Goals, red cards, penalty saves and controversy. Welcome to Euro 2012

After a rather low-key build up to Euro 2012, the tournament got of to an explosive start in Warsaw last night. Hosts Poland kicked off proceedings in Group A with the opening goal against 2004 winners Greece inside eight minutes - a diving header from Robert Lewandowski - before the match, and the tournament, was engulfed by refereeing controversy.

Poland's Lewandowski heads the opening goal of the tournament

Spanish official Carlos Carballo angered the Greeks by producing a second, soft yellow card for Sokratis Papastathopoulus just before the break, but there was even more drama to follow in the second half.

The ten-men of Greece grabbed an equaliser six minutes after the restart when the hosts' Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny mis-judged a cross and substitute Demitris Salpingidis stabbed home from close range.

Papastathopuolus is shown red

Worse was to follow for Szczesny when he was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Salpingidis inside the penalty area soon after, but substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton saved Giorgas Karagounis' spot kick with his first touch after coming on, and it finished 1-1.

Despite all the excitement it is difficult to see either side progressing far in the tournament. Poland appear to lack any real quality, Lewandowski apart, while the Greeks are hard working and efficient but are a pale shadow of the side which lifted the trophy in Portugal 8 years ago.

The second game saw dark horses Russia take on Cech Republic in Wroclaw, also in Group A. After the thrills of the first game it certainly had a lot to live up to but did not disappoint. Russia, under the leadership of Dick Advocaat, produced some exhilarating, attacking football to seal an impressive 4-1 victory.

Dzagoev gives Russia the lead

Teenager Alan Dzagoev scored twice while Roman Shirakov and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko were also on target. The Cech's briefly rallied as Viclav Pilar made it 2-1 early in the second period, but Russia were far too strong in the end and they will now be favourites to win the group.

Pavlyuchenko scores a marvellous Russian 4th

Andrey Arshavin looked a completely different player to the one who left Arsenal in January as he was behind everything good the Russians produced. Playing in a free-role just behind the front two, Arshavin could become one the stars of the tournament.

Despite this heavy defeat you have to fancy the Cech's to go through as well - showing more than enough here to suggest they can beat both Poland and Greece.

Tonight is the turn of Group B, where Holland kick off their campaign against Denmark in Kharkiv, while the  much-fancied Germans meet Portugal in Lviv. This certainly looks like being one of the most keenly-contested groups which will see one of the favourites eliminated.

Ronaldo, hoping to lead Portugal to succes in Group B

Portugal, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, will entertain but can they overcome the might of the Germans and the Dutch? The Danes, meanwhile, will be looking to reproduce the sort of form that saw them win the trophy in 1992.

We will, of course, know more after tonight's round of matches but you would be foolish to back against the Germans, while I fancy it will be the Dutch, with Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar leading the line, who follow them into the last eight.