Czech Republic Away (12th September 2007) - Match Thread

[lopez]

Any reason why this game is listed as Teplice? Don't tell me it was an 'excloooosive' in The Star, or just that they played Wales there. The Czech FA website lists the game as for Prague, presumably the Toyota (Sparta) Stadium.

http://www.fotbal.cz/scripts/modules/diary/default.php?datefrom=4.11.2006&categid=1

[pineapple stu]

Interesting. From talking to the FAI, it's in Teplice. Hadn't seen that website.

[smithy16jfc]

Interesting. From talking to the FAI, it's in Teplice. Hadn't seen that website.


Emailed the Czech FA before Christmas and they said Prague was confirmed as the venue

[citizenerased]

lads its goin to cost a good bit this double header

[gspain]

has anyone booked for the double header, whats the best itinery and not too expensive?

Depends what you want to do.

I'm coming home on sunday and back out wednesday morning. I suspect the cheap(er) flights are gone/harder to get now.

Depends want you want to do really. I've been to both cities and much prefer Bratislava to Prague. However if it is good cheap beer tyou want then get to Prague quickly after the Slovakia game.

Hotels, food, beer etc will be much cheaper than Ireland but it will cost because pf the amount consumed.

[Paulie]

lads its goin to cost a good bit this double header

I got the week (flights and accommodation) for just under €500 which I'm pretty pleased with. The flights will probably be more expensive now but I'd say you could still do it for 6 or 7 hundred. You should go for apartments instead of hotels as they are much cheaper. I spoke to a couple of lads I know last week who had just sorted out their package deal for the week. They're paying €1,100 which is pretty steep.

[lopez]

I got a flight out of Vienna with Air Berlin to Nuremberg for €1 plus taxes etc. It's relatively near to Prague by train aswell. Apart from drinking, Prague and (especially) Bratislava will lose its appeal after a couple of days. My liver's had enough punishment in my life.:D

[pineapple stu]

Emailed the Czech FA before Christmas and they said Prague was confirmed as the venue
Excellent. Teplice's a bit out of the way, so at least this allows for extra time in Prague and an extra trip somewhere interesting.

Incidentally, last month's National Geographic had a list of the top 20 beer drinking countries in the world. Ireland came in second, only beaten b ythe Czech Republic. Think I'm going to enjoy this trip. :)

[SuperDave]

jet2.com fly prague to belfast for about €70 on the friday after the game (nearer €100 for thursday, though it would be false economy to stay for an extra day and probably spend another €100 to save €30 on flights)

and there are still ryanair flights on the morning of the slovakia game (arriving at 0945) for €70 as well.

[SuperDave]

Czech FA Website (http://www.fotbal.cz/scripts/modules/diary/default.php?datefrom=13.1.2007&categid=1)

It looks like this game is on in Prague according to their website. For the venue it says "kvalifikace ME, Praha" which I can only assume means prague. I thought it was to be elsewhere?

[Hibs4Ever]

Czech FA Website (http://www.fotbal.cz/scripts/modules/diary/default.php?datefrom=13.1.2007&categid=1)

It looks like this game is on in Prague according to their website. For the venue it says "kvalifikace ME, Praha" which I can only assume means prague. I thought it was to be elsewhere?


It means "qualifying European Chammpions game in Prague"


The game will almost definitely be in Sparta's Toyota Stadium

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, FAI said Teplice, but I'd go with the Czech FA website over the FAI any day!

[SuperDave]

Yeah, FAI said Teplice, but I'd go with the Czech FA website over the FAI any day!

There's nothing on the misinformation pages on the fai website.

[pineapple stu]

They told me when I asked.

[Rosco]

i was in prague last year, booked an apartment and flight all in for three nights for £150 from east midlands airport. Apartment was ideal (fridge, tv , stereo) and was right across from spartas stadium (two minute walk). One minute walk from the underground. This is the site I used for apartments.
http://www.venere.com/search/?lg=en&geoid=43505&ref=&touristic_area=&chk_city=all#o=default&r=0&m=0&f=A000100000000000&checkin=2007-09-11&checkout=2007-09-14&pval=4&rval=2&sb=0
Is anyone on here travelling from Moscow, Russia for the games in Sept????? Give me a shout if you are.:D

[Sligo Hornet]

Is anyone on here travelling from Moscow, Russia for the games in Sept????? Give me a shout if you are.:D[/QUOTE]

Have you tried contacting Moscow Mule?........I think he originates from Minsk

[Rosco]

cheers Sligo, I have indeed but apparently originates in Moscow UK. If anyone knows any supporters clubs in Russia I'd appreciate any info.

[SuperDave]

Okay, the game is definitely in prague, so says the fai wesite.

Now, I have found transport from Bratislava to Prague on Monday 10th Sept.

The following is a direct train (4hrs)
http://idos.datis.cdrail.cz/Route.asp?cl=E5&tt=1&i=24574&s1=5867&s2=36178
There is also a later one:
http://idos.datis.cdrail.cz/Route.asp?cl=E5&tt=1&i=30917&s1=5867&s2=36166

I don't know how to get tickets nor how much they cost though.

This is where the first train brings you in prague (from google maps)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&ll=50.110355,14.439973&spn=0.003048,0.007231&t=k&z=17&om=1

Now as you can see it's not far from the stadium (from the stadium look at 2 o clock. before the river is the station)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=50.099276,14.41668&spn=0.006098,0.014462&z=16

Though neither is where the second train stops in prague (just south of the river. Go north to the stadium)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&ll=50.082673,14.436035&spn=0.012199,0.028925&t=k&z=15&om=1

scroll about a bit, switch to maps etc etc

I also have a link to the location of the train station in bratislava. This station is both the station you want to get out to trnava for the game and the station for the train to prague.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=48.157956,17.105992&spn=0.006341,0.014462&z=16

Although if it is an evening game there may not be trains back from trnava late enough.

Having searched here: http://kvc2.zsr.sk/EN/
the last train appears to be at 2240 (you want Bratislava hl. st.)

I think the stadium in trnava is not too far from the station. It is a decent sized town (c. 70,000 according to wikipedia), so you could stay there on saturday night. Here is some stadium info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Spartak_Trnava#Stadium
Having done some definitive searching, the stadium is in the greyed out section here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=48.373356,17.592909&spn=0.006314,0.014462&z=16
Compared with street names on spartak trnava's official website means the location is certain:
http://www.spartak.sk/stadion.php

I also found this on expedia for flights:
£151.40

14:15 Depart Dublin (DUB)
Arrive Vienna (VIE) 19:45 Fri 7-Sep
Duration: 4hr 30min Aer Lingus 608
KLM 1847

Connect in Amsterdam (AMS)
15:20 Depart Prague (PRG)
Arrive Dublin (DUB) 18:20 Thu 13-Sep
Duration: 4hr 0min KLM 1356 / 3159
Connect in Amsterdam (AMS)

The only problem is transferring from vienna to bratislava, unless you spend friday night in vienna and move to bratislava on saturday morning. There are early trains enabling you to do that. See here for austrian railway enquiries: http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en
trains start fairly early and you can connect easily to trnava, provided you go to the right station. It appears trains at hr:28 from vienna south station get to the correct station in bratislava in about an hour.
This is the location of the station in vienna:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=48.186948,16.380401&spn=0.006338,0.014462&z=16

It may also be possible to get late night friday trains to bratislava arriving after midnight, but that might not be good for some people. See the austrian railways bit again.

Though unfortunately I can't go, hopefully this info is useful to some.

In terms of accommodation close to the ground, try this hostel:
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/SirTobysHostel-Prague-425
All it scores badly on is location, but you can't complain if it's next to the stadium. It's also not far from the train station

In terms of vienna, there is little close to the train station if you need one night there, but this place might do:
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/StrawberryHostelWien-Vienna-4443

Bratislava has lots of hostels, but this place is close to the railway station, cheap and has good ratings:
http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/Possonium-Bratislava-19652

[Paulie]

Okay, the game is definitely in prague, so says the fai wesite.

I knew it was a small stadium but it's not even 20,000. Tickets are going to be hard to come by for this one.

http://www.stadiumguide.com/toyotaarena.htm

[The Bit O'Red]

Any idea when the FAI will announce tickets? I don't really want to book anything unless i'm sure i have match tickets.

[Paulie]

Any idea when the FAI will announce tickets? I don't really want to book anything unless i'm sure i have match tickets.

You won't know if your ticket application with the FAI has been successful or not until 3 or 4 weeks before the game. Anybody that goes to away games on a regular basis will tell you that you book your trip well before you know the situation regarding tickets in order to get cheaper flights and accommodation. Normally everyone gets sorted with a ticket for somewhere in the ground but there have been exceptions. Such is the size of the stadium I think this game will be one of the exceptions especially when I wouldn't be surprised if there's 10,000+ travelling for the Slovakia/Czech Republic double header.

[lopez]

... Normally everyone gets sorted with a ticket for somewhere in the ground but there have been exceptions. Such is the size of the stadium I think this game will be one of the exceptions especially when I wouldn't be surprised if there's 10,000+ travelling for the Slovakia/Czech Republic double header.The problems before regarding tickets have always been for saturday games, with the exception of the Holland play-off game in 1995. (Golfing brigade don't do weekday trips). Had Ireland lost either of their recent games, rendering them out of this competition, I would have little doubt there would be no problem with tickets for Prague. But this is, in the absence of play-offs, in effect our 'play-off' game (Wales I doubt will be competing for 2nd place come November). I am still hopefull though, as with San Marino, tickets will be reasonably available.

[Paulie]

I don't know. A number of people have said to me that they are thinking of doing this double header and these would be people that have either never been to an away game or very rarely been to one. It's a week in bratislava and Prague in early September so there's a lot to like about the trip even for those not that interested in football. I know that if we hadn't won the last two home games there would have been no hassle getting tickets but we did win them so that's going to have a knock on effect regarding tickets. I imagine that there'll be a lot if Irish fans in the home section in both of these games. Unfortunately I'd also say there will be a lot of Irish fans left ticketless a la Switzerland in 2003.

[citizenerased]

Yeah it will be tough alright , but hopefully something will turn up...

[Dallasirish]

4 of us going from Dallas for the 2 games. Cant wait. I am a little concerned about the tickets. Hope to get some or worst case we will look at ebay.

Come on Ireland

These two games will decide the vacation schedule for june 08. If we get two wins i might pick up the Austrian railways schedule for 08. Two losses and it will be the Bus Eireann schedule from Dublin to Costa del Monaghan.

[AidoM]

4 of us going from Dallas for the 2 games. Cant wait. I am a little concerned about the tickets. Hope to get some or worst case we will look at ebay.

Come on Ireland

These two games will decide the vacation schedule for june 08. If we get two wins i might pick up the Austrian railways schedule for 08. Two losses and it will be the Bus Eireann schedule from Dublin to Costa del Monaghan.

Send E-Mail to FAI asking them to send you an application form for the tickets; at least then you are in the lottery for the "official" tickets. Plan B could be the ticket thread here and Plans C,D......... etc are ebay etc

[zenokelly]

no i think plans before ebay have to be through czech and slovakian fas. or through one of their ticketmasters because the slovaks definitely wont fill the stadium because where they are in the group and i doubt the czechs will either (dont get great attendances)

so keep hoping!!!!!!!!!

[Collyontour]

Does anyone know when the FAI are sending out application forms? I emailed them a few weeks ago and haven't received a reply. There seems to be a lot of interest in this trip. Tickets might be hard to come by.

[Paulie]

Tickets might be hard to come by.

Tickets will be hard to come by, no doubt about it. I sent the FAI an email last week enquiring about application forms for tickets. Here's what I got back......

Paul,

I have added you to the applicants' list for these matches, and you will be sent an application form closer to the time of the matches.

Regards,

Ticket Office

[Sligo Hornet]

Tickets will be hard to come by, no doubt about it. I sent the FAI an email last week enquiring about application forms for tickets. Here's what I got back......

Paul,

I have added you to the applicants' list for these matches, and you will be sent an application form closer to the time of the matches.

Regards,

Ticket Office

I like you Paul, and many more of us, are on the "applicants list".I agree getting tickets from the Fai's official 10% allocations will be difficult, but I agree with what others have stated, in relation to the lack of enthusiasm from both the Slovakian and Czech fans.......hopefully we should be able to pick the lion's share of what we need from their unwanted tickets.:)

[NeilMcD]

Ahhh Sligo you are not planning on going to this too are you!!!!!

[Sligo Hornet]

Ahhh Sligo you are not planning on going to this too are you!!!!!

Of course, my favourite "future son-in-law to be":D ......I will also be bringing a spare jacket and an easy to follow "where's my room " sat nav fo Paul!!!;)

[NeilMcD]

Bring a spare passport for him also.

[Jerry The Saint]

I have added you to the applicants' list for these matches, and you will be sent an application form closer to the time of the matches.

Regards,

Ticket Office

I didn't get any reply - does that mean I'm not on the list:confused: D'OH! Better try again.:(

[Paulie]

The thing is even if you aren't on the list you still won't miss out once you're keeping an eye here.

[Claret Murph]

I am still waiting to see something on the FAI web site before I apply as I have seen in the past . Should I still wait until the FAI are accpecting applications as before or send them in now ????????

[AidoM]

I am still waiting to see something on the FAI web site before I apply as I have seen in the past . Should I still wait until the FAI are accpecting applications as before or send them in now ????????

Send in the request for an application form now and it (the application form)will be sent out to you automatically :)

[Moscow Mule]

Bring a spare passport for him also.

Neil

Bring your drinking head - Mr and Mrs Moscow Mule will be in attendance!

[NeilMcD]

My drinking head is currently at the gargage but should be ready for September. Althought I did get it back for a test drive last night at the U19 match.

[Sligo Hornet]

I've just receieved an email from the FAI ticket office, stating that applications will only be taken from current Block-Bookers.:mad:........I now start my begging in earnest!!:(

[Collyontour]

Re: Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland - 12th September 2007


Dear Mr ,

I refer to your request for an application form for the Euro 2008 qualifier away to Czech Republic on 12th September 2007.

Due to the small allocation of tickets we have received for this fixture we are unable to take orders from non-FAI Block Booker account holders.

The Toyota Arena in Prague has a capacity of 20,565 and under UEFA regulations the FAI are only entitled to 10% of the tickets for the game.

Application forms will be distributed to FAI Block Booker account holders shortly.

As demand is expected to exceed supply, not all applications will be successful.


Yours sincerely,




Ticket Office
Football Association of Ireland

[Moscow Mule]

Time to start the queue again for tickets. I am looking for tickets for both Slovakia and Czech. Surely they won't sell out for a home game will they?

[AidoM]

Received my application form for tickets for this match in the post today :). I am a Block Booker.

There are 2 categories: (incl. €2.00 handling charge)

Category 1 Price €55.00,
Category 2 Price €37.00


The venue is Toyota Stadium Prague. Kick off TBC (to be confirmed)

Application to be returned by 22nd June and "successful applicants will be notified of the number and price of ticket/s allocated in due course"

[Danny]

Aido,

Was the Czech application in with the Slovak one or separate ?
I got the sloavak one but no czech one yet

[AidoM]

Aido,

Was the Czech application in with the Slovak one or separate ?
I got the sloavak one but no czech one yet

They came in seperate envelopes :confused: but both arrived yesterday :)

I posted on both threads

[Mayo_Bhoy]

Right lads where ye all staying in Prague?? 12 of us staying in The Andante Hotel, 2 mins walk from Wenceslas Square. Seems decent enough.

[Sligo Hornet]

Right lads where ye all staying in Prague?? 12 of us staying in The Andante Hotel, 2 mins walk from Wenceslas Square. Seems decent enough.


Our group must be very near you Mayo.......Prague Central Apartments (very smart!! ) 3 mins walk to Wencelas Square...also near one of Pragues best pubs " Rocky O'Reillys"!!

[Mayo_Bhoy]

also near one of Pragues best pubs " Rocky O'Reillys"!!


Thats on the same street as our hotel. Not a great fan of Irish bars abroad but twill be a good base camp.

[NeilMcD]

Our group must be very near you Mayo.......Prague Central Apartments (very smart!! ) 3 mins walk to Wencelas Square...also near one of Pragues best pubs " Rocky O'Reillys"!!


We are pretty near to you also. There will be 3 of us this time and possibley a fourth.

[Milesmayhem24]

Anyone know if there is a Czech ticketmaster (a la Eventim) or if they sell all their tickets through the Czech FA? Only on the BB waiting list so I'm not even in the lottery from the FAI