Wednesday, 21.12.2011
16 national teams, which partake in EURO 2012, shattered another intrigue of the upcoming tournament, i.e. made a definitive decision and selected training facilities. The final result was rather unpredictable, and, by the way, it’s very unpleasant for Ukraine.
13 of 16 teams preferred Poland’s cities to live and train in, during the next year June. Only participants of the “Ukrainian” group D – Ukraine, Sweden and France – chose the training camps of Ukraine. As we can see, England and the whole second “Ukrainian” group B favoured to take airplane in order to get on time for the matches. However, the participants of group B will play in Lviv (near to Poland) or in Kharkov (in Eastern Ukraine), therefore Fabio Capello’s men will be obliged to cross the whole Ukraine three times because they will fight in Eastern Donetsk and Central Kiev. Will it reflect on the physical and physiological state? We are sure that they won’t run faster or shoot more exactly. So, we’ll see whether they regret the Polish “registration.”
It’s Not a Big Deal
Markian Lubkivsky, the director of local organizational committee “EURO 2012 Ukraine” doesn’t worry much about the team’s refuse to accommodate in our country. According to him, all national teams, which were interested in Ukrainian training facilities, appeared in “Polish” groups. So it’s logical that they changed their minds, and chose cities of Poland.
Firstly, it was way comfortable for Russia to settle, e.g. in Kiev of Donetsk on cultural similarity grounds. Nevertheless, the fate decided otherwise, and so Russia national team will play its group round matches in Poland. “Before the draw, Spain, Greece, Croatia and Italy wanted to accommodate in Ukraine, however, they will play and live in Poland,” says Markian Lubkivsky.
Thereby, the director of organizational committee is pleased because Ukraine likely would get more European fans: “We are getting ready to welcome the fans’ army because of draw Ukrainian venues will hold the most fascinating ties of the tournament.”
Therefore, three national teams that have selected Ukraine will be accommodated in the following way: France team preferred the Shakhtar FC training facility in Kirsha (it was Croatia team that looked attentively at it then), Sweden team chose posh training camp of Dynamo FC in the environs of Kiev, in Konche-Zaspa, and Ukraine national team, as shy host, selected modest training base of Metalurg Donetsk.
One Is Eager for Ukraine
By the way, Russia’s desire to play and live in Ukraine is still on. So, Andrei Arshvin, the Russia team forward, said the following about the destiny and “Polish” group: “We, players of Russia national team, wanted to play in Ukraine. Therefore, to make our dream come true, we need to reach the final of EURO 2012. We must qualify because it’s the only thing to do!”
Also Arshavin said that “group of life”, in fact, the weakest and the “equal” group, didn’t make the life of Russia team easier: “From the one hand, we along with Poland, Greece and Czech Republic are happy to play together, in one group. But from the other, if Russia isn’t qualified for play offs in such a situation, the national team, and everyone related to it, will be blacked and river of dirt will be slung at us.” He is quite right!
