EURO 2021

We need Polish Beckenbauer as soon as it’s possible- it’s the conclusion from the meeting concerning organization of Euro 2012. Franz Beckenbauer, in the past a brilliant footballer, was a chief who led preparations for the World Cup 2006 in Germany. In the conference which was organized in Warsaw ‘Euro 2012- a chance or a risk?’ representatives of Austria and Switzerland shared their experiences in preparing to next year’s European championships with representatives of Polish municipal government. They discussed preparations to Euro 2012. Conclusions weren’t optimistic… -I think that we […]

Euro 2012 outside of Warsaw? This scenario is very propable. The capital may be replaced by Chorzów. Mirosław Drzewiecki, a dead cert candidate for minister of sport, does not rule this possibility out. We may face an outrageous disgrace – championship of Europe 2012 will pass over the capital. Hitherto something like that has been unthinkable. Except for the championship in FRG in 1988, but only because in divided Germany Bonn played a purely administrative role. Now it turns out, that in five years the best players from the Old […]

Co-founder of the anti-fascist ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association Rafal Pankowski was awarded the prestigious annual Human Rights Distinction by Poland’s Ombudsman Dr Adam Bodnar in a ceremony held in Warsaw’s Old Town on 25 September. The celebratory speech was delivered by Marian Turski, a Lodz Ghetto and Auschwitz survivor who is Chairman of the Council for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews and Deputy Chairman of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute as well as a member of the International Auschwitz Council. – ‘I am honoured and grateful […]

An anti-discrimination football exhibition prepared by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association has been opened in the main hall of the Polish Parliament on 19 February 2014. The opening ceremony was hosted by Deputy Speaker Wanda Nowicka, Poland’s leading campaigner against discrimination and for women’s rights. The exhibition was brought to the Parliament on the initiative of Robert Biedron MP, the founder of Campaign Against Homophobia and a longtime ally of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association. Since autumn 2013, Robert Biedron is the General Rapporteur on LGBT rights in the Parliamentary Assembly of […]

Co-hosts are hoping Borussia Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowsk can reproduce their club success on the international stage It is a paradox of football that the hosts of a tournament can enjoy a low profile. Attention will, of course, soar when Poland take the field against Greece in the opening match of Euro 2012, but Franciszek Smuda’s side can be pleased that they have only provided meagre information for their opponents. The same can be said of the co-hosts Ukraine, yet it is Poland who could be […]

Bookmakers’ tips are inseparable element of every great sports event. Many people conform to them by nominating the tournament favorite and acting in accordance with the famous sentence: “the bookie always wins.” Others treat it as an opportunity to become rich: they bet on their favorites or look for “dark horses” of the tournament. So let’s check what the chances of individual national teams look like according to 6 renowned bookmakers: William Hill, Unibet, Expekt, Paddy Power and Bet-at-Home. All of them tip unanimously the Spaniards, the present world and […]

Fernando Torres is in his best shape “for a while” going into Euro 2012, according to Pepe Reina. Torres has endured mixed fortunes since scoring Spain’s goal that beat Germany in the Euro 2008 final. The Chelsea striker, 28, struggled for form after leaving Liverpool in January 2011, but played a role in his club’s Champions League triumph. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him like this,” said Reina, Torres’s international team-mate. Torres could become a key figure as Spain attempt to defend their crown without David Villa. Barcelona’s […]

Poland’s debut at the European Championship four years ago ended in disappointment: three games, zero wins. The Poles have shaken things up since then – they’ve hired a new coach, revamped much of the squad and uncovered a trio of players who have found success in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. As co-host of Euro 2012, Poland is hoping the changes make a difference when they take on Russia, Greece and the Czech Republic in Group A. ”It is our goal to advance from the group and I am convinced […]

For Polish team Euro 2012 is the most important football tournament in history. As the tournament co-hosts with Ukraine we will host the 14 best representations of the Old Continent. This will be our second start in the European Championship, the first four years ago on the fields of Austria and Switzerland we finished in the group stage with just one point gained. Now, as before four years ago, Polish players goal is a minimum to advance from the group. The task was made easier for us by the December […]

The representation of Spain, defending the title of a champion, the absolute number one favourite and leader in the FIFA rankings, two-time winner of the European Championship in 1964 and 2008, will compete to win the most valuable trophy in Europe for the ninth time. Spain easily and expectedly advanced to the Euro 2012, winning all eight games and losing only six goals. Spain’s top scorer turned to be David Villa. The author of seven goals along with Fernando Torres will be the team’s main force in the attack. Additionally, […]