Edit: I accidentally left the eliminated players out of the report up to now - my apologies! - I have now added them. The only difference so far is that Coentrao (7 points) was owned by Teddy as well as Forca Inter, and Pepe (7 points) was owned by The Giggs Boson as wel as JKisthe1. 

Amid scenes of weeping as the coffin of the German clean sheet was wheeled into the crematorium, there were two attendees quietly smiling to themselves. Yes, Emperikal and Catmac hit gold with their pick of Sami Khedira who played in attacking midfield for the entire game and scored to return 8 points for his owners, who now share the lead for the award. The only other differential to start, Sifakis (Gargamel, Kostja, Teddy), was the victim of that goal and three more. Chalkias and Fortounis remained firmly on the bench and got a big fat 0. Commiserations to ILA for whom Podolski didn't even start.

Tonight Spain collide into France in a massive encounter for fantasy players both at the front and back. Did anyone have the bravery to pick French defenders? You betcha. Debuchy (BonZ, Terry) is the big defensive differential and according to the latest reports is set to start out of position in midfield! We have Cabaye (Djerbil, Kostja), Diarra (Snowy84) and Nasri (Canadian Football, Aatish, ILA) with the latter two not assured of a place in the starting eleven according to today’s latest rumours. 
Riding the Spanish wave, we start from the back with Arbeloa (Mull) and Sergio Ramos (Teddy). Next up is James_Fitz's choice of penalty taker Xabi Alonso. Finally, game for the big gamble are Catmac and Teddy who has punted on Fabregas. Another center-forward spot could well put him in the hunt for the award.

Note: This is the report for the FFS Euro 2012 award only; there is a separate report for the FFS Friendly World Cup!

Well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you but in just our 2nd report of this Matchday, ENR has found himself dominating this award. He was the only manager brave enough to spend 8.0 on a German defender and got rewarded heavily when Lahm scored against the Greeks. Both he and In Like Flynn selected Khedira who scored his second ever international goal last night with a venomous volley. Both of these differentials are however dwarfed by ENR’s decision to pick (and allegedly captain) Greek forward Salpingidis. His goal and assist have left his owner delighted and no doubt left him confident of claiming his 2nd Order of Extreme Valour Award.

Looking towards tonight’s game, we can see a wide selection of French and Spanish differential players. From Les Bleus, Diarra(Sporting ABG), Cabye(Doosra, Ginkapo and Roscola), M’Villa(Gaz) and Koscielny(ENR and Ginkapo) have all been courageously chosen despite them facing the World Champions. As for the Spaniards, supersub Navas is Ginkapo’s 3rd player involved in this evening’s match. Ramos has been selected by that man again, ENR, Pique has found himself in Milanista’s squad while Drinky and Parmtree are valiantly hoping for a Spanish penalty with Alonso in their team

Stay tuned for our Day 3 report and preview of Day 4!

Note: This is the report for the FFS Friendly World Cup award only; there is a separate report for the FFS Euro Cup!

The knockout rounds have changed everything. Price is king.

With people scrambling to grab top assets and the recognized bargains, differentials have thinned out. That’s not to say they’ve stopped, though. Or that they’re not paying off. Quite the opposite. In the first quarter-final last night, Portugal eliminated Czech Republic 1-0 in a match where the Czech attack posed little threat (cue weeping from yours truly) and the main question was when Portugal would finally finish a chance. As such, people who punted on the Czechs left empty-handed, or more specifically with 3 points, a score that the entire side seemed bloody determined to get. Archie left with 3 points for Cech, while Sleep Talk, Gargamel and Archie shared my sorrows with 3 point returns from Jiracek. So the only winners on the day were those with Portuguese defenders: JKisthe1 who owned Pepe, and Forca Inter who owned Coentrao, both claiming 7 points and the lead.

Needless to say, those who included Czech reserve keepers Drobny (James_Fitz) and Lastuvka (Catmac, 4vets) got nothing. I was wondering whether to leave reserve keepers out of the awards, but I am a romantic and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the match one comes on. Plus, you can tell loooooooooooooooads of things from who someone picks as a reserve keeper. For example, James_Fitz’s pick of Drobny tells me that he is a Leo and enjoys pipe smoking around 9pm every Friday. Have a good one in a few hours James!

The expected slaughter of Greece commences tonight with much expected of the Germans. I won’t go into detail about the massive rumours Germany will rotate some or all of their front three, but for the record I would like to say JOACHIM LÖW IS A BELL. Thank you, that feels a lot better.

Differentials lined up today start with the man of the moment, Greek keeper Sifakis (Gargamel). Someone had to try it, and Gargamel gets special credit for spending a precious 0.5 more on a man commonly thought to give the Titanic cause for optimism. Snowy84 went for injured backup Chalkias, and I wouldn’t like to think of the scenes if he started and kept a cleanie. Goldstonemr has gone for Greek midfielder Fortounis, clearly with his eyes on a few recovered balls if he starts. Will he? Bild? Bild, can you let us know? The only German player owned by 3 or fewer managers was Khedira (Emperikal, Catmac) – and as an unnerving aside, by my opponent in the cup. We’ll see, Sami.

Stay tuned for our Day 2 report and preview of Day 3!

Written by the Light Knight - currently slugging it out in the cozy comforts of Afghanis.. scratch that Poland.
Reporter  - Do you copy?
Lightknight : Sir... yes sir, I've just gotten over with my meeting with the women of the seedy underbelly of Poland and hear's..
Reporter- Excuse me??!?? Did you say women of the seedy underbelly? What the F!*^& are you doing there?
LightKnight - ....  -.- Do you REALLY want me to describe that 'meeting' to you? Anyway's I've positioned them to spy on the teams and hear's what they reported... *whispers giggle giggle stop it sasha you naughty girl you* 
Reporter-  -.- You have a mike attached you dumbwit.
Lightknight - Errr... yes the report well so it goes.... 

Here we are at last. The knockout stages. A place where our brave managers can’t even choose a Portuguese super sub and expect to qualify for the Order of Extreme Valour Award. While it was a disappointing night for anyone with a punt or 4 ( I’m looking at you, Isacki) in the Czech team, CR7′s teammates provided much more joy. Portugal’s clean sheet pleased the courageous owners of their defenders, with ENR ( be prepared to see his name several times this week) and Mac ultimately deciding to go for Alves and Coentrao respectively. Mac however has stolen a march on the competition by selecting their midfielder Moutinho, whose assist has catapulted his owner to the front of the race for this Matchday’s award. Mark must also be applauded for valiantly choosing Meireles, and was rewarded with a 4 point haul.
With FFS rife with rumours of the German frontline being rested, those who went with the crowd and chose Gomez have been left sweating. In an equally awkward position are the owners (ENR, Childish Gambino and Doosra) who have given Tom Selleck an idea for a new sequel “3 men and a Muller” . ENR and In Like Fynn have also selected Khedira in the hope that he can add to his one international goal. No prizes for guessing who covered their bases with a German defender and Greek forward. Yep, ENR has cunningly chosen Lahm and Matchday 1 goalscorer Salpingidis.

Stay tuned for our Day 2 report and preview of Day 3!

Reporter - That sounds like someone's dog wrote it.Lightknight do you copy, lightknight are you there. Lightknight what are those pillow noises....