The football world already has it all planned out: fans, players, ex-players, pundits and journalists alike all want Harry Redknapp to replace Fabio Capello as England manager, following the Italian's resignation yesterday evening.

Some were already looking beyond Euro 2012 Capello had already planned to retire after this summer's tournament to the Redknapp era, convinced he would be the man for the job at some point.

After the FA decided to strip John Terry of the England captaincy for the second time in two years over a charge for which he has not yet been tried, Fabio Capello has decided that he's had enough of being disrespected and undermined and resigned from his position. With Euro 2012 mere months away, FA chairman David Bernstein must find a suitable replacement to lead England out of the current cycles of scandals and disappointment.

The artist formerly known as England's Brave John Terry. Again.

Innocent or guilty, right or wrong the time has come for the Chelsea captain to leave the Three Lions, and the circus surrounding them, behind. Permanently.

An era passed

It's difficult to argue however much I disagree with the Football Association's decision to relieve Terry of the England captaincy in wake of the racist abuse trial he faces in July.

Las mascotas de la edición Euro 2012 son dos gemelos(sic) uno Polaco y el otro Ucraniano llamados Slavek y Slavko , los nombres se decidieron por votación de los fanaticos de cada uno de los países a través de internet con un total de 56% (39,233 votos), los otros nombres concursante fueron Siemko- Strimko y Klemek Ladko.

With world champions Spain firm favourites to retain their European crown, it's probably no surprise that their record scorer David Villa features heavily in the betting to be Euro 2012′s leading marksman.
The Barcelona striker is 10/1 to be the tournament's top scorer but will the 30-year-old be in Vicente del Bosque's squad?

This is a common saying about football in Arabic, and it has a lot of truth in it. When there is a trusted keeper in the team, he gives the whole team the confidence and balance to go forward and win. Spain is enjoying these days the fun of having the best keeper in the world. Everyone remembers the great saves Casillas did in the WC final, or the PKs vs.

Best Selling Football Shirts - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Sales of football gear derive a large amount of the profits football clubs make. International tournaments like the World Cup and the European Championship give national teams a chance to boost their merchandise sales as well.

With the increased globalization of the game, major tournaments are heading to new lands. Austria and Switzerland hosted Euro 2008, with next year's event heading to Poland and Ukraine. Last year South Africa staged the World Cup with Russia and Qatar on the horizon. While I'm all for spreading the game around the globe (aside for whatever shadiness helped Qatar land the 2022 World Cup), this trend presents a flaw with regards to tournament seeding.

03.12.2011 - En el Palacio de las Artes de Kiev se realizó el sorteo de los grupos de la Eurocopa 2012 (Ucrania – Polonia) que comienza a rodar el 8 de junio de 2012 (Polonia vs Grecia) y finaliza el 1 de julio en el estadio Olimpico de Kiev.
Viernes 8 de junio de 2012#1: POL - GRE, 13:00, Varsovia#2: RUS - CZE, 15:45, Wroclaw
Sábado 9 de junio de 2012#3: NED - DEN, 13:00, Kharkov#4: GER - POR, 15:45, Lviv
Domingo 10 de junio de 2012#5: ESP - ITA, 13:00, Gdansk#6: IRL - CRO, 15:45, Poznan
Lunes 11 de junio de 2012#7: FRA - ENG, 13:00, Donetsk#8: UKR - SWE, 15:45, Kiev
Martes 12 de junio de 2012#9: GRE - CZE, 13:00, Wroclaw#10: POL - RUS, 15:45, Varsovia
Miércoles 13 de junio de 2012#11: DEN - POR, 13:00, Lviv#12: NED - GER, 15:45, Kharkov
Jueves 14 de junio de 2012#13: ITA - CRO, 13:00, Poznan#14: ESP - IRL, 15:45, Gdansk
Viernes 15 de junio de 2012#15: SWE - ENG, 15:45, Kiev#16: UKR - FRA, 13:00, Donetsk
Sábado 16 de junio de 2012#17: CZE - POL, 15:45, Wroclaw#18: GRE - RUS, 15:45, Varsovia
Domingo 17 de junio de 2012#19: POR - NED, 15:45, Kharkov#20: DEN - GER, 15:45, Lviv
Lunes 18 de junio de 2012#21: CRO - ESP, 15:45, Gdansk#22: ITA - IRL, 15:45, Poznan
Martes 19 de junio de 2012#23: ENG - UKR, 15:45, Donetsk#24: SWE - FRA, 15:45, Kiev
Jueves 21 de junio de 2012#25: 1A - 2B, 15:45, Varsovia
Viernes 22 de junio de 2012#26: 1B - 2A, 15:45, Gdansk
Sábado 23 de junio de 2012#27: 1C - 2D, 15:45, Donetsk
Domingo 24 de junio de 2012#28: 1D - 2C, 15:45, Kiev
Miércoles 27 de junio de 2012#29: G#25 - G#27, 15:45, Donetsk
Jueves 28 de junio de 2012#30: G#26 - G#28, 15:45, Varsovia
Domingo 1 de julio de 2012#31: G#29 - G#30, 15:45, Kiev
DatosAlemania y España (finalistas de la Euro 2008) ganaron todos sus partidos clasificatorios.

The wait is over and the four groups have been unveiled for this coming summer's Euro 2012 event in Poland and Ukraine.

Friday's draw, hosted by the latter nation, saw Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal placed together with joint-favorites Germany and Netherlands in Group B, which has emerged as the clear 'group of death'.

Ireland are in the fourth group of seeds for the Euro 2012 finals draw, UEFA confirmed today.
Giovanni Trapattoni's 'Boys In Green', who completed a 5-1 aggregate play-off win against Estonia last night, have been drawn alongside Denmark, France and Czech Republic in Pot 4.
Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, who have already been allocated to groups A and D respectively, are in the top group of seeds alongside reigning world and European champions Spain and 2010 World Cup finalists the Netherlands.

Se tienen ya formados los grupos que se sortearán para la Eurocopa 2012, el sorteo será el viernes 2 de Diciembre y con seguridad habrá un grupo de la muerte, pudiera ser que esten juntos en un grupo, España, Alemania, Portugal y Francia, vaya que sería a morir, les paso la nota en ingles via El Guardian.

Viewers looking at the television schedules for last night may have noticed a gap in the football coverage. For the first time in more than two decades, there were no highlights from the FA Cup First Round on the television on the Saturday night after the matches were played, and viewers were forced to wait until this morning to catch up with what happened yesterday afternoon instead.

Czech Republic vs Montenegro 2-0 Goals Video Pilar Sivok Euro 2012 Play-Off Highlights is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Czech Republic vs Montenegro 2-0 Goals Video Pilar Sivok Euro 2012 Play-Off Highlights is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Czech Republic vs Montenegro 2011 ( Czech Republic Montenegro video below) Final score and result:- Czech Republic vs Montenegro 2-0 ( Pilar, Sivok) Generali Arena, Prague- 11 November, 2011- First Leg- [.

A week after our first look at it, the Spain adidas EURO 2012 home jersey has been officially launched by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol and adidas. The new shirt will be used by EURO 2008 and FIFA World Cup winners for the first time when La Roja meets England in an international friendly [.

The past doesn't count. Everything is starting again. Spain continues to strengthen.

With a friendly against England at Wembley on Saturday and the EUROs on the horizon, the time has come for Spain to refresh, and forget everything. Everything won. Everything created.

The Message:

Iker: "No one came to welcome us"
Silva: "We didn't create a new way of playing football"
Xabi: "We weren't admired by the whole world"
Iker: "We didn't take a whole country to the streets"
Villa: "I wasn't the top scorer"
Llorente: "We couldn't bear the pressure"
Del Bosque: "We didn't change the conception of football"
Xavi: "I wasn't the best football player in the Euro 2008"
Llorente: "We are not a team"
Xavi: "We are not European Champions"
Villa: "We are not World Champions"

The shirt is new, the meaning of wearing it remains the same.

PHOTO BY TFF...
Call it revenge.....Call it rematch of the Euro 2008...
Call it crunch time for both teams.....
It is all about advancing to Euro 2012 at the end of the two leg play-off matches!
This two match series will be heart-stopping for both National team fans!

Spain are the bookies' favourite to claim the Euro 2012 title held in Poland and Ukraine but do they deserve to be in this position?
They are undoubtedly the best team in the world and have a respectable history in terms of awards. The Spanish last claimed the European title back in the Euro 2008 where they beat the German powerhouses 1-0 after a goal from the unstoppable Fernando Torres in the 33rd minute.

Since I maintain the Russia and Greece pages here at World Cup Blog, this is a unique post because it allows for a two sided preview. Check out the Greece Blog for the other side. Russia are traveling to Piraeus this week to face their Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 [read more]

Tottenham Hotspur right-back Vedran Corluka has dismissed suggestions that vengeance for Croatia's defeat in the Euro 2008 quarterfinal will be the primary motivation as Slaven Bilic prepares to lead his men in the Euro 2012 qualification playoffs against Turkey.

Croatia qualified for that tournament in style almost four years ago, winning an unforgettable encounter at Wembley to prevent England from joining them in Austria and Switzerland.

From El Nino to Nando'h: Why time is running out for Torres

The last time Fernando Torres walked out against England, the glances at him were nervous, anxious, maybe even scared. Maybe the then-Liverpool striker did not score as Fabio Capello's side were pasted 2-0 in Seville, but Torres was in his pomp and element, so much the centre of attention that England fatally took their eyes of David Villa for the opener.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Soccer's tactical development over the past two decades unfurls, ironically, as a seemingly endless battle for the part of the field furthest from the goals. When Inter Milan wanted championships, they imported Jose Mourinho to teach the team how to play defense further up the pitch.

All but four countries have booked their ticket to next summer's finals in Poland and Ukraine, but the quality among the eight undecided sides have created some intriguing ties, with the prospect of going on a run a la Greece always ever-present.

The play-off's two legs will be played on the 11th and 15th of the coming month, with the following countries paired against each other in the final decisive battles of the qualifying phase.

Several Spanish media outlets have released the first images of the the Spain adidas EURO 2012 home jersey. The new shirt will be used by the talent-rich La Roja as it looks to defend its EURO 2008 title and for its 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers during the 2012/13 international season. The Spain adidas EURO [.

Euro 2012 qualifying began in August 2010, with 51 nations vying to be part of next Juneís tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Of course, only about half of those teams entered with realistic hopes of qualifying or making the playoffs, and less than half of those teams have a legitimate chance to make a serious run at the title.

Over the last 21 years, the England national team has persistently failed at the World Cup and the European Championships. Blame has regularly been attributed to failed managers, and the so-called 'Golden Generation' of pampered Premier League primadonnas. However, there is one common denominator underpinning England's continual failure, and that is the negative influence of Manchester United players.

Photo By : Ahmet B Turgut
It is revenge time for Croatia and for Turkey wants live the same feelings back in Euro 2008!
Croatia back in Euro 2008, quarter- finals, lost to Turkey on penalties...
They will meet again once more in the play-offs for the Euro 2012 tournament.

Italy have had a solid qualifying campaign for Euro 2012, which has seen the side go unbeaten and concede a mere two goals. The side has also looked impressive in some recent friendlies, beating World Champions Spain 2-1 back in August. Although it could be argued that the Spain squad fielded that day was somewhat experimental, it is still quite an achievement for a national side that only a year previously was in crisis and bereft of confidence.

Rooney Not Helping England - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Last night Wayne Rooney's astonishing moment of stupidity ensures that Manchester United star is set to miss the start of Euro 2012 next year. It remains to be seen whether he is handed more than a single match ban by UEFA for his act of madness.

If you were closely following England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, particularly as a supporter, it must have been a nightmare watching it all slip away in a bitter finale at Wembley.

It was the month of November in 2007 and Croatia were in town having already qualified themselves but certainly relishing the opportunity to shatter the Lions' dreams.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes England are 'cheating' by having a foreign manager in charge of the national team.
Fabio Capello was handed the reins after Steve McClaren failed to guide the Three Lions to qualification for Euro 2008, and persuaded Carragher to briefly come out of international retirement for last summer's World Cup.

I remember so very well where I was when Steve McClaren was stood stony-faced beneath an umbrella in the pouring rain as England surrendered their opportunity to feature at Euro 2008. I was in a pub in Holloway in North London, and the patrons of the establishment had come together under a cloud of false hope.

Die Wiesn, das legendäre Oktoberfest, das hauptsächlich im September stattfindet, ist schon wieder im vollem Gange. Für uns in München bedeutet das 3 Fussballwochenenden Ausnahmezustand, eine volle Stadt und Fans, die es nicht ertragen können, wenn Münchner Vereine TSV 1860 München oder der FC Bayern München ihre Wiesn-Heimspiele verlieren.

Lost amid all the debates and media coverage about the respective merits of David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard, Tomasz Kuszczak silently fades into oblivion and obscurity, left out in the cold by Alex Ferguson and stranded at Old Trafford with his only football coming on the Carrington training ground and in meaningless reserve matches.

Germany, Italy, Spain and Netherlands (plus hosts Poland and Ukraine) are the first nations to be qualified to Euro 2012 with still two more rounds of matches to play in October.

In this moment Germany and Spain seemed the best European national teams. Last saturday Joachim Loew's team has won 4-0 for the 4th time in the season and they're ready to improve the second place in Euro 2008 and the semifinal of the last Wolrd Cup.

Scotland v Czech Republic Highlights 2-2 2011 Goals Video Kadlec penalty is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Scotland v Czech Republic Highlights 2-2 2011 Goals Video Kadlec penalty is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Scotland v Czech Republic 2011 Final score and result:- Scotland vs Czech Republic 2-2 ( Miller, Fletcher/ Plasil, Kadlec) A late penalty from Michal Kadlec deals a body blow to Scotland's Euro 2012 [.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has expressed excitement over his move to the Emirates Stadium and like fellow summer signings Park Chu-Young and Andre Santos, he has described the transfer as a dream come true.

The Germany international who quickly returned to the national team's training camp ahead of their potentially decisive Euro 2012 qualifer against Austria was handed former skipper Cesc Fabregas' famous No.

Raul Meireles has signed for Chelsea. Liverpool confirmed tonight that the midfielder had handed in a written transfer request and Chelsea wasted no time in signing the Portuguese midfielder.
The statement on the Official Chelsea Website reads:

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Raul Meireles from Liverpool on a four-year contract.

It should go without saying that Qualifying for Euro 2012, being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, is the focus for France right now, but the big news of the World Cup Qualification group selection could make that easy to forget.

France were drawn with Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Under-21 [read more]

London 2012 Chief and former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe has said he will focus uniquely on athletics following next summer's games, quashing hopes he may develop his career in football politics instead.

"My focus post-2012 will be track and field, absolutely," Coe told Reuters.