LEAD: Germans run out of draw luck; Poland open Euro against Greece

By Barry Whelan Dec 2, 2011, 19:06 GMT

Kiev - Germany's proverbial luck of the draw ended on Friday in the lots for Euro 2012 which make them face old foes Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal.

Former Dutch striker Marco van Basten drew the three-times winners Germany as the last team into Group B at the ceremony in Kiev's Palace of Arts which was instantly named the toughest of the four.

Co-hosts Poland will open the three-week tournament against the 2004 winners Greece on June 8 in Warsaw, with Russia and the Czech Republic also in Group A. Russia and Greece meet for the third time in a row in a Euro group.

Holders and world champions Spain run into rivals Italy, Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland and Croatia in Group C.

Group D brings together co-hosts Ukraine, two-time winners France, England and Sweden, with England the last of the teams drawn at the one-hour ceremony attended by 700 guests by Van Basten, French Great Zinedine Zidane, Denmark's Peter Schmeichel and Horst Hrubesch of Germany.

Van Basten scored a memorable semi-final winner against then hosts Germany as the Dutch lifted the 1988 trophy, and the Danes beat the Germans four years later in the final, but this time around Joachim Loew's class of 2011-12 is seen as a top contender.

The Germans won all 10 qualifiers and less than three weeks ago comprehensively outplayed the Dutch in a 3-0 friendly win.

Loew told German ARD television that the group is 'the strongest, the most interesting and most balanced' and that 'we can look forward to some interesting duels' in Kharkiv and Lviv.

'The Netherlands and Portugal have world class players ... Denmark is always a difficult tournament team, They have a good mentality, no fear for big teams.'

'There are no opponents of choice or feared teams. It is not like a world cup where u get Costa Rica or Ecuador. we take it as it comes,' Loew said.

The Germans play Portugal first on June 9, with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portuguese aiming to avenge a 3-2 quarter-final loss from four years ago.

The date with the Dutch follows on June 13 and Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said the good thing was that everyone in his camp could now get down to business.

'I saw all coaches from our groups, no one was happy. We all have a lot of respect for one another. The tough group has an advantage that we are all motivated from now on,' said Van Marwijk.

Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio said: 'That is a very complicated group. But we have to believe in our quality. We go to Euro with no fear, we are programmed to win.'

The Portuguese finished behind the danes in qualifying for the last two tournaments and will hope to make amends.

Spain, who beat Germany for the 2008 Euro crown and the Dutch for the 2010 World Cup trophy, appear to have a slightly easier path although midfielder was quick too tweet that he saw a 'difficult group.'

Ireland manager Trapattoni insisted that 'verything is possible,' but will now of his side's uphill task against the Spanish stars and his fellow-Italians.

'I know Italy better but every game is different, Spain are also a very, very strong team but we have to think about our moment,' he said.

England, back at Euro after failing to qualify for 2008, will like their chances quite an evenly balanced Group D with the duel against the 1984 and 2000 winners France the opener on June 11.

Ukraine face a tough task to advance in front of the home fans, while Poland appear to have it a little easier to avoid the fate of Austria and Switzerland, who both failed to survive the group stage as hosts four years ago.