Pope Benedict XVI issued a message ahead of the kick-off of Euro 2012 later today in Poland in which he declared football was like a school that taught people about respect for one another and how to make sacrifices for the good of the rest of the team. The German-born pontiff – whose predecessor Poland-born Pope John Paul II was a well-regarded goalkeeper in his youth- added that football was also about fraternity and love. It was a pertinent and well-timed message for the championship, being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, has been overshadowed by some spectators chanting racist abuse at a Dutch training session in Krakow.