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Yes, against all the odds, Poland and Ukraine will be hosting the European Football Championships in 2012! Their joint bid was announced successful by UEFA chief Michel Platini in Cardiff on 18th April 2007, winning out over more favoured bids by Italy and Croatia/Hungary - and causing widespread jubilation throughout the two Eastern Europe countries.
The action will be spread over six cities in Poland: Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, Wroclaw, Chorzow and Krakow; and four cities in Ukraine: Kiev, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk. Kiev's Olympic Stadium, which hosted the football at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, is the proposed venue for the final.
Winning Euro 2012 will result in a great deal of construction investments and enormous financial benefits to both Poland and the Ukraine, with some analysts putting the figures as high as 3 billion US Dollars worth of revenue. The tournament will also help shift the balance of power in football, and bring in resources and prestige to help boost the games of East European countries which have traditionally made little mark in international competitions. Euro 2012 will be the first major footballing event held by a country behind, or formerly behind, the Iron Curtain since Yugoslavia hosted the European Football Championships in 1976. It will be the first major sporting event of any kind hosted by an East European country since Moscow Olympics 1980.
Great news then for this part of the world, and a fantastic chance for Poland and Ukraine to show the world what they're capable of, both in terms of organising the event and competing in it! Of course, we'll keep you in the know with all the latest Euro 2012 news, fixtures and results - and, if you're coming to Warsaw to watch a match, we'll give you the low down on accommodation for booking hotels and apartments, give you travel information and details on getting to and from the airport, plus provide you with a very handy map for tracking down those stadiums. Oh, and we might have a few titbits on pubs, bars and nightlife you might want to read up on!
If however you are travelling to Euro 2012 for matches in other Polish or Ukrainian cities be sure to call on our friends in Gdansk, Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow, Kiev and Lviv for the most complete guides to the action and the cities.
If you can't wait for 2012 however then check out all the latest news and views on Euro 2008 in Austria, courtesy of our colleagues in Vienna. See you at the game!
Euro 2012 Groups:
Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra
Group C: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands
Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg
Group E: Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino
Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta
Group G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro
Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland
Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein | | | |
 | | "The european championship will a great boost for tourism and economy in Poland and Ukraine. It´s very smart of Poland and Ukraine to join forces and do it together. In fact I will try to get there and see the countries that gave birth to Henryk Sienkewicz(Potop) and Mazepa(cosackleader). Greetings from Sweden
" | Hĺkan Liljeberg
Sweden
Feb.08.2010
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "we're not brazil we're northern ireland we will top our group" | eddy
United Kingdom
Feb.07.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "are poland & ukraine automatically in the finals?" | peter liddell
United Kingdom
Feb.07.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I really hope England get Poland in the same group during the draw today!" | Mark
United Kingdom
Feb.07.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "PAFC and England Fans are on there way...Hopefully." | Dave
United Kingdom
Jan.16.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Dear Piotr if you can't speak english, do not write please, becouse they would laugh at you." | Witold
Poland
Dec.15.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "squeeky clean Spain will kindly defeat most European hard-ballers!" | KRZYSZTOF
Australia
Nov.14.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "POLAND WILL WIN
POLAND
POLAND
POLAND
" |
United States
Nov.05.2009
rates this page 3/5
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| | "Hi! I think that it is realy a good opportunity for both countries. In the preparation of the championchip Ukraine is the same as Poland, at least you can go to Wikipedia and see the results, you will find the real photos of the ukrainian stadiums and only the project images of the poland stadiums... So Ukraine is weldone. And we welcome all the visitors in 2012 in Ukraine. " | Stanislav
Ukraine
Oct.26.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "First class information. It's why I'm giving 1/5.
If only there was information WHEN (day/month) I would give 2/5." | MH
United States
Sep.23.2009
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "EURO CUP IS SOO SICK but dont diss the americas !! ARGENTINA URUGUAY BRAZIL MEXICO COSTA RICA some of the best teams in the world im rooting for england france or spain!" | Joel quintero
Canada
Sep.02.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Polish preparation to the euro in 2012 is good but Ukraine has significant delays. I hope Ukraine will contiune to organized with Poland" | Jen
Mexico
Aug.18.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Poland is the best!!!!" | Patryk
Poland
Jul.11.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Que lo sepais que en la final de Eurocopa de 2012 Polonia jugará con Espańa!!! Pero ya sabeís quien se llevara la copa a casa:-)" | Damian
Spain
Jul.10.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I think Euro2012 in Poland and Ukraine was very good idea. I'm sure that it will be succes for bouth countrys, maybe not in football but in economy. I think that they must beter promote east Poland and Ukraine, not only citys where will be maches. All region of Lublin for example. Lovely." | Damian
Spain
Jul.10.2009
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "i have a nice plot of the land with house and outbuildings, ideal for developer to turn into B&B or a hostel, 20 min from wroclaw airport
tel 00447797738438" | pawel
United Kingdom
Jul.09.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Damn house is 3 hours away from kiev and 4 hours from odessa. I am for sure going to euro 2012" | Alex Drou....
Canada
Jul.02.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I thank God that Euro 2012 come to poland and ukraine that is amazing for foreigner to have a look into a new world, new life and new developed cities... to my view ukraine is qualified country to become EU member before the games." | Williams
Nigeria
Jun.22.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Will Lublin have an international airport by 2012?" | Keith
United Kingdom
May.25.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Nawet jeśli nie wygramy(my- bo jestem Polką), to nic nie szkodzi. Cieszę się, że chociaż wiele osób będzie mogło na własne oczy przekonać się jaka jest naprawdę Polska. A wierzcie mi- odwiedzając nas, nic nie stracicie, będziecie mieli na pewno piękne, ciekawe wspomnienia ;-) Polska na serio jest fajna, ma bardzo interesującą historię, kulturę i obyczaje ;-)" | Iwona z Polski
Poland
May.15.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "türkiye ev sahipligi yapsa o kupa kesin bizim olur keţke türkiyede olsa" | eyüphan
Turkey
Apr.16.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "hi (if thats your name) poland are a great side and may win it.
i think spain v poland final.
CMON U POLAND!!!!!!!!!!" | john
Poland
Apr.16.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "poland will not win euro 2012 get real..." | hi
United Kingdom
Apr.16.2009
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "euro2012" | önder
Turkey
Dec.27.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "iam soo happey that poland can have euro and one thing brazil and usa cant have euro beacuse they are in america soo euro is just in europ" | poland lover
Poland
Nov.07.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "anyone knows which campany will produce the opening and the closing ceremony??" | Hugo
Portugal
Oct.14.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Come on PORTUGAL" | Ronaldo
Portugal
Oct.06.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "POland will not win Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 it's unreal.... " | JAllin
Ukraine
Jun.19.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "POLAND CAN WIN THE EURO 2012 and 2008. Even if they are not host they can qualify to the competiton thanks to ZURAWSKI!!!!!!!!!!" | Vivek Bheroo
Mauritius
Jun.06.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "At least Poland will get an automatic qualification to the finals!" | Mariusz
United States
Apr.21.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Saleh, the reason it can't be hsted in usa or brazil is cause they are not in Europe!!!!!!!! der!!!!!!!!!!" | Chinners
United Kingdom
Feb.27.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "i think having euro 2012 in Poland is great" | roman walczak
United States
Feb.22.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "so where will the Euro 2012 final be? in Poland or Ukraine? Kiev or Warsaw?" | Timto
United Kingdom
Feb.08.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Do marka! jestes totalym pesymista i tacu jak Ty niszcza nasz wlasny kraj, Im really sad for Mrek who said that we are not preaper to do the euro2012 , well, anyway that your opinion I hope that is not true" | greg
United States
Jan.21.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Why not any other country because what time would i have to make available to watch the ENGLAND matches? Oh well England will bring the trophy home {Hopefully}under Fabio /capello!!!!!!!!!!" | Saleh
United Kingdom
Jan.16.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Ukraine why them they are not even a very good country in development why not Brazil or USA" | saleh
United Kingdom
Jan.16.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "UKRAINE BEST COUNTRY EVER" |
United States
Jan.15.2008
rates this page 3/5
|
| | "I hope at least ENGLAND makes it to the Euro 2012 Finals!" | Peter
United Kingdom
Dec.20.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "It is terrific" | Diptendu
India
Nov.29.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "orange the best...." | bersih
Malaysia
Nov.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "As an expat living in Poland, i feel pretty relieved that we have a change of government here. I think Donald Tusk and co. will do a better job of preparing the country for Euro 2012. Having said that I heard a rumor that the opening ceremony will not be held in Warsaw but somewhere in Ukraine... possibly Kiev! Good on Ukraine but I hope the rumor isn't true and Poland gets it" | Jon
United States
Nov.01.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "go polska finally showing the world we can host big events" | AREK
Australia
Oct.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "polska lepiej rzeby sie dosatala do pol finalu albo dalej to moje mazenie." | kamil sien
United States
Sep.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "im so happy that euro will be in poland i wonna go there and watch all these games." | kamil s
United States
Sep.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Poland will never be ready in time for EURO 2012. The country is not prepared for this, the organization over here is atrocious. The people are rude and impolite, it is not a pretty place. In all seriousness though, if they ever do get their act together and start doing something it will be a miracle. They cant even organize their own government, could you imagine how the football would be. Poland is a @#$!hole. " | Marek
Poland
Aug.24.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Since Poland joined the EU they lack the skilled labour force required to make the event ready for 2012. Ukrainians are not much better, having lived in both these countries I've seen the political bureaucracy and lack of funding in the goverment and private sectors, we'll see, but lets hope it works out but i live in doubt." | Steve
United Kingdom
Jul.29.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Can't wait for Euro 2012. I'm half Polish so it will be a great chance to rediscover my roots, whilst cheering on England and Poland - surely one of them will have to do well! " | Dougie D
United Kingdom
Jul.20.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Euro 2012 is going to be a great chance for Poland - and the Ukraine - to showcase what they've got. I'm sure they'll get it right and we can look forward to superbly organised tournament in the East. Let's hope the fortunes of the Poland and Ukraine national teams keep improving so they mount a good challenge for the championship" | Bartek
United States
Jul.02.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hehe jahaaaa ze Polska wygra 2012 tylko chyba z Małyszem i Adamkiem w Ataku Oo ^_*" | Dawid
Poland
May.29.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "It's the high time to give the chance to our countries. Till this moment we could only gess if EURO or WORLD CUP will take place in Germany or France or mayby in the UK. The truth is that the western world was in favour. But now things changed. It's good for everyone. You'll be possitivelly suprised watching EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. " | Bartek
Poland
May.20.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "how old will Rooney be in 2012?" | Englishmasseeve
United States
May.07.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "POLSKA wygra euro 2012" | ANDZREJ
Poland
May.05.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "The Ukraine is indeed a great country. And the Ukrainians incredibly nice people. The country has many problems of course, but it warrants discovery. Hopefully Euro 2012 will help Ukraine develop as a tourist destination and help integrate the country into a united Europe! " | Big D
United Kingdom
May.03.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Both Poland and Ukraine have some pretty talented players, so I think it is quite possible that one of these times will go on to win the tournament. The emotional energy in the stadiums will truly be amazing! It also strikes me as a great opportunity for Ukraine to push forward its claim to join the European Union. Hopefully lots of visitors will see what a good country it is, and lower resistance to it joining. I do hope so! " | Martin Visser
Australia
Apr.24.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Both Poland and Ukraine have rich football traditions that have been overlooked or overshadowed by Western European teams - hopefully hosting the Euro will bring recognition to the Polish and Ukrainian players, as well as improve infrastructure and bring travellers from all over the world." | Dagny
United States
Apr.24.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Well done to Poland and the Ukraine. I did not want Italy as they have had the European football championships before in the past . So Well done " | Richard Drewer
United States
Apr.22.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I'm so happy Euro 2012 will be hosted in Poland. I think Poland will show very good things both on the pitch and in the organization.
Come on Poland, it's your round to show all the world what you are able to do!" | Pier
Italy
Apr.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Poland will win Euro 2012 because they now have a great coach in Leo Beenhaker - all you other teams had better watch out!!" | Piotr
Poland
Apr.20.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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