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Poland To Organize Euro 2012 Alone?

July 8th, 2008 | By: tomasz | 16 Comments »

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?

I don’t think so. UEFA is clearly playing games to motivate both host countries to speed up their actions. Even before the visits there were rumours that we may lose the tournament because of some organizational delays. Polish sport minister, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, said that those rumours certainly don’t help the organizers as the contractors, thinking that we’re under pressure, raise their financial demands. I think there should be more trust on the side of UEFA; I can’t imagine that Poland blows such a chance for worldwide promotion. No other country had all the facilities prepared 4 years before the tournament so why UEFA expects it from Poland and Ukraine? Today, we’re in the stage of planning; tomorrow we must start building. I think that the next year will be decisive; if everything goes according to plan I’m sure Euro 2012 will be one of the most exciting and well organized tournaments in history. No need to panic just yet, no need for unnecessary pressure. I hope our Ukrainian friends realise how much our countries can gain because of Euros and start working their hands to the bone. Let’s show UEFA and whole Europe that we’re capable of great things.

Transfer update: Just some minor transfers. Kamil Kosowski signed a contract with APOEL Nicosia from Cyprus and, therefore, can’t no longer be considered a contender for a place in a national team. Former youth European champion (2001), Lukasz Madej, signed a contract with Academica Coimbra in Portugal; a very good move as far as I’m concerned. Korona Kielce’s Marcin Kus is about to sign a contract with Turkish club Ankaragucu. He was tested a couple of times by Leo, I wonder if playing in Turkey will raise his chances of regular call ups. Ebi Smolarek declared that he’ll stay in Racing Santander for next season; there’s a big chance he’ll be a bench player. There’s also a supposed interest from FC Nantes in Mariusz Lewandowski. Still no sign of Roger’s transfer, maybe because Legia’s expectations are reported to be as high as 9M. Stay tuned.

Tags: Euro 2012, Group A, Kosowski, Kus, Lewandowski, Madej, Poland, Roger, Smolarek, ukraine

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Comments

By Thierry | July 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

How about having Russia host one? Vast country, lots of cities, it’d be great!

I do like the idea of having developing democracies in eastern Europe host it, though. A boost to their economies n stuff. Greece could use a turn one day too.

Posted from United States

By skillz | July 8th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

gimme a break, they threatened south africa too with the same shit, also with greece and the olympics. its all western propoganda anyway. Poland Ukraine got this tournament specifically because of how well Ukraine did in the last world cup and that is why the final is to be held in Kiev. I also think Ukraine, maybe poland, have a really great chance at maiking the final. Way better than Swiss or austia.

By tomasz | July 9th, 2008 at 6:20 am

@Thierry
If I remember correctly Russia was in the running for the 2012 tournament. I think they also want to candidate for the next ‘European’ world cup. I think that the decision about 2012 was mainly political; to boost our economy etc.
@skillz
I agree, you hear such threats before every tournament. As far as I remember in 1998 Stade de France was finished just a couple of months before the tournament, the stadium in Vienna was also renovated for a long time. At the same time, Ukraine really needs to get their shit together, yesterday I learned that there’s no money for Kiev stadium renovation. The alternate plan states that 2/3 games, both semi-finals and final will be played in Poland.

By kizak | July 9th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

There is a rumor Platini is considering our neighbors to the West instead of East now. Poland-Germany 2010….

Posted from United States

By tomasz | July 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

I read German journalists’ comments that they don’t consider orgamizing Euro. Today, on the other hand, Hrihorij Surkis, Ukraine’s FA president, declared that it’s quite possible that most of the games, semi finals and final will be played in Poland. It’s all because of serious problems that they have with Kiev stadium and lack of funds for improving infrastructure. He said it probably only to put pressure on Ukrainian government, but the situation in Ukraine seems far from stable. They also want some money from UEFA.

By skillz | July 9th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

I think that Ukraine should drop Poland, cause I dont think they’ll be great hosts, and pick up Romania, or maybe Slovakia. That would actually be quite good – Ukraine and Romania.

By M. Zurawski | July 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

skillz, i agree. Poland should be completely dropped. Ukraine should host the tournament with Transdnistria AND Moldova. It would be a political coup for reuniting the breakaway republic and other then a land mine here and there, the pitches would be immaculate.

By skillz | July 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

your right, I forgot Moldova!

By Alek | July 10th, 2008 at 3:56 am

What country hasnt had a rumor about hosting the games now. Ive heard about Italy, Spain, France, Germany-Poland, just Poland, Scotland. I sure hope your kidding about just Ukraine (Zurawski i know your kidding), and Russia, who the hell would want it there? Other then like take home wives (instead of mail order), it would come out as total shit. The only place i can think that has less infrastructure then Ukraine is Russia.

By tomasz | July 10th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

For me, there are 3 options: a)the tournament will be organized as originally planned, b)2/3 games, semi finals and final will be played in Poland, c)the whole tournament will be played in Poland. I sure hope the first option wins as it was Ukraine who first wanted to candidate and we really owe Surkis a lot. But, if necessary, Poland can handle the tournament all by its own. Apart from 4 compulsory stadiums we’re building two more in Krakow and Chorzow. There’s also a new stadium about to be built in Zabrze and some games can be played in Kielce, although the capacity there is not big enough at the moment. There is a big political battle taking place in Ukraine at the moment between the president and prime minister; generally the situation is rather unstable.

By skillz | July 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

I think more than Surkis, poland needs to thank Shevchenko for single handedly getting this tournament to Ukraine and poland. Because of him Ukraine dominated qualifiying for, and made it to the quarter finals of world cup 06. It was shortly after this that the decision was made. THe idea was to award it to Ukraine which is much bigger in size and has a richer football history than poland but in the climate of having two hosts they figured why not include poland. And the final has already been planned for Kiev, sorry. But anyways, the two countries should be happy about this co-tournament instead of sucking up to the West and saying ‘we’re good enough to host this tounament on our own.’

By M. Zurawski | July 10th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

why not, indeed.

By tomasz | July 11th, 2008 at 10:00 am

@skillz
I can’t agree with you. Players don’t have much to do with the final choice of Euro hosts. Of course, they help to promote the candidates, as was the case with Shevchenko (Lech Walesa promoted Poland at the same time). However, final decision is rather political and Surkis and other Ukrainian and Polish officials who prepared the project are responsible for it. If it was only the level of players we would’ve lost with Italy or Croatia. By stating that Ukraine has richer football history than Poland you proved to know little about football’s history. Check the info mate.

Posted from Poland

By Evil Han | July 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

I wrote a different blog on this website: “Polkraine gets an Inspection from Principal Platini.” It is regarding for Poland not to co-host with Ukraine. The reason, Ukraine is not up to standards: modern sports stadiums and transportation facilities to be on schedule. As well as political issues for Ukraine to enter into NATO and EU. Unfortunately, which makes Russia unhappy that might cause some problems down the line.

Poland should host UEFA Euro 2012 by themselves. They are a good size nation: 6-8 major cities and population of over 40 million. Also, there economy is doing quite well. Again, they were able to adapt and intergret into mainstream Europe: NATO 1999 and EU 2004. In 2010, the Poles will officially adopt the Euro Currency. Therefore, they made geniune strides to improve and progress after the Cold War. Overall, they came along ways. Hats off to Poland!

Posted from United States

By tomasz | July 13th, 2008 at 5:39 am

@Evil Han
I think we would manage to organize the tournament by ourselves, but I’d still prefer to do it with Ukraine. The well being of Ukraine means a well being of Poland at the same time (basically we want Ukraine to be integrated with Western Europe rather than Russia). But if necessary, we can do it provided the final decision is made as early as 2009. Poland is developing fast, our currency is growing stronger and stronger, more and more money from the EU is used to improve the infrastructure. Only on Friday I was travelling from Gdansk to Poznan and had to take at least 5 detours because of new roads being built.

Posted from Poland

By Paweł (drugi kombinacji Cristiano Ronaldo i Franz Beckenbauer) i goral | July 13th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Poland needs to kick it up a notch and prepare diligently. Poland 2012 Finally because the Ukranians do not deserve to even host the quarter- final. Poland please build more stadiums, educate the youth, pay people well, and do everything that is possible without lying to bring Polish people around the world back to Poland and even me because I am in exile here in America.

Posted from United States

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