By David Gold
November 13 – A new stadium built in Wrocław for the 2012 European Championships has played host to its first international game, as Poland lost 2-0 to Italy, whilst the renovated Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Ukraine, which will host the final of the tournament, saw the hosts draw 3-3 with Germany in the first match played there since work was completed.
The 42,771 capacity Municipal Stadium (pictured) in Wrocław may have been witness to goals from Italian forwards Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini, but that could not dampen Polish pride at the opening of the new venue, which will host three group games next summer.
“The Stadium is beautiful; we can be really proud to have such a ground in our country,” said national team captain Jakub Błaszczykowski.
“It is a really nice ground,” added former Polish footballer and Euro 2012 ambassador Zbigniew Boniek.
“When I look at it I can’t help but regret that back in my day we had to play in stadiums that looked like chicken coops – what a shame it is my playing career is over.”
In Kiev, Markiyan Lubkivsky, head of the Ukrainian Local Organising Committee for Euro 2012, said that though there were still issues remaining, the stadium had passed its first major test.
“The first impression is that the stadium received its guests with dignity,” he said.
“Of course, a detailed analysis will be conducted after the event as to how all of the services worked, how the transport logistics operated, and how large groups of people moved around.”
There were no complaints about the football on display, as Ukraine played out a thrilling draw with Germany, having led 2-0 and 3-1, with Andriy Yarmolenko (pictured left), Yevhen Konoplianka and Serhiy Nazarenko on the scoresheet.
Toni Kroos scored in the first period for Germany, before Simon Rolfes and Thomas Mueller struck to level things up.
Seventy thousand fans filled the ground, which will host the final of next year’s European Championships on July 1, and its opening comes after delays affected reconstruction work, which began in 2007.
Problems have blighted the host nations since they were awarded the right to host the tournament, with Ukraine struggling with financial and infrastructural issues, and Poland facing continual hooliganism concerns.
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