Euro 2012 ready to kick off, Poland to face Greece

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Euro 2012 ready to kick off, Poland to face Greece

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Europe's biggest football tournament is ready to 2012 kicks off Friday afternoon.

08 June,2012 12:03 pm

Euro 2012 kicks off Friday in Poland and Ukraine, just over five years since European footballs governing body UEFA made the surprise choice of naming the two east European countries as joint hosts.But from concerns about the completion of key infrastructure to political upheaval and homeland security issues, the long build-up to the first major football tournament behind the former Iron Curtain has been far from smooth.Over the next three weeks 16 of Europes best national football sides will fight it out to be crowned Euro 2012 champion.Spain currently hold the trophy after winning the tournament four years ago.Spain and Germany are the favourites to win this years competition, with the Netherlands and France also thought to be title contenders.Eight stadiums across Poland and Ukraine are being used for the matches.England are the only team from the UK to qualify for the tournament.Theyve never won the European Championship, their best result was a semi-final defeat by Germany at Wembley in 1996.The run-up to the tournament this time hasnt been great with the sides top players being hit by a string of injury worries and suspensions.