Adidas Tango 12

ADIDAS TANGO 12 BALL, THE OFFICIAL EURO 2012 BALL, IS PROVEN TO MAKE A WORK FOR KEEPER.

The Adidas Tango 12 Information Graphics

The Adidas Tango 12® ball is proven to make the goalkeepers had to work hard to save their goal from the shot. It is proven by the fact that after 12 days (since the opening of the euros on 8 June 2012), there have been 57 goals scored into the net, and even the group phase has not finished yet.

And a 4-1 surprising loss for the Czech Republic from Russia, has made the first match day (8 June) as the second day with the most goals scored, only one goal less from the day with the most goal scored on 13th of June, 8 goals scored.

The unpredictable move by the tango 12, is also the answer of the critics for the FIFA World Cup 2010 official ball, Jabulani. The players said, Jabulani was a little bit too hard to control because with only a single chip, it would fly and swing across the goal. So, the Tango 12 is the perfect ball to answer the players' request -- Most of the World Cup 2010 teams are under the European Confederation -- to have a better experience kicking the ball into the target.

Russia 4 Czech Republic 1: match report

RUSSIA 4-1 CZECH REPUBLIC

HT: 2-0

Dzagoev (15)

Shirokov (42)

Pilar (52)

Dzagoev (79)

Pavlyuchenko (82)

PERFECT FINISH: Roman Shirokov celebrates scoring Russia’s second against the Czechs (Photo: Getty Images)

An evisceration of a committed but utterly outfoxed Czech Republic was as bold an opening move as this competition is likely to see. Never mind Russia’s coach Dick Advocaat’s searing understatement – “for a first game I was quite happy” – the tournament dark horses have just got a whole lot lighter.

The astonishing thing was the figure at the heart of the Russian brilliance. A player largely derided during his time in north London suddenly appeared, in the red of his national jersey, to be a world beater. Andrei Arshavin: someone in the Premier League really ought to put in a bid pronto.

Stationed on the left of a three-man forward line, the Russian skipper showed the kind of innovative, sharp-minded and – yes – industrious form thought beyond him by Arsenal fans.

With his every contribution cheered to the echo by the huge red following filling the Municipal Stadium’s steepling stands, he strolled through the game unleashing an alluring repertoire of back-heels and chips.

His pass for Roman Shirokov to run on to and stab home Russia’s second goal – a delicate elevated wedge shot over a bamboozled Czech backline – is unlikely to be bettered by anyone other than Andres Iniesta.

By that time, Russia were already in the mood to take complete control. One up after Alan Dzagoev rocketed home the rebound when Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s stooping header had hit a marooned Petr Cech’s post, they were quicker to the ball, more productive in possession, more imaginative in their movement than their opponents.

Making better use of a pitch slicked up by a biblical downpour before the game (the photographers fringing the pitch in their plastic ponchos, looked as if they had just come straight from covering the Jubilee river pageant) the Russian midfield spun the ball around with venomous purpose.

Not that the Czechs entirely lacked backbone. After what must have been a frank half-time discussion with coach Michael Bilek, they came back within six minutes of the restart when Jaroslav Plasil’s precise pass split the red rearguard and Vaclav Pilar, just staying onside, rounded Vyacheslav Malafeev to score. But it was of little consequence.

Russia soon prevailed. Dzagoev scored a scorching third from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko’s shrewd pass, before the ex-Spurs man joined the party with a superb fourth.

Not that Advocaat appeared entirely satisfied with the evening’s performance.

“I think we should have scored more, we had a lot of chances, we’ll have to get better at that,” he said.

http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football)

UEFA EURO 2012: IN NUMBERS

HERE, WE GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS AND FACTS ABOUT THE EUROS...

THE TALLEST TEAM

Sweden (avg. 185,4 cm)

THE SHORTEST TEAM

Spain (avg. 179,1 cm)

Who's your coach?

Giovanni Trapattoni, Republic of Ireland (73 years old, the oldest coach in the Euros)

Paulo Bento, Portugal (42 years old, the youngest coach in the Euros)

THE MOST INTERESTING ONE...

Sokratis Papastathopoulos

16 ==> the longest nickname in the Euros (Sokratis PAPASTATHOPOULOS, Greece)

(Extra info: I should spend the whole day to memorize the letters!)

6 ==> the most apparel used by the contestants (Adidas)

P.S. If you have more info about the facts in numbers of EURO 2012, just comment or e-mail me and I'll edit it or make the new one.

Euro 2012: Gary Neville tackles England's mental frailty

GARY NEVILLE LOVES A CHALLENGE, AND HE HAS CERTAINLY ACCEPTED A SUBSTANTIAL ONE IN AGREEING TO TACKLE THE FEAR FACTOR THAT INHIBITS ENGLAND. CAPPED 85 TIMES, NEVILLE NOW RELISHES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND HIS ENGLAND INVOLVEMENT IN A COACHING CAPACITY.

TAKING CHARGE: Gary Neville says England need to overcome their problems with penalties. (Photo: Reuters)

“Forget football, I love England as a country,’’ said Neville, Roy Hodgson’s surprise but inspired choice as coach. “It was a great honour and privilege to play for England and I never gave anything less than my best. My frustration with England was that we never won a trophy. Hopefully over the next four years I can be part of a team that does get to a successful position. I am aware of the difficulties.

“There are a number of other nations out there. We are talking about Argentina, Portugal, Germany: they are not exactly mug nations we are getting knocked out by.”

Neville played at Euro 96, France 98, Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“Euro 2004 and 96 are the ones I always look back on as being particularly disappointing because I thought we were good enough. Now there seems to be the lowest expectation I’ve ever known for an England team going into a tournament but the fact is, in tournaments gone past, it’s been fine lines.’’ Like penalties. “We have to overcome the psychological aspect eventually. I went to five tournaments and four of them we went out on pens: two quarter-finals, one second phase, one semi-final. But for a goalkeeper’s save or the width of a post we are in finals and semi-finals.’’

Always a mix of the realist and the bullish, the 37 year-old takes confidence from the presence of Joe Hart. “We have a great keeper – and that’s not being disrespectful to the ones I played with – and that could make a difference. So if we get to a quarter-final and our great goalkeeper saves two or three we are in the semi-final.” David Seaman saved one against Spain to help England reach the last four at Euro 96.

“The Euro 96 squad had a lot of strong characters but you look through this team and I’d say Rooney is a strong character. Hart, Terry, Gerrard have proven that at club level. You are talking about European champions, Premier League winners.’’
Neville’s new role involves banishing some of the fear that can afflict young internationals. “We have to make younger players understand that it is a pressurised atmosphere where you are expected to do well all the time and so you should be. You will be tested in every way.’’
Just as Neville represents England’s long-term coaching future, possibly even the main job one day, so Hodgson has peppered his squad with youngsters. “Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Jones are being bought in not just with this tournament in mind but giving them experience for ones to come,’’ continued Neville. “Even the boy Butland that’s coming in now. It would have been easy to go for a more experienced keeper but he [Hodgson] has gone for a young keeper. There are other younger players who would have been in contention but are injured like Walker, Smalling, Wilshere, Rodwell.”
Neville already has his B and A coaching licences, his learning process accelerated by a successful season analysing games for Sky.
“It made me appreciate other players and clubs more rather than being stuck in my world at Manchester United, which was all-consuming. I love the club but I needed to get that break, get off the roundabout.”
His candour has impressed even United’s rivals. “If you’d said to me at the start of the season I’d be sat there on April 30, on Monday Night Football, having to congratulate Manchester City who’d just beaten Manchester United and be critical of the Manchester United players who’d made mistakes and then two weeks later I’d be sat there again, in the last minute, of the last match of the season, and there are 40,000 people turning around to let me know they’d just won the league – I’ve overcome those things because I’ve been honest and fair.
“There are 23 players in this squad and in one way or another this season, I’ve probably had to highlight a mistake they’ve made. I don’t see a great problem in it. Their mistakes are highlighted on television anyway, there are probably 100 million watching around the world, the manager has probably pointed it out to them. They will know in their own right they’ve made a mistake. So the fact Gary Neville might be sat up there in the commentary box pointing out their mistake is the least of their worries.’’
He also omitted big names such as Terry when picking his preferred Euro squad in his newspaper column earlier in the season. “If you went through my back catalogue you’d have some fun!” he laughed. “It shows the FA and the boss are not afraid to make decisions. Roy said to me: ‘I don’t want someone to come alongside me and be a ‘yes’ man.’ In the past I’ve felt England managers have invited friends to be around them at times.’’
And the FA? Would Red Nev call a strike again as in 2003? “I wouldn’t do it now!” he replied, clearly unrepentant. “All the time I’ve talked about the FA [critically] it’s always been about one incident. There are an awful lot of good people at the FA, always have been, and the preparation for the players before major tournaments has always been incredible. Transport, food and hotels have always been A1.”
Neville is back but the Wags were not welcome. “The FA learned from the experience in 2006. It won’t happen again. It was symptomatic of the times. Between 2002 and 2007, everyone got carried away with everything in life. It’s a different world now. We are here to work.’’


http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england)