saved by Shay Given.  They managed to take the lead again right before halftime. In the 43rd minute the ball ended up ping-ponging around the Ireland penalty area after a free kick.  Everton's Nikica Jelavic came away with the ball and smashed it past Given to give Croatia the 1-2 lead going into the break.

The Croats threw the knockout punch shortly after halftime.  In the 48th minute they managed to get yet another ball into Mandzukic.  The result was the same as the third minute as the big forward rose to head the ball once again into the goal to give Croatia 1-3 lead.

The Irish never really threatened the Croatian goal in the second half.  They tried long ball after long ball, but not much came of it.  They probably should have had a penalty though.  In the 62nd minute Croatian defender Gordon Schildenfeld went through Robbie Keane's back and put him down in the 18.  However, the referee wasn't interested.  The Irish were denied the shot to get back in the match from the spot and Croatia pretty much coasted through the last 30 minutes to secure the 1-3 win, putting themselves at the top of Group C.

Puddle's Goal of the Weekend: Lionel Messi's Third Vs. Brazil

No, it's not from the Euros, but it's from Messi, and it's pretty awesome.