NYON, Switzerland -- The 2012 European Championship has the strongest possible 16-nation lineup according to the rankings from UEFA, which decided the seedings Wednesday. The 14 highest-rated countries in Europe have qualified to join the co-hosts, 15th-ranked Ukraine and No. 28 Poland. The powerful lineup was confirmed when all the favoured sides advanced from four playoff-round series completed on Tuesday. The hosts will be joined by defending champion Spain and the Netherlands as the top-seeded teams in the Dec. 2 draw being conducted in Kyiv. Euro 2008 finalist Germany, Italy, England and Russia are in the second-seeded pot. Croatia, Euro 2004 champion Greece, Portugal and Sweden are in pot three. Denmark, France, Czech Republic and Ireland are the fourth seeds. France has slipped into the lowest-ranked pool for the second straight Euros, in part because it hasnt won a match at its last two major tournaments. The four groups at the event will feature one team from each pot. UEFAs rankings grade countries on competitive qualifying and tournament results for Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Unlike the FIFA world rankings, UEFA does not weigh results from friendlies. The draw could place Spain, Germany, Portugal and France in a group containing countries all ranked in FIFAs top 15. For many commentators and football purists, the Euros is of a higher standard and tougher to win than the World Cup because the intense group stage puts teams under pressure to win from the first match. Euro 2012 also will be the last tournament played in the 16-nation format. France will host a 24-team event in 2016, meaning almost half of UEFAs 53-member nations will qualify. Euro 2012 will be played from June 8-July 1, with Poland kicking off the tournament in Warsaw and the final being played in Kyiv. Jurrell Casey Womens Blue Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year contract on Monday. Ryan Succop Titans Jersey .The former Winnipeg Rifles receiver got to work out with the team last season and even dressed for a July game, then spent the rest of the season on the practice roster. http://www.authentictitansshop.com/Elite-Kendall-Wright-Tennessee-Titans-Jersey-Mens-Nike-Nfl-13-Team-Alternate-Two-Tone-18 . Justin Dowling, Travis Morin and Francis Wathier also scored for the Stars (22-10-5), who bypassed Abbotsford for top spot in the West Division, and Mike Hedden tacked on two assists. Defenceman John Ramage was a team-worst minus-4 for the Heat (23-13-2), who dropped their fourth game in a row. Jason McCourty Jersey . - Gaston Fernandez is making the most of his new job with the Portland Timbers. Shonn Greene Titans Jersey . As the Toronto Argonauts prepare to face their hated enemies from down the QEW, the Hamilton Tiger Cats, in this Sundays Eastern Final, theyre faced with something they havent experienced all season - a healthy receiving corps.SOCHI, Russia -- Erik Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots, lifting Sweden over Finland 2-1 on Friday and into the gold-medal game at the Sochi Olympics. The 2006 Olympic champions will face Canada on Sunday. The Finns will play the United States for bronze on Saturday. All the scoring came in thee second period, with Finland going ahead 1-0 on Olli Jokinens goal from a sharp angle to the left of Lundqvist.dddddddddddd Swedens Loui Eriksson tied the game by finishing off a sweet sequence of passes midway through the period. Karlsson made it 2-1 with a slap shot from the middle of the ice just inside the blue line with 3:34 left. ' ' '
