Shakhtar Donetsk?!?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one. $20.5M is a lot of money, so I can hardly blame Olympiacos for going ahead with it. But in the end, will Nery Castillo become a better soccer player playing in the Ukraine? I don't think so. If anything, I'd say he's taking a step backwards.

Sven, how did you lose out on this guy?

Nery Castillo Joins Shakhtar Donetsk In Big Money Move [Goal.com]

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UEFA Should Be Commended

In what could be considered UEFA's first bold move since Michel Platini took charge, the joint bid of Poland/Ukraine was awarded the hosting duties for the 2012 European Championships. While my vote was for Croatia/Hungary, I'm tickled pink for that one, Italy didn't win, and two, that the tournament is finally moving east.

Though there are plenty of issues, both political and sporting (see Guardian article), that the 2012 hosts still need to resolve, I'm in complete agreement with Sean Ingle when he writes that "in the end, Uefa's delegates decided to vote for the future; for the emerging nations, not the status quo."

Poland/Ukraine awarded Euro 2012 [Guardian]
Ukraine court opens crisis case [BBC]

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Where Does The "Anyone But Italy" Line Start?

If UEFA is serious about helping the game progress throughout Europe, than the only choice it can make is for Hungary and Croatia to co-host the 2012 Euros. Sure, their logo needs a little work, but who else are you going to award the hosting duties to? Poland/Ukraine, not so much.

Giving the Italians the right to put on the tournament would be nothing but a vote for continental stagnation. Peterjon Cresswell gives us some insight before the big vote next week.

Why Euro 2012 could go east [Guardian Sport Blog]

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