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| - UEFA Euro 2012 Mistrzostwa Europy w Piłce Nożnej 2012 (Polish) Чемпіонат Європи з футболу 2012 (Ukrainian) UEFA Euro 2012 official logo Tournament details Host countries Poland Ukraine Dates 8 June – 1 July Teams 16 Venue(s) 8 (in 8 host cities) Final positions Champions Spain (3rd title) Runners-up Italy Tournament statistics Matches played 31 Goals scored 76 (2.45 per match) Attendance 1,440,896 (46,481 per match) Top scorer(s) Mario Mandžukić Mario Gómez Mario Balotelli Cristiano Ronaldo Alan Dzagoev Fernando Torres (3 goals each) Best player Andrés Iniesta ← 2008 2016 →
- The buildup to the tournament consisted of media from all over Europe questioning why the tournament had been awarded to two major backwaters in the first place. When town officials weren't busy embezzling funds, Ukraine built its first roads since the fall of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Polish politicians attempted to sweep the country's skinhead problem under the proverbial rug, at least for the duration of the tournament.
- Poland and Ukraine's bid was chosen by UEFA's Executive Committee in 2007. The two host teams qualified automatically while the remaining 14 finalists were decided through a qualifying competition, featuring 51 teams, from August 2010 to November 2011. This was the last European Championship to employ the 16-team finals format in use since 1996; from Euro 2016 onward, it will be expanded to 24 finalists. Euro 2012 was played at eight venues, four in each host country. Five new stadiums were built for the tournament, and the hosts invested heavily in improving infrastructure such as railways and roads at UEFA's request. Euro 2012 set attendance records for the 16-team format, for the highest aggregate attendance (1,440,896) and average per game (46,481).
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