Euro 2012 draw tonight

['Nixspur]

So in less than 5 hours time, the groups for Euro 2012 get drawn.

There are 4 pots, each with four teams in them, according to seeding.

Pot A: Spain, Netherlands, Poland (Host), Ukraine (Host)
Pot B: England, Germany, Russia, Italy
Pot C: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden
Pot D: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland.

As hosts, Poland and Ukraine are already seeded, and the first teams in Group A and Group D respectively. I personally think that putting the hosts (who are among the weaker teams at the tournament) in with the top seeds is a flawed system, as for all the other teams in there, you have a 50/50 chance of drawing either an unbeatable team, or a gimme. I understand this is to try and make the hosts go further, but still.

Who do you guys want to see drawn for your respective national teams? I'm absolutely terrified that we'll end up with Spain/England/Portugal/France or something, always seems to go that way.

[BrunaSpurs]

@'Nixspur I'm half spanish / half english, so i'll do a dream/nightmare group for each...

England

Dream Group:
Poland
England
Sweden
R.O.I (for the banter with my mate)

Nightmare Group: (I shudder at the thought of this one)
Spain
England
Portugal
France

Spain

Dream Group
Spain
Russia
Sweden
Denmark

Nightmare Group
Spain
Germany
Croatia / Portugal
France

['Nixspur]

Spain/Germany/Portugal/France would have to be the most ridiculous group possible in any international competition, ever, surely.

I wish that the hosts would be put in pots according to their FIFA rankings like everyone else, but maybe with a caveat that they can't be drawn in the same group.

[BrunaSpurs]

It'd be brutal mate, I think it'd be a much better system if it went by fifa rankings too, what's the point in them if they serve no purpose? I'd say the best team in the world could be based upon trophies won quite easily

[contrast]

Poland, Greece and Ireland for me!

Though you know we'll get Spain and Germany . . .

[TehLondoner]

What time and channel is the draw?

[Hidden]

ukraine and russia in one group will be incredibely epic

[Cor-Luka]

Poland
England
Croatia
Czech

Heard it here first.

[Dancubus]

I'm watching the coverage....I turned it over and some bint in a yellow dress was singing, feels like the Eurovision song contest.

Over an hour of faffing about, just to draw some names out a hat.

[Hidden]

@Dancubus
well, bit of something more important and bigger for Ukraine especially, than just a football festival
first tourney in the region of such level, they're trying to make everything about it memorable, entertaining and colourful

I reckon you'll see dancing bears with balalaikas when there will be a toss-up for WC18 in Russia ^^

['Nixspur]

Just explaining the drawing procedure now, in a slow, well spoken voice. We're not idiots, lads.

[Dancubus]

@Dancubus
well, bit of something more important and bigger for Ukraine especially, than just a football festival
first tourney in the region of such level, they're trying to make everything about it memorable, entertaining and colourful

I reckon you'll see dancing bears with balalaikas when there will be a toss-up for WC18 in Russia ^^

All that is fine at the tournament, in the opening ceremony etc. This stuff at the draw seems a bit pointless.

But yeah, fair enough, I can see how it's a big deal to Ukraine.

[DorsetSpursFan]

I'm watching the coverage....I turned it over and some bint in a yellow dress was singing, feels like the Eurovision song contest.

Over an hour of faffing about, just to draw some names out a hat.

I wish I had a bint in a yellow dress, listening to it on TalkSport is ......zzzzzzzz.... sorry I fell asleep again!

[Dancubus]

Unlucky Ireland lol.

['Nixspur]

Group A ridiculously weak.

Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic.