Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko of Ukraine has participated in a meeting of the Polish-Ukrainian Committee for the organisation of the EURO 2012. While in Warsaw she also held talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the preparations to the championships.
Both premiers assured that stadiums in Warsaw and Kiev will be built on time and added that both countries will intensify cooperation in the preparation to the championships.
Danuta Isler reports
It was in April 2007 that Ukraine and Poland were named co-hosts for the prestigous tournament. Since then little progress in preparations has been observed in both countries with reports in European press that UEFA was considering reducing the number of games held in Ukraine during Euro 2012 or even moving the event elsewhere. In January UEFA president Michel Platini issued a stern warning to the two countries followed by a recent statement that the tournament may be abandoned if stadiums in Warsaw and Kiev are not ready on time. (more…)
After reports during Euro 2008 that Poland and Ukraine may lose Euro 2012 Michel Platini’s visits to both countries were treated as enormously important by organizers. Platini didn’t say much while in Poland, which can be read as a good sign, whereas he criticised Ukraine severely when meeting local officials. As a result, UEFA now demands that Poland prepares an allternate plan to organize the tournament all by itself.
Ukraine has no problems with stadiums, which are almost finished in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk. One stadium is to be built in Lviv, whereas the one in Kiev is to be renovated. The latter causes most problems, as the buildng company is yet to be chosen.
Ukraine’s biggest drawback, however, is the lack of infrastructure, that is roads, hotels and airports. Platini wasn’t satisfied with the reports given by Ukrainian politicians and voiced his concerns clearly. To further threaten the Ukrainians news broke out that Poland may organize 2012 alone. Is it possible? (more…)
After reports during Euro 2008 that Poland and Ukraine may lose Euro 2012 Michel Platini’s visits to both countries were treated as enormously important by organizers. Platini didn’t say much while in Poland, which can be read as a good sign, whereas he criticised Ukraine severely when meeting local officials. As a result, UEFA now demands that Poland prepares an allternate plan to organize the tournament all by itself.
Ukraine has no problems with stadiums, which are almost finished in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk. One stadium is to be built in Lviv, whereas the one in Kiev is to be renovated. The latter causes most problems, as the buildng company is yet to be chosen. Ukraine’s biggest drawback, however, is the lack of infrastructure, that is roads, hotels and airports. Platini wasn’t satisfied with the reports given by Ukrainian politicians and voiced his concerns clearly. To further threaten the Ukrainians news broke out that Poland may organize 2012 alone. Is it possible? (more…)
Getting back from Poland and Ukraine football organizations is taking the UEFA into consideration of mastery of Europe in 2012 - a German news agency learnt (DPA) from one of representatives however isn’t revealing the UEFA, which name.
After making oneself acquainted with this rumor minister of sport Miroslav Drzewiecki told the PAP a DPA. didn’t want to comment on notifications Nobody informed us about something like that.
Quickly an adviser to the President also responded to such an information with the UEFA of Michel Platini, William Gaillard: - such a message has no bases. In the here and now this issue isn’t generally speaking discussed, not even discussed. Both countries are still four years old, and it is quite a lot of time - stated. (more…)
Coach: Leo Beenhakker Group B: Germany, Croatia, Austria, and Poland
Introduction
Cause For Optimism
There has never been a better time to be a Polish football fan. A burgeoning squad developing in self belief under the guidance of one of the shrewdest managers around, the time is right for Poland to shake off their tags as international under achievers at Euro 2008.
Qualification for the tournament already indicated that Poland are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Drawn into Group A, with 8 teams, it was always going to be a long haul and their opponents, which included both Portugal and Serbia (both of whom had qualified for the World Cup) as well as Finland and Belgium, looked close. However, the Poles managed to top Group A after a shaky start which saw them loose to Finland, thanks to a 6 match winning streak stretching between matchdays 3 and 9.
The campaign has been overseen by canny Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, who was last seen on the international stage guiding Trinidad and Tobago to their first ever qualification in the World Cup in 2006. The Polish FA managed to persuade the former Feyenoord and Real Madrid coach to come to the Polish national team to try and help turn around their fortunes.
Despite qualifying well for the World Cup in 2006 once at Germany, the Poles flopped badly after starting the tournament with a defeat to Ecuador. They never recovered from that loss and managed only one win in their final game against Costa Rica after already being knocked out of the tournament.
The arrival of Beenhakker couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment with confidence from the fans and media alike low: morale might have been at rock-bottom, but so were prospects for a turnaround. Thus since his arrival the promising results in qualification have unleashed a fresh new wave of optimism surrounding the team and the Dutchman is determined to tap into that with Poland in their first ever European Championships.
A strong Euro 2008 is seen as vital as in 2012 Poland will be co-hosting the tournament with Ukraine. A fresh interest in Polish football is therefore certain to happen, and a strong performance this time around will only boost that. (more…)
GENEVA — UEFA president Michel Platini will visit Poland and Ukraine in July to check on their preparations for co-hosting the 2012 European Championship.
The two countries have to intensify their efforts over the next few months in order to meet UEFA’s requirements, Platini told a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
But “there is no Plan B,” he said, referring to possible alternative venues in case the former eastern bloc states fail to put in place the necessary infrastructure to host the event.
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said Platini will travel to Poland and Ukraine after Euro 2008, held in Austria and Switzerland in June.
Gaillard said UEFA’s main concern is whether the hotels and transportation networks - including airports, railways and roads - will be sufficient to host the hundreds of thousands of fans expected for the event. (more…)
The Building of National Stadiums on meadows of the Tenth Anniversary Stadium is our A plan – said in Radio Tok FM Mirosław Drzewiecki, the Citizens’ Platform (PO) candidate for minister of sport. This is a change of strategy of PO, for last few days both Drzewiecki and the president of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz espoused the change of the Stadium’s location.
The Building of National Stadiums on meadows of the Tenth Anniversary Stadium is our A plan – said in Radio Tok FM Mirosław Drzewiecki, the Citizens’ Platform (PO) candidate for minister of sport. This is a change of strategy of PO, for last few days both Drzewiecki and the president of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz espoused the change of the Stadium’s location. (more…)
Aim with the cross on the football goal. You can adjust the strenght of your shot with the left mouse button.
The longer you hold it the more powerfull your shot is. But look out, the more power you put in the less precise is your shot.Cool and addictive online flash game. You can spend hours and hours with such free internet games. Best luck winning soccer finals.
Can you bend it like Beckham? Test your fancy free kick skills in this online game. Try and score the perfect free kick by setting the spin, height, power, accuracy, direction and more! Use your mouse to do your kicks, but try not to miss, or you’ll have to start from the beginning in this football circuit of fun….Enjoy the game!
Chelsea and England defender John Terry is an amazingly talented defender: not only can he defend bloody well, he can also score some sweet headed goals. The control of the great man himself and propel England through the World Cup with an amazing array of beautifully headed goals. Keep those positive vibes coming; and England just might win something!
Chelsea and England defender John Terry is an amazingly talented defender: not only can he defend bloody well, he can also score some sweet headed goals. The control of the great man himself and propel England through the World Cup with an amazing array of beautifully headed goals. Keep those positive vibes coming; and England just might win something!
Can you bend it like Beckham? Test your fancy free kick skills in this online game. Try and score the perfect free kick by setting the spin, height, power, accuracy, direction and more! Use your mouse to do your kicks, but try not to miss, or you’ll have to start from the beginning in this football circuit of fun….Enjoy the game!
Aim with the cross on the football goal. You can adjust the strenght of your shot with the left mouse button.
The longer you hold it the more powerfull your shot is. But look out, the more power you put in the less precise is your shot.Cool and addictive online flash game. You can spend hours and hours with such free internet games. Best luck winning soccer finals.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) experts first visit has begun on Monday in Warsaw, regarding the arrangement of championship of Europe in 2012.
“UEFA divided the whole complex of preparations into eight classes. The current visit relates to land transport, air transport and accomodation” – informed the chairman ofPZPN unit for Euro 2012 Adam Olkowicz.(more…)
But wait a minute…have UEFA been smoking too many Jamaican cigarettes, or something?We watched with baited breath as UEFA president, Michele Platini (above), stood on stage in Cardiff, Wales, and slowly tore open the envelope. It was between Croatia/Hungary, Italy and Poland/Ukraine. Everyone expected Italy.
Half of me didn’t want Poland to win, as I knew I would have to throw together something about the story in about half an hour. The other half of me - the footballing half (the bits with legs and feet) - wanted Poland to win.
And then the ex-French mid-fielder pulled out the card with the names of the winning bid on it, and the footballing half took over. I emitted that noise men make when a goal is scored:
Yeeeaahhhhaaaarrrgggggggg…gurgle….
The same noise slowly echoed through all the offices next to mine and floated, like a Mexican wave, down the corridor.
Then my brain kicked in again, along with the rest of Poland’s. Have the guys in the European football governing body gone out of their tiny minds?
There are a few small problems with Poland and Ukraine being given such a huge sporting event to put on. Here are a just a few of them.
Poland has no…um…decent football stadiums.
Poland’s football governing body was suspended by the government earlier this year because it was not doing enough kicking ou (more…)
Uefa president Michael Platini reveals the surprise hosts of Euro 2012
Poland and Ukraine have been chosen to host the 2012 European Championships. Italy was widely expected to win the Uefa vote in Cardiff, with another joint bid from Croatia and Hungary also in the running.
However, Italy’s bid was overshadowed by last season’s referee corruption scandal and on-going problems with football-related crowd trouble.
It will be the first time that either Poland or Ukraine has hosted a major football championship.
Uefa president Michel Platini said: “Poland and Ukraine are surely a worthy winner. However, there are no losers today, rather only bids that have not won this time round.”
Platini’s announcement prompted scenes of jubilation in the host countries.
Polish Football Association chairman Michal Listkiewicz said: “There are 85 million people now waiting for this big football event.
“The friendship between our nations has a very long history. This big tournament will be an important milestone in the history of our two Slavic nations.”
His comments were echoed by Ukrainian football federation president Hryhory Surkis.
“This is a decisive day for our country. It will provide new opportunities for our country as it strives to integrate with Europe,” he said.
Poland and Ukraine will host Euro 2012 