Fans will be able to compete online for national pride and glory as their favourite European country in the UEFA EURO 2012 tournament against rival nations in the group stage, progress through the sudden victory knockout rounds, and ultimately compete for the chance to be crowned UEFA EURO 2012 champion. Plus, a live service will drive real-life story lines from the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign and during the tournament into the game, enabling fans to relive dramatic moments with challenges based on real-life matches. Challenges will enable fans to earn experience points and level up their EA Sports Football Club profile.

The all-new Expedition Mode designed exclusively for UEFA EURO 2012 enables fans to build, manage and compete with a customized team against other European nations, crafting the perfect strategy for European domination. Fans will choose their favourite European player or FIFA Soccer 12 Virtual Pro to captain their customized team, win matches to earn better players from defeated nations, and then defeat the best nations to earn the best players in a campaign quest to defeat all 53 countries and complete the journey to conquer Europe. 

EA Sports was able to simulate the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship and test all 16 teams under the same conditions they will face in the weeks ahead. It was determined that Germany will defeat Netherlands 2-1 at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv on July 1 to win The Henri Delaunay Trophy.

The final itself saw the Germans fall behind 1-0 after Robin van Persie struck home a left-footed rocket from just outside the box in the 24th minute. Van Persie finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer with five goals. However, the Dutch lead did not last long as Mesut Özil leveled the score 12 minutes later, setting the stage for the golden goal from Mario Gómez, his fourth of the tournament. Gómez went high into the air between two Dutch defenders on a corner kick by Bastian Schweinsteiger to knock home the winner in the 78th minute, delivering Germany its fourth UEFA EURO championship.

Fans around the globe will compare these results to the real-world tournament as it unfolds beginning June 8. EA SPORTS has predicted that the Germans will win all three group stage matches, and maintain their form throughout the knockout phase, but it took a Miroslav Klose goal in extra time to propel the Germans past Italy 1-0 in the semi-final. Germany’s path to the Final included a 3-2 victory over Netherlands in the group stage and a 3-1 victory over Poland in the quarter-final.

Netherlands finished second behind Germany in the Group Stage after wins over Portugal and Denmark. Their road to the final included a 2-0 victory over Russia in the quarter-finals and a thrilling 3-1 semi-final victory over defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, Spain. In the semi-final match, Arjen Robben and David Villa traded first half goals before Van Persie put the Dutch ahead in the 64th minute. Spain had several efforts on goal in the final third of the match but couldn’t capitalize on its chances as they pushed all players forward in an attempt to draw even, eventually conceding a counter-attack goal in the 86th minute from striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

England had its heart broken in the quarter-finals. After an absorbing 2-2 draw with Spain, England went out 4-3 on penalty kicks. The fifth English shooter, striker Andy Carroll, was stopped when keeper Iker Casillas guessed correctly, diving to his right to get a hand on the hard low shot that propelled Spain into the semi-finals. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard all notched goals for England in the penalty shootout while Carroll and Jermain Defoe were stopped. Spain goals came from David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, and Fernando Llorente.

Italy, after finishing second behind Spain in Group C with a 1-1-1 record, got a goal in the 77th minute from striker Mario Balotelli to defeat Group D winner France, 2-1, in their quarter-final match. Italy scored just four goals in the tournament and couldn’t generate any offence in its semi-final match against the Germans, finally succumbing 1-0 in extra time. The French suffered their only loss in the tournament to Italy, after drawing 2-2 with England and posting 2-0 wins over Ukraine and Sweden in the Group Stage.

Key Features:

• Win UEFA EURO 2012 — Compete with any of the 53 UEFA member national teams against rival nations in the official tournament and lead them to glory.  Play in all 8 official stadiums that come to life with the pageantry and festivity of the real-world tournament in Poland-Ukraine.  
• Play UEFA EURO 2012 Online — Compete for national pride and glory in the UEFA EURO 2012 online tournament. Play as your favourite European nation against rivals in the group stage through the knockout rounds for the chance to be crowned UEFA EURO 2012 champion.
• EA SPORTS Football Club Challenges — A live service that drives real-world story lines into the game, enabling fans to relive moments from qualifying and the real-world tournament through scenario-based challenges. The live service will deliver challenges during UEFA EURO 2012, giving fans the chance to change history. Challenges will enable fans to earn experience points and level up their EA SPORTS Football Club profile.
• Dominate Europe – Build, manage and compete with a customized squad against other European nations in the all-new Expedition Mode. Start with your favourite European player or FIFA 12 Virtual Pro as the captain, and then craft the perfect strategy for European domination. Earn better players from defeated nations as you travel the continent to build your squad. Unlock and then defeat the best nations to earn the best players in your campaign quest to defeat all 53 countries and complete the journey to conquer Europe.
• Spectacular Presentation: UEFA EURO 2012 comes to life in spectacular fashion with all the emotion and pageantry of the official tournament, including all 8 official licensed stadia. The atmosphere comes to life with confetti cannons, streamers, flags and fireworks as if you were on the pitch in Poland or the Ukraine.
• Awarding-Winning Gameplay— UEFA EURO 2012 is an expansion to the award-winning FIFA 12. The official videogame of UEFA EURO 2012  is powered by the Player Impact Engine, and revolutionary gameplay innovations like Precision Dribbling, Tactical Defending, and Pro Player Intelligence.

UEFA EURO 2012, rated “E” for Everyone and PEGI 3+, will retail price is $19.99, 1800 MS Points and 2,500 FIFA Points on PC.

The 2012 European Football Championship begins June 8 in Poland and Ukraine.