UEFA Euro 2012 in October 2011, the nine group winners qualified automatically, along with the highest ranked second placed team. The remaining eight-second placed teams contested two-legged play-offs, and the four winners qualified for the finals. Twelve of the sixteen finalists participated at the previous tournament in 2008. England and Denmark made their return to the Euro, having last participated in 2004, while Republic of Ireland returned after a twenty-four-year absence to make their second appearance at a European Championship. One of the co-hosts, Ukraine, made their debut as an independent nation (before 1992 Ukraine participated as part of the Soviet Union). With
2012–13 Euro Hockey Tour 2012–13 Euro Hockey Tour The Euro Hockey Tour 2012–13 was the 17th season of Euro Hockey Tour. It started on 7 November 2012 and ended on 28 April 2013. A total of 24 games were played, with each team playing 12 games. The season consisted of the Karjala Tournament, the Channel One Cup, the Oddset Hockey Games, and the Kajotbet Hockey Games. Russia won the tournament. The 2012 Karjala Tournament was played between 7–10 November 2012, and was won by Czech Republic. Five of the matches were played in Turku, Finland, and one match in Prague, Czech Republic. The 2012