UEFA Euro 2012 Group B

Group B of UEFA Euro 2012 began on 9 June 2012 and ended on 17 June 2012. The pool was made up of the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Portugal. Germany and Portugal progressed to the quarter-finals, while Denmark and the Netherlands were eliminated from the tournament.

Group B was dubbed by many the "group of death" of Euro 2012.[1][2][3][4] All four teams were in the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings at the start of the tournament.[5]

In the first round, Denmark upset Netherlands 1–0 with a 24th-minute goal from Michael Krohn-Dehli.[6] In the next match, Germany defeated Portugal 1–0 with a 72nd-minute goal from Mario Gómez, leaving Germany and Denmark tied at three points at the top of the group with Portugal and the Netherlands at the bottom of the group with no points.[7]

In the second round, when Portugal played Denmark, Portugal went ahead 2–0 with a 24th-minute goal from Pepe and a 36th-minute goal from Hélder Postiga, but with two goals from Nicklas Bendtner (41st and 80th minute), Denmark equalized. However, Portugal's Silvestre Varela scored in the 87th minute to give Portugal the win.[8] In the next match, Netherlands and Germany continued their longstanding rivalry. Striker Mario Gómez scored twice in the first half (24th and 38th minute) to put the Germans ahead 2–0, and despite a 73rd-minute goal from Robin van Persie, Germany won 2–1.[9]

Leading into the third round, all four teams were still able to qualify and no team was already qualified, despite the fact that Germany had 6 points and Netherlands had 0 points. Ultimately, Germany defeated Denmark 2–1 after Lukas Podolski and Lars Bender scored for Germany in the 19th and 80th minutes, respectively, despite an equalizer from Michael Krohn-Dehli in the 24th minute.[10] In the other match (played simultaneously in order to prevent the teams from gaining a strategic advantage by knowing the result of the other match on the same day) between Portugal and Netherlands, Rafael van der Vaart scored to give the Netherlands a lead for the first time in the entire tournament, but after much criticism in the media for his failure to score in the first two matches,[11][12] Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to secure a 2–1 victory for Portugal.[13] With these results, Germany and Portugal qualified, in first and second place, respectively, and Denmark and Netherlands were eliminated.

Teams
Draw position Team Pot Method of
qualification		 Date of
qualification		 Finals
appearance		 Last
appearance		 Previous best
performance		 UEFA Rankings
November 2011[nb 1]		 FIFA Rankings
June 2012
B1 Netherlands1Group E winner6 September 20119th2008Winners (1988)24
B2 Denmark4Group H winner11 October 20118th2004Winners (1992)119
B3 Germany[nb 2]2Group A winner2 September 201111th2008Winners (1972, 1980, 1996)33
B4 Portugal3Play-off winner15 November 20116th2008Runners-up (2004)910

Notes

  1. The UEFA rankings of November 2011 were used for seeding for the final draw.
  2. From 1972 to 1988, Germany competed as West Germany.

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 3 0 0 5 2 +3 9 Advance to knockout phase
2  Portugal 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
3  Denmark 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4  Netherlands 3 0 0 3 2 5 −3 0
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the quarter-finals,

  • The winner of Group B, Germany, advanced to play the runner-up of Group A, Greece.
  • The runner-up of Group B, Portugal, advanced to play the winner of Group A, Czech Republic.

Matches
All times Eastern European Time (UTC+2)

Netherlands vs Denmark
Netherlands 0–1 Denmark
Report
Attendance: 35,923[14]
Netherlands[15]
Denmark[15]
GK1Maarten Stekelenburg
RB2Gregory van der Wiel 85'
CB3John Heitinga
CB13Ron Vlaar
LB15Jetro Willems
CM8Nigel de Jong 71'
CM6Mark van Bommel (c) 67'
RW11Arjen Robben
AM10Wesley Sneijder
LW20Ibrahim Afellay 71'
CF16Robin van Persie
Substitutions:
MF23Rafael van der Vaart 71'
FW9Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 71'
FW7Dirk Kuyt 85'
Manager:
Bert van Marwijk
GK1Stephan Andersen
RB6Lars Jacobsen
CB3Simon Kjær
CB4Daniel Agger (c)
LB5Simon Poulsen 78'
CM7William Kvist 81'
CM21Niki Zimling
RW10Dennis Rommedahl 84'
AM8Christian Eriksen 74'
LW9Michael Krohn-Dehli
CF11Nicklas Bendtner
Substitutions:
MF14Lasse Schøne 74'
FW23Tobias Mikkelsen 84'
Manager:
Morten Olsen

Man of the Match:
Michael Krohn-Dehli (Denmark)[14]

Assistant referees:
Primoz Arhar (Slovenia)
Matej Žunič (Slovenia)
Fourth official:
Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)
Additional assistant referees:
Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)

Germany vs Portugal
Germany 1–0 Portugal
 Report
Attendance: 32,990[16]
Germany[17]
Portugal[17]
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB20Jérôme Boateng 69'
CB5Mats Hummels
CB14Holger Badstuber 43'
LB16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM6Sami Khedira
CM7Bastian Schweinsteiger
RW13Thomas Müller 90+4'
AM8Mesut Özil 87'
LW10Lukas Podolski
CF23Mario Gómez 80'
Substitutions:
FW11Miroslav Klose 80'
MF18Toni Kroos 87'
MF15Lars Bender 90+4'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
GK12Rui Patrício
RB21João Pereira
CB2Bruno Alves
CB3Pepe
LB5Fábio Coentrão 60'
CM16Raul Meireles 80'
CM4Miguel Veloso
CM8João Moutinho
RF17Nani
CF23Hélder Postiga 13' 70'
LF7Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Substitutions:
FW11Nélson Oliveira 70'
FW18Silvestre Varela 80'
Manager:
Paulo Bento

Man of the Match:
Mesut Özil (Germany)[16]

Assistant referees:
Frédéric Cano (France)
Michaël Annonier (France)
Fourth official:
Marcin Borski (Poland)
Additional assistant referees:
Fredy Fautrel (France)
Ruddy Buquet (France)

Denmark vs Portugal
Denmark 2–3 Portugal
 Report
Attendance: 31,840[18]
Denmark[19]
Portugal[19]
GK1Stephan Andersen
RB6Lars Jacobsen 81'
CB3Simon Kjær
CB4Daniel Agger (c)
LB5Simon Poulsen
DM7William Kvist
CM21Niki Zimling 16'
RW10Dennis Rommedahl 60'
AM8Christian Eriksen
LW9Michael Krohn-Dehli 90+2'
CF11Nicklas Bendtner
Substitutions:
MF19Jakob Poulsen 56' 16'
FW23Tobias Mikkelsen 60'
MF14Lasse Schøne 90+2'
Manager:
Morten Olsen
GK12Rui Patrício
RB21João Pereira
CB2Bruno Alves
CB3Pepe
LB5Fábio Coentrão
CM16Raul Meireles 29' 84'
CM4Miguel Veloso
CM8João Moutinho
RF17Nani 89'
CF23Hélder Postiga 64'
LF7Cristiano Ronaldo (c) 90+2'
Substitutions:
FW11Nélson Oliveira 64'
FW18Silvestre Varela 84'
DF14Rolando 89'
Manager:
Paulo Bento

Man of the Match:
Pepe (Portugal)[18]

Assistant referees:
Alasdair Ross (Scotland)
Derek Rose (Scotland)
Fourth official:
Viktor Shvetsov (Ukraine)
Additional assistant referees:
William Collum (Scotland)
Euan Norris (Scotland)

Netherlands vs Germany
See also: Germany–Netherlands football rivalry
Netherlands 1–2 Germany
 Report
Attendance: 37,750[20]
Netherlands[21]
Germany[21]
GK1Maarten Stekelenburg
RB2Gregory van der Wiel
CB3John Heitinga
CB4Joris Mathijsen
LB15Jetro Willems 90'
CM8Nigel de Jong 80'
CM6Mark van Bommel (c) 46'
RW11Arjen Robben 83'
AM10Wesley Sneijder
LW20Ibrahim Afellay 46'
CF16Robin van Persie
Substitutions:
MF23Rafael van der Vaart 46'
FW9Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 46'
FW7Dirk Kuyt 83'
Manager:
Bert van Marwijk
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB20Jérôme Boateng 87'
CB5Mats Hummels
CB14Holger Badstuber
LB16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM6Sami Khedira
CM7Bastian Schweinsteiger
RW13Thomas Müller 90+2'
AM8Mesut Özil 81'
LW10Lukas Podolski
CF23Mario Gómez 72'
Substitutions:
FW11Miroslav Klose 72'
MF18Toni Kroos 81'
MF15Lars Bender 90+2'
Manager:
Joachim Löw

Man of the Match:
Mario Gómez (Germany)[20]

Assistant referees:
Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)
Mathias Klasenius (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Tom Harald Hagen (Norway)
Additional assistant referees:
Markus Strömbergsson (Sweden)
Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)

Portugal vs Netherlands
Portugal 2–1 Netherlands
 Report
Attendance: 37,445[22]
Portugal[23]
Netherlands[23]
GK12Rui Patrício
RB21João Pereira 90+2'
CB2Bruno Alves
CB3Pepe
LB5Fábio Coentrão
CM16Raul Meireles 72'
CM4Miguel Veloso
CM8João Moutinho
RF17Nani 87'
CF23Hélder Postiga 64'
LF7Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Substitutions:
FW11Nélson Oliveira 64'
MF6Custódio 72'
DF14Rolando 87'
Manager:
Paulo Bento
GK1Maarten Stekelenburg
RB2Gregory van der Wiel
CB13Ron Vlaar
CB4Joris Mathijsen
LB15Jetro Willems 51' 67'
DM8Nigel de Jong
CM23Rafael van der Vaart (c)
RW11Arjen Robben
AM16Robin van Persie 69'
LW10Wesley Sneijder
CF9Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Substitutions:
MF20Ibrahim Afellay 67'
Manager:
Bert van Marwijk

Man of the Match:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)[22]

Assistant referees:
Renato Faverani (Italy)
Andrea Stefani (Italy)
Fourth official:
Martin Atkinson (England)
Additional assistant referees:
Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)

Denmark vs Germany
Denmark 1–2 Germany
 Report
Attendance: 32,990[24]
Denmark[25]
Germany[25]
GK1Stephan Andersen
RB6Lars Jacobsen
CB3Simon Kjær
CB4Daniel Agger (c)
LB5Simon Poulsen
DM7William Kvist
CM19Jakob Poulsen 82'
CM21Niki Zimling 78'
RW8Christian Eriksen
LW9Michael Krohn-Dehli
CF11Nicklas Bendtner
Substitutions:
MF2Christian Poulsen 78'
FW23Tobias Mikkelsen 82'
Manager:
Morten Olsen
GK1Manuel Neuer
RB15Lars Bender
CB5Mats Hummels
CB14Holger Badstuber
LB16Philipp Lahm (c)
CM6Sami Khedira
CM7Bastian Schweinsteiger
RW13Thomas Müller 84'
AM8Mesut Özil
LW10Lukas Podolski 64'
CF23Mario Gómez 74'
Substitutions:
MF9André Schürrle 64'
FW11Miroslav Klose 74'
MF18Toni Kroos 84'
Manager:
Joachim Löw

Man of the Match:
Lukas Podolski (Germany)[24]

Assistant referees:
Roberto Alonso Fernández (Spain)
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
Fourth official:
Mark Clattenburg (England)
Additional assistant referees:
David Fernández Borbalán (Spain)
Carlos Clos Gómez (Spain)

References
  1. Ubha, Ravi (2 December 2011). "Euro 2012 group-by-group breakdown". ESPN. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  2. James, Tyler (2 December 2011). "The real attractions of Euro 2012". ESPN. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  3. "Euro 2012 Draw: Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark land in "Group of Death"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  4. Asante, Angela (2 December 2011). "UEFA Euro 2012 Group of Death: Germany with Portugal & Holland. Who'll be doomed?". Livesoccertv. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  5. "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  6. "Euro 2012: Denmark's 1–0 upset leaves Dutch "speechless"". Sports Illustrated. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  7. McCauley, Kevin (9 June 2012). "Germany vs Portugal, Euro 2012: final score". SB Nation. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  8. McCauley, Kevin (13 June 2012). "Denmark vs Portugal, Euro 2012: final score". SB Nation. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  9. McCauley, Kevin (13 June 2012). "Netherlands vs Germany, Euro 2012: final score". SB Nation. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  10. McCauley, Kevin (17 June 2012). "Denmark vs Germany, Euro 2012: final score". SB Nation. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  11. James, Stuart (15 June 2012). "Euro 2012: Nani springs to Cristiano Ronaldo's defence after criticism". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  12. Rogers, Martin (12 June 2012). "Cristiano Ronaldo under mounting pressure to perform for Portugal at Euro 2012". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  13. Hatton, Barry (17 June 2012). "Portugal beats Netherlands 2–1 at Euro 2012". Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  14. "Full-time report Netherlands-Denmark" (PDF). UEFA.com. 9 June 2012.
  15. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Netherlands-Denmark" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  16. "Full-time report Germany-Portugal" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  17. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Germany-Portugal" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  18. "Full-time report Denmark-Portugal" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  19. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Denmark-Portugal" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  20. "Full-time report Netherlands-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  21. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Netherlands-Germany" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  22. "Full-time report Portugal-Netherlands" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  23. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Portugal-Netherlands" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  24. "Full-time report Denmark-Germany" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  25. "Tactical Line-up – Group B – Denmark-Germany" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
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