By George Georgakopoulos

Lady Luck favored Greece on December 2 as the national team avoided Europe's giants to draw Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic for the group stage of the 2012 European Championship.

The draw in Kiev saw Greece land in a group with no clear favorite, while other groups will see traditional forces facing each other.

Just like in Portugal in 2004, when Greece went on to win the trophy, the national team will take part in the competition's curtain-raiser facing the host: On June 8, at 7 p.m., Greece and co-host Poland will kick off the tournament in Warsaw.

Its other games will be on June 12 against the Czech Republic at Wroclaw and on June 16 against Russia in Warsaw.

These will be the third Euro finals in a row in which Greece will be facing Russia in the group stage.

Coach Fernando Santos’s team will be aiming to clinch one of the two top spots in the group to qualify for the knockout quarterfinals.

The four Euro 2012 groups to be played in Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1 are as follows:

Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic

Group B: Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Denmark

Group C: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Ireland

Group D: Ukraine, England, Sweden, France