Euro 2012 - general info

**DeLorean** · 18/01/2012, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by French Toasht

Just wondering what the general consensus is here. Do people think we wont make it out of the group and are only planning holidays around the group stage?

I think it would be a fairly big surprise, if not shock, if we made it out of the group. I'll be coming home after the group stage regardless. Most of the people I know that are going to the Euros are out of work. Ironically, they'll probably be the ones able to stay on. Sonny LoSpecchio was right, the working man is a sucker.

**mypost** · 18/01/2012, 9:48 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I think it would be a fairly big surprise, if not shock, if we make it out of the group. I'll be coming home after the group stage regardless. Most of the people I know that are going to the Euros are out of work. Ironically, they'll probably be the ones able to stay on. Sonny LoSpecchio was right, the working man is a sucker.

The working man is able to finance us going further in the tournament, and some of the astronomical prices requested so far. Those out of work can't finance it alone.

**DeLorean** · 18/01/2012, 10:48 AM

Depends how much the working man is earning, the guys I'm talking about all seem pretty sure they'll stay on should we advance beyond the group stage. A lot of working people won't have the option, that's all I meant really...I wasn't trying to start a civil war of private v public worker proportions.

**AidoP** · 18/01/2012, 6:34 PM

I told my boss that I plan to go back for the final when Ireland gets there :-)

**elroy** · 20/01/2012, 9:25 PM

Problem is getting from Poznan to Donestk or Kiev, your looking at in the region of 600 to 1000 miles. Travel may not be too costly and we will have a few days to get there but accomodation could be a problem in Ukraine. I dont think tickets will be, even if it was England. I reckon we will have 25k - 30k in Poznan for the Italy game, at best 15k of that would change plans and go to Ukraine.

**AidoP** · 31/01/2012, 6:32 PM

As luck will have it I will go to Gniezno and Poznan for a couple of days next week with work so I'll get to check out what the story is as regards bars, restaurants, transport, etc in the 2 places.

**BonnieShels** · 01/02/2012, 11:13 AM

You sir are a man apart.

**punkrocket** · 01/02/2012, 12:48 PM

Sounds like a job I'd like to have, who said the working man was a schmuck?

**IsMiseSean** · 03/02/2012, 1:54 PM

Croatia tickets up on the portal now. I just got sorted

**Paddy the Dog** · 03/02/2012, 6:02 PM

Originally Posted by AidoP

As luck will have it I will go to Gniezno and Poznan for a couple of days next week with work so I'll get to check out what the story is as regards bars, restaurants, transport, etc in the 2 places.

For those of us who were late in booking accommodation, and who cannot afford the prices quoted for hotels in host cities, and were too late to book Torun too, you might check out Bydgoszcz if you pass through, Aido.

My mate says it's a large industrial estate and he knows a bloke who had the Levi jeans he was wearing robbed from him at the train station and he had to walk home in his skids, but I'm hoping he's winding me up.

**Paddy the Dog** · 03/02/2012, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by French Toasht

Just wondering what the general consensus is here. Do people think we wont make it out of the group and are only planning holidays around the group stage?

We weren't in Pot 4 of the draw for nothing, French Toasht. Of course we're up against it, but I'm quietly confident that we can secure three 0-0 draws and go through by drawing the longest straw

**AidoP** · 03/02/2012, 7:43 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy the Dog

For those of us who were late in booking accommodation, and who cannot afford the prices quoted for hotels in host cities, and were too late to book Torun too, you might check out Bydgoszcz if you pass through, Aido.

My mate says it's a large industrial estate and he knows a bloke who had the Levi jeans he was wearing robbed from him at the train station and he had to walk home in his skids, but I'm hoping he's winding me up.

Sorry Paddy the Dog I wont be anywhere near Bydgoszcz (which by the sounds of it Im lucky enough not to be).

**French Toasht** · 04/02/2012, 1:36 AM

I was at the bore 0-0 friendly draw against Poland in 2004 that was played in Bydgoszcz. Didn't think the city was particularly rough, not particularly pleasant either.That was the game that we had several high profile players missing for and which Brian Kerr got heavily criticised by shels fans for only bringing on Jason Byrne in the very last seconds of the match. It inspired their "Brian Kerr is a w*nker, he wears a w*nkers hat" song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYIlOvlBupU

I would still urge fans too think twice about booking their stays in Bydgoszcz. Look at the map of Poland and its size in relation to Ireland, you're talking seriously long journeys between the two cities. Exhaust all possibilities in the host cities before you contemplate booking accomodation that is so detached from all the festivities.

**Paddy the Dog** · 04/02/2012, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by French Toasht

I would still urge fans too think twice about booking their stays in Bydgoszcz. Look at the map of Poland and its size in relation to Ireland, you're talking seriously long journeys between the two cities. Exhaust all possibilities in the host cities before you contemplate booking accomodation that is so detached from all the festivities.

A fair point French Toasht, to a certain degree, in that everybody would want to stay in the host cities if they can. Whether rooms are available at reasonable prices is questionable, from my research. I booked our hotel before Christmas to ensure we had a place to stay. If I can find a room in host cities on match nights I'll go for it, but not at the silly prices quoted by hoteliers, as highlighted in The Sunday Times last month (sorry, can't find a link).

I'm happy to take the train in on match days, and enjoy what other parts of the country has to offer on non-match days by hiring a car or taking other train journeys. Public transport is reasonably efficient and good value for money.

My mate was joking about his experience of Bydgozscz. I'll be taking 4 pairs of jeans just in case, though!

**Silly Billy G** · 08/02/2012, 11:14 AM

Ireland v Spain tickets up now

**Mr A** · 08/02/2012, 11:18 AM

Gone already

**Mr A** · 08/02/2012, 11:50 AM

Appeared again briefly.. the numbers must be very small.

**p2011** · 10/02/2012, 11:39 AM

I was wondering if anyone out there could share their experience of using the UEFA portal - the thing is driving me mad. Over the last few weeks, I have seen tickets (mostly Croatia game, sometime Italy game), but by the time I enter my credit card etc. the site says “You did not select any ticket”. When I try again, the tickets are still there on the list of games, but again it is not possible to buy the damn things.

Has anyone been successful buying more than 1 ticket on this site? Or have any other tips for using it?

I have written to Uefa, but all I get is a non-engaging “there is no "reservation" rule so make payment right away” – which is daft, as I can only enter my data as quick as humanly possible. Why should I visit the site 10 times day if the tickets that eventually show up can’t be bought. Whatever complaints we may have about ticketmaster, at least ticketmaster gives you a few minutes to complete payment. Uefa’s system at the moment gives human fans no chance and is probably favouring touts and eBay merchants.

**AidoP** · 10/02/2012, 1:54 PM

Ok people I'm back from my fact finding trip to Poland and here's what I saw. Arriving at Poznan airport I noticed it's not the biggest in the world and the facilities wouldn't be plentiful either (a restaurant, a couple of coffee shops, a couple of small shops and thats about it really). They seemed to be building something onto the airport but I don't know if that was an extension to the airport that will increase the facilities or not. I know people were talking about sleeping in the airport after matches to wait for their flight home but from what I saw the seats wouldn't be the most comfortable and the army seemed to be doing the security at the departures lounge. Theres a taxi rank outside and also bus number 59 will take you into the city. I got a taxi to Gniezno which cost 40 euro and took about 70 minutes. Gniezno is a small town with a couple of good bars (Pietrak bar and the Miami bar were ok even though they were empty giving the night that was in it with it being -10 and a Tuesday night). A beer cost roughly 1.44 euro at this time so lets see how much it increases come June. I stayed at the Pietrak Hotel and when I asked about prices of rooms in June there I was told they are pretty expensive but the Adalbertus Hotel had rooms available at a cost of 63 euro a night for a double room (email address is: adalbertus@pietrak.pl). There is a train that runs roughly every 50 minutes to Poznan and it costs 10 PLN one way and takes about 30 minutes so Gniezno could be a cost effective option for fans.
So onto Poznan now. I really liked Poznan. It seemed to be very clean from what I saw. The bars in the Old Town like Crime Story and Room 55 were nice and I got a good feed in the Crime Story bar at an excellent price. Of course I had to see what the local Irish bars were like so I went to Brogans and I have to admit it was a nice Irish bar with the beer priced at 1.50 euro for a half litre so it was all good. There is also an Irish bar called "Tanners" which is also in the Old Town but I didn't manage to make it that far. Apparently theres a Dubliner bar in Poznan but sure isn't there one in nearly every town and city outside Ireland? What I can say is that come June Poznan will be buzzing and the Irish fans will have a ball.

**elroy** · 10/02/2012, 9:09 PM

Originally Posted by p2011

I was wondering if anyone out there could share their experience of using the UEFA portal - the thing is driving me mad. Over the last few weeks, I have seen tickets (mostly Croatia game, sometime Italy game), but by the time I enter my credit card etc. the site says “You did not select any ticket”. When I try again, the tickets are still there on the list of games, but again it is not possible to buy the damn things.

Has anyone been successful buying more than 1 ticket on this site? Or have any other tips for using it?

I have written to Uefa, but all I get is a non-engaging “there is no "reservation" rule so make payment right away” – which is daft, as I can only enter my data as quick as humanly possible. Why should I visit the site 10 times day if the tickets that eventually show up can’t be bought. Whatever complaints we may have about ticketmaster, at least ticketmaster gives you a few minutes to complete payment. Uefa’s system at the moment gives human fans no chance and is probably favouring touts and eBay merchants.

If you get the you did not select any ticket, it usually means the tickets are gone and you have been too slow in getting them.

Best recommendations are install auto refresh and page monitors on google chrome, it will let you know when the page changes so when it does you can get on straight away and get the tickets. Also have your credit card number either off my heart or copied and ready to paste so again you can get to purchase the tickets ahead of anyone else. On a positive note, the frequency of Ireland tickets does seem to be alot higher recently and perhaps will continue in the final weeks of the portal.