Euro 2012 TV Schedule: Matches That Will Have You on the Edge of Your Seat

With Euro 2012 starting on Friday, soccer fans across the world are eagerly anticipating how things will play out in the group stage. There are several intriguing matchups on tap that you simply won't want to miss. Every contest can be seen on the ESPN family of networks over the next couple weeks, so you don't have to miss a second of the action.

The tournament, which is being held in Poland and Ukraine, is considered one of the most prestigious international competitions in all of soccer. It promises to be a great tuneup for the 2014 World Cup, which means that many people are going to take notice when it comes to the results.

Here are three group-stage matches that will have you on the edge of your seat, as well as the full television schedule for the Euro 2012 group stage.

Netherlands vs. Germany

When the defending silver and bronze medalists in the World Cup play against each other, it is certainly always a spectacle to behold. That will be the case on June 13, when Netherlands and Germany face off in a pivotal Group B battle.

Group B is being called "The Group of Death" due to the fact that it harbors Netherlands and Germany, as well as Portugal, so the loser of this match could be in danger of being eliminated early.

Both teams have a ton of offensive firepower, so we could see somewhat of a shootout. Arjen Robben and Nigel de Jong will be players to watch for for the Dutch, while Germany has explosive options like Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and many others.

This is by far the premier match of the group stage, and if things go as expected, they may meet again at some point in the knockout rounds.

France vs. England

As the two favorites to come out of Group D, France and England will be involved in a huge game on June 11. It will be the opening match for both squads, and neither will want to lose because it will leave no margin for error.

France has been playing quite well of late and may hold the advantage, as England is suffering through a myriad of injuries. Star English striker Wayne Rooney won't be available for the match, so the French have a golden opportunity.

France turned in an awful effort at the 2010 World Cup, but things have gone much smoother since then, and a win over England would cause may to forget about the failures of two years ago. Franck Ribery will be the key player to watch for the French, as he has the best chance of breaking through on the scoreboard.

England won't go quietly, though, despite its health issues. Look for this one to be a very heated affair.

Portugal vs. Netherlands

As previously mentioned, Group B will play host to some extremely important matches. The Netherlands and Germany are slightly favored to advance, but Portugal won't be an easy team to keep down.

Led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal is probably feeling like a forgotten team since it will have to share the spotlight with the Dutch and the Germans. One way to change that, though, would be to beat Netherlands on June 17.

Since it is the final game in group play for both teams, it could be a case where the winner advances and the loser goes home. If that happens, then it will undoubtedly be the most exciting and high-stakes match of the round. It isn't often that a group game has the feel of a potential championship matchup, but when Portugal and Netherlands play, there will be an absolutely incredible atmosphere.

Full Group Play Television Schedule

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