The Stiles Council: the England national football team

UEFA Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: Daily Report #24

July 1, 2012 – 10:58 pm

UEFA Euro 2012 is over and it finished with an eventful final. It culminated in the crowning of Spain as one of football’s truly great teams. There can be no dispute after Vicente del Bosque’s team secured their third consecutive major international trophy, adding to their wins at UEFA Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup 2010.

Topics Italy, Spain | Permalink | Comments Off

UEFA Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: Daily Report #23

June 30, 2012 – 10:23 pm

After a little over three weeks of football, UEFA Euro 2012 is now at its conclusion. Tomorrow’s final in Kiev between Spain and Italy is poised to be a fitting showpiece, a meeting of two true giants of European football. Vicente del Bosque’s side reached this point by winning Group C and cruising past France, then defeating Portugal on penalties in the semi-final. Italy have also been through penalties, beating England in the quarters, and were in wonderful form in defeating Germany on Thursday.

Topics Italy, Spain | Permalink | Comments Off

UEFA Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: Daily Report #22

June 29, 2012 – 8:23 pm

After two semi-finals that were fascinating and riveting in their own ways, UEFA Euro 2012 is now almost over. But fret ye not, because Sunday’s finale between Spain and Italy is sure to be a titanic clash between the current kings of European football and an Azzurri side that’s got both momentum and history on its side. It seems that scandal looks good on them, doesn’t it?

Topics Andrea Pirlo, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young, Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, Chris Waddle, Gareth Southgate, Italy, Juventus, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, Spain, Stuart Pearce | Permalink | Comments Off

UEFA Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: Daily Report #21

June 28, 2012 – 10:00 pm

Give Mario Balotelli the biggest stage of all and he’ll dwarf all around him with a performance of such might and magnitude that one has to consider that he could have genuine greatness within his reach. Forget Italy’s consistently robust defending, two irresistible assists and Andrea Pirlo’s typically controlled impact: tonight was Balotelli’s night.

Topics Germany, Italy, Mario Balotelli, Mesut Oezil | Permalink | Comments Off

UEFA Euro 2012

UEFA Euro 2012: England’s tournament in review

June 28, 2012 – 7:21 pm

A few days have now passed since England’s UEFA Euro 2012 exit. The finale of Sunday’s quarter-final defeat on penalties against Italy was a familiar experience. England had battled their way through the group, landed superior opponents in the last eight and then collapsed like a drunken teenager in Newquay when faced with a penalty shoot-out, allowing an altogether calmer Italy to advance to the semi-finals.