Eur All In For A Treat! Euro 2012 Starts This Weekend

Three weeks of football fever is about to grip Beijing as the European Championships kick off this Friday – even the whales at Beijing Aquarium are into it. Euro 2012 comes live to us from co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, which means that games will take place at midnight and 2.45am in Beijing. The good news is that some of them will be well worth staying up for, wherever you choose to watch them. Read on for our guide to watching the tournament in Beijing and – for those so inspired - getting a real live game of football.

The Tournament
Full fixtures can be seen here for the group encounters. All games that are listed with an 18.00 CET kick-off are midnight in Beijing. All games that are listed with a 20.45 CET kick-off are at 2.45am in Beijing.

The group stages are played between June 8 and June 19.
The Quarter-finals take place between June 21 and June 24.
The Semi-finals take place on June 27 and June 28.
The Final takes place on July 1.

Group A
Russia
Poland
Greece
Czech Republic
Games take place on June 8, June 12 and June 16

Group B
Netherlands
Portugal
Germany
Denmark
Games take place on June 9, June 13 and June 17

Group C
Croatia
Republic of Ireland
Spain
Italy
Games take place on June 10, June 14 and June 18

Group D
England
Sweden
Ukraine
France
Games take place on June 11, June 15 and June 19

CCTV5 will be broadcasting all games except one of each group's final games, as both matches will be played at the same time.

The Bars

So you know what's on and when but you don't know where. Here's a guide to the bars that we tip to be tip-top for the tip-tap of top-class international football.

Guarantees for every game
Xiu – The Park Hyatt bar's terrace will have a giant screen broadcasting the games.
Brussels – one of the biggest screens and 24-hour opening. (We saw the satellite being put up on Tuesday afternoon)
The Den – Now known as The Denmark (and not The SweDen) and always open for sports
Paddy O'Shea's – Arguably the home of football in Beijing, this will be packed, especially for Ireland's matches
Black Sun – Multi-screen and late-night. Expect it to be popular among England fans
Grinders – The Shuangjing outfit will put its hockey fixation on ice to embrace the beautiful game for three weeks with regular drinks deals and late-night openings

Likely bets (but not confirmed for every game)
2 Kolegas – The music destination is having a big screen out on the grass
Green Cap – There will be a big screen outside on its "fancy pants done-up balcony"
Cu Ju – Badr's sports bar is expected to open in time for the opening game
Migas – We've heard that the defending champions will be putting a big screen on the roof
Luga's - don't remember seeing TVs in the newly opened Taps but either that or the Villa will likely be screening games (possibly out on the terrace)
Kokomo – The bar has a history of sporting events on the roof, Netherlands fans made it a home during the last World Cup
Bar Blu – The Sanlitun stalwart is expected to broadcast on the roof
First Floor – Another bar that is open late and had TVs for the last World Cup
Enoterra – The Nali Patio wine bar has confirmed they'll be open every night to screen games on their lower floor

Worth calling ahead (for their national affiliations)
Schindler's Angelestelle and Tankstelle
Schillers
Cafe De La Poste
Salud
Czech Bar
Pyramida
Holland House

Seeing as though the games are all on terrestrial TV, it is possible that each and every bar in the city could show them. Please check with venues in advance.

Where can you play?

This weekend is the Mashup Euro Cup 2012. It's a two-day five-a-side tournament taking place at Jianwai Soho's pitches on June 9 & 10. It's RMB 650 per team to take part.

If that's not enough football for you, why not get involved in the ClubFootball five-a-side league? It runs over the course of the year (with the odd break here and there). Get in touch with them to put a team in the league or with us if you want to help the Beijinger team stave off relegation.