THE 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2012, will be the 14th European Championship for national football teams sanctioned by UEFA.

The final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between June 8 and July 1 — the first time that either nation has hosted the tournament. This bid was chosen by UEFA’s Executive Committee in 2007.

The final tournament features 16 nations, the last European Championship to do so (from Euro 2016 onward, there will be 24 finalists).

Qualification was contested by 51 nations between August 2010 and November 2011 to join the two host nations in the tournament. The winner of the tournament gains automatic entry to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by Brazil.

Group A: Group of Life

Greece

Poland

Czech Republic

Russia

Group B: Group of Death

Netherlands

Portugal

Germany

Denmark

Group C: Luck of the Irish plans to harm the Spaniards

Spain

Ireland

Italy

Croatia

Group D: Les Blues and The Three Lions looking for a Renaissance in their football

England

France

Ukraine

Sweden

— Simon Preston