Euro 2012: Latest News and Rumours

Euro 2012 will kick-off on 8 June with co-hosts Poland set to take on Greece, while Russia will face the Czech Republic in Group A.

This segment will feature the latest news and rumours surrounding this summer’s European Championships. Let’s get started.

England

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has assured England manager Roy Hodgson that he will be ready when called upon at Euro 2012.

“I’ve had a rest and I probably needed that. Being in the squad feels good. It’s a few weeks before I can play so I will aim to do some good training to be ready if needed,” Rooney told The FA’s official website.

England’s no. 10 will serve a two-match ban for his red card against Montenegro in qualifying to start this summer’s tournament.

The United talisman will be available for selection in the Three Lions’ final group stage match against co-hosts Ukraine.

Rooney is 6/1 to be England’s top scorer in Poland-Ukraine.

France

Les Bleus manager Laurent Blanc is confident that star strikers Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud can coexist and play alongside one another.

However, Blanc did not reveal whether or not the duo would start against England in France’s Euro 2012 opener on 11 June.

Benzema bagged 35 goals and 18 assists for club and country in 2011-12, both of which were career highs.

The former Lyon forward was not involved in France’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and that’s probably a good thing.

Benzema is 8/11 to outscore Cristiano Ronaldo in Euro 2012.

Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud led Montpellier to the Ligue 1 title in 2011-12.

Giroud led the French champions in goals, 21, and assists, 9, and started a team-high 36 league matches. In short, he was absolutely brilliant.

The 25-year-old striker is 6/1 to be France’s top goalscorer at the 2012 European Championships.

Holland

Oranje midfielder Wesley Sneijder has revealed that Holland fully intend on winning the 2012 European Championships.

“The changes Bert van Marwijk has made to our style of play since taking over have proven to be quite successful as we reached the final at the World Cup,” Sneijder told De Telegraaf.

“We are now aiming to reach at least the final at Euro 2012. We want to do even better, though, and win the European title.”

Van Marwijk’s men will have to win the European Championships the hard way since they have been grouped into the “Group of Death”.

Holland will face Denmark, Germany and Portugal in Group B. All four teams in the Group of Death are ranked in the Top 10 in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.

Furthermore, the teams in Group B have combined to win three of the last six UEFA European Football Championships.

Holland are 13/2 to win Euro 2012 with the bookmakers.