The National Stadium in Warsaw, host to Friday evening’s opening salvos of Euro 2012, provides impressive surroundings. Photo by AFP
After weeks of anticipation, speculation and debate, Euro 2012 finally gets under way on Friday when co-hosts Poland take on Greece in Warsaw.
The tournament sees 16 of Europe's best footballing countries compete for the Henri Delaunay Trophy, with the final taking place in Kiev on 1 July.
Football fans will see 31 games over the next three weeks, as Spain look to defend the title they won in Vienna four years ago.
Most sports pundits however have tapped Germany as their favorite winner.
Eight stadiums across Poland and Ukraine are being used for the tournament, from the smallest in Lviv which holds just under 35,000 fans, to the colossal 70,000-seater Olympic Stadium in Kiev which hosts the final.