Slovakia (A) - general

[pineapple stu]

Post all other general info and chat on the game in Slovakia in here. I'll try keep a summary of the main links in this thread.

Other links -

Accommodation (hotels to campsites) (http://foot.ie/threads/131566-Slovakia-(A)-accommodation)
Flights (or other means of getting there) (http://foot.ie/threads/131567-Slovakia-(A)-flights)
Charter travel (incl tour operator bookings, charter buses, taxis, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131568-Slovakia-(A)-charter-travel)
The game (match tickets, kick off time, directions to the ground, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131569-Slovakia-(A)-the-game)
Places (towns, internal travel, reccies, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131570-Slovakia-(A)-places)
Pubs (including meet ups) (http://foot.ie/threads/131571-Slovakia-(A)-pubs)

[stojkovic]

Two words - don't go.

[zenokelly]

Two words - don't go.

Had a great time in Bratislava the last time and looking forward to returning, Stay central and drink in the locals bars,

[Beavis]

I found it a bit nasty last time but it's one of the few that's easily accessible so I'll probably go. Had a great, relatively cheap rail trip from Graz which I might do again.

[pineapple stu]

Had a great time in Bratislava the last time and looking forward to returning, Stay central and drink in the locals bars,
Seconded.

[pineapple stu]

Interesting.

Though there were more Irish than Slovaks at the game in 2007, so I'd imagine 11000 would still be enough capacity. Depends how hard World Cup fever hits though.

[SuperDave]

You sure it won't be in Trnava? Was there not talk of that last time around?

[Hibs4Ever]

You sure it won't be in Trnava? Was there not talk of that last time around?



Trnava doesn't reach UEFA standards. Even during the World Cup qualifying Slovakia had to get special permission from UEFA to use the stadium in Bratislava.

As said, Zilina is only stadium that is approved. Trnava would need a lot of work done to it, and with the amount of money the Slovak FA are putting into the Bratislava stadium I can't see them doing wotk on any others for a long time

[shakermaker1982]

How rough was it last time around? I've heard a few scare stories

[HarpoJoyce]

How rough was it last time around? I've heard a few scare stories

Very rough. At one stage there was a debate among Rep. of Ireland fans about the best type of Architecture to dominate a Central European city. e.g. Baroque, Art Deco that type of thing. It nearly got physical when one fan expressed the view he "didn't minded the Constructivist/Social Realism style". Unbelievable.

[SuperDave]

Very rough. At one stage there was a debate among Rep. of Ireland fans about the best type of Architecture to dominate a Central European city. e.g. Baroque, Art Deco that type of thing. It nearly got physical when one fan expressed the view he "didn't minded the Constructivist/Social Realism style". Unbelievable.

Good Lord. I hope you put him right by showing him the damage concrete can do a persons skull...

[gspain]

I enjoyed the trip last time with 2 reservations

1) It rained non stop.

2) Taxis rip you off if you don't agree the fare in advance.

I did avoid the Dubliner bar (must be avoided at all costs full of skinheads looking for fights and that is only the staff).

[stojkovic]

I did avoid the Dubliner bar (must be avoided at all costs full of skinheads looking for fights and that is only the staff).

:)Too true.

And they all looked like the Russian hitman in Bourne Supremacy.

[mypost]

My supervisor over here is Slovak and says the match will definitely not be in Bratislava. The Stadium is getting knocked down and re built from May this year, and won't be finished til May 2012



Our match will almost certainly be in Stadium Pod Dubňom in Zilina, which has a capacity of around 11,000. There are a few other Stadiums closer to Bratislava and with bigger capacity, but Zilina is the only one that meets UEFA Standards


http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/slovakia/zilina_dubnon.shtml

Slovakia played Wales in our group in Trnava. They played San Marino in Dubnica Nad Vahom.

Stopped in Zilina on the way to Prague last time, and it's the Slovak version of Sligo, near the Czech/Poland border.

[pineapple stu]

Mod note - posts on getting to Blava moved to the flights thread. Just want to keep everything together as early as possible so people can use the threads for research later.

[gspain]

Had a great time in Bratislava the last time and looking forward to returning, Stay central and drink in the locals bars,


Me too. Just avoid the Dubliner pub completely.

[Girl in Green]

Looking forward to visiting........hope it's not as bad as some are making out....I guess you just need to be careful.

[ParkLife]

Why not stay in Vienna? Only an extra hour to Zilina, and much safer!! That's where we're going to be based!!

[EastTerracer]

We stayed in Bratislava the last time but got bumped from our nice central hotel http://www.art-hotel-william.sk/ into some generic travel lodge place a couple of miles outside the centre http://www.cityhotelbratislava.sk/en/index.html

The hotel blamed this on flooding (due to the incessant rain) but I think it was more likely due to overbooking. The old town centre was pleasant enough but outside of that there was a bit of a dodgy feel to the streets (especially since they didn't much go in for street lighting). The walk back from the stadium wasn't the most scenic.

[mypost]

Why not stay in Vienna? Only an extra hour to Zilina, and much safer!! That's where we're going to be based!!

Vienna's only useful if the game's in Bratislava, but I'd say a good few will stay there if it gets the ok.

Zilina has an airport, which currently serves Prague only.

[ParkLife]

Vienna's only useful if the game's in Bratislava, but I'd say a good few will stay there if it gets the ok.

Zilina has an airport, which currently serves Prague only.

According to train times etc... Vienna is only an extra hour to Zilina as opposed to Brat?? Am I correct in saying that?

[Paulie]

We stayed in Bratislava last time and had a great time so we're doing the same again. As has already been stated, avoid the Irish bar and you'll be fine. We're staying in the IBIS which as far as I know is centrally located, so all is good.

[mypost]

We're getting near the cut-off point for releasing the agenda for the game, yet there still appears to be no confirmation from the SFA where this game, or their qualifier before then against Macedonia will be.

I know their attention is on the WC, but this issue is rather farcical at this stage. If they're desperate to keep it in Bratislava, they should tell the FAI asap. If it isn't in Bratislava, it will disrupt a lot of travel plans for a lot of people.

[finbarrk]

Ah, give them a chance. More important things on their minds now. The Italians were slow enough last year with their venue confirmation and we all got there.

[jbyrne]

We stayed in Bratislava last time and had a great time so we're doing the same again. As has already been stated, avoid the Irish bar and you'll be fine. We're staying in the IBIS which as far as I know is centrally located, so all is good.

stayed clear of the Irish bar at first but after encountering the thugs manning many of the other pub doors and obnoxious bar staff elsewhere I finally chanced it the day after the game. was easily the most hospitable of the lot in my opinion!! maybe i was just unlucky with the other places I was in.

wouldnt want to put anyone off this trip but i had always wanted to go to bratislava but found it to be a massive disappointment really

[mypost]

Chances are it won't be in Bratislava, but now they are going out of the World Cup, they might actually decide to tell us where it is.

[Lenny82]

Probably should have checked this forum first but I booked flights and accommodation in Bratislava only the other day. Is there really any chance it will be played elsewhere?

[pineapple stu]

It definitely won't be played in Bratislava apparently because the ground there is being renovated.

You haev to fly to Bratislava anyway, so no problems booking flights. Venue is TBC, but your accom for all but the match night should be grand. You may be able to get back to Blava on the night of the match depending. Wouldn't be too worried, to be honest.

[Lenny82]

Cheers Stu. If it's not on in Bratislava, hopefully it's on in Trnava.

[gspain]

It definitely won't be played in Bratislava apparently because the ground there is being renovated.

You haev to fly to Bratislava anyway, so no problems booking flights. Venue is TBC, but your accom for all but the match night should be grand. You may be able to get back to Blava on the night of the match depending. Wouldn't be too worried, to be honest.

I wouldn't rule out Bratislava yet. The stadium is still standing.

I haven't booked any accommodation yet just flights.

[mypost]

You haev to fly to Bratislava anyway, so no problems booking flights.

You don't have to fly to Bratislava at all. If the game is in Zilina, Krakow Kosice and Ostrava all have airports, and are within reasonable reach. Zilina also has a single flight service daily from Prague.

It should be noted that at the same time of year last year, Slovakia went across the border to Poland in a snowstorm to qualify for the World Cup. It's not exactly Moscow-like conditions, but the daytime temps in the region were barely above zero, never mind at night. Not saying there will be a repeat this year, but don't get caught out if it does happen, all of a sudden.

[mypost]

Not to be taken as gospel, but according to wikipedia, all the Slovak home games are down for Bratislava this campaign. No word from the SFA (how appropriate) to confirm if it is the case.

[stiffler]

Anyone any idea when the venue for this game will be confirmed?

[OneRedArmy]

Anyone any idea when the venue for this game will be confirmed?90 days before.

Looks like Bratislava, with a chance of Trnava.

[Lenny82]

So it should have been announced yesterday then?? Fingers crossed for Bratislava!!!

[gspain]

90 days before.

Looks like Bratislava, with a chance of Trnava.

Only has to be fixed 60 days before.

On past experience we won't know until it is announced eg it will just get fixed and announced as opposed to having a few
days notice as to when it will be announced.

[mypost]

It must now be within 60 days for their earlier home game in the group. That should more or less confirm where our game will eventually be.

Vienna is an option for Bratislava/Trnava, the only issue is how to get back there after the game if it's a 8.30 ko.

[pineapple stu]

However will you work that one out in only 60 days?

[gspain]

It must now be within 60 days for their earlier home game in the group. That should more or less confirm where our game will eventually be.

Vienna is an option for Bratislava/Trnava, the only issue is how to get back there after the game if it's a 8.30 ko.

Although not on UEFA or FIFA apparently they will be playing Macedonia in Bratislava. This is based on me reading it somewhere and from a Wikipedia source
so not the most reliable. I can't find the reference either.

It doesn't follow though as we played in Bratislava last time and Wales played in Trnava 4 days later.

[mypost]

Agreed, but they put us in Bratislava last time because it was a key game in the group. They put Wales and San Marino elsewhere, because they weren't.

When we got the Germans in that group, they told us they would nominate a venue for the game there within a month of the fixtures meeting, which in fairness to them, they did. There's no excuse for taking the length of time these lads have, none at all. The meeting was nearly 4 months ago, the fixture is less than 12 weeks away.

As usual, if you want something done, get a German to do it properly.

[zenokelly]

Although not on UEFA or FIFA apparently they will be playing Macedonia in Bratislava. This is based on me reading it somewhere and from a Wikipedia source
so not the most reliable. I can't find the reference either.

It doesn't follow though as we played in Bratislava last time and Wales played in Trnava 4 days later.


Its on the Slovak FA website also. The site is in Slovak so you have to use Google translate which I did last week.

[Stoptheclocks]

It's on the uefa website that slovakia v macedonia will be played at Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava

link - http://en.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/index.html

[ParkLife]

So will this mean our game will be on in the same venue??

[Stoptheclocks]

I would think it was likely that our game will be there but they haven't confirmed it. They changed venue's in the last campaign so i wouldn't bank on it. At least we know that the stadium hasn't been bulldozed as some people mentioned.

[lopez]

...As usual, if you want something done, get a German to do it properly.Except a music concert. Agreed that 12 weeks is ridiculous unless it is given that the game is in Bratislava.

[stiffler]

Game confirmed as Bratislava accordingy to YBIG

[Stoptheclocks]

FAI have confirmed the game will be played in Bratislava. Not on the website yet but it was stated on newstalk (off the ball)

[mrtndvn]

Hi Lads, trying to book tickets from Prague to Bratislava by train, cant find any site that takes bookings. Cant anyone offer any advice on this?

[gspain]

Game confirmed as Bratislava accordingy to YBIG

Based on Abbey Travel official FAI agents confirming it.

Probably ok but I'd still wait for the Slovak or FAI or UEFA website to be sure.

[mandrake]

Except a music concert. Agreed that 12 weeks is ridiculous unless it is given that the game is in Bratislava.

i think you mean 'access to a music concert'....