Poland confident, but problems remain for Euro 2012 (News Feature)

By Dominika Maslikowski May 13, 2009, 15:30 GMT

Warsaw - Four Polish cities got the green light Wednesday to host Euro 2012, but problems remained with uncertainty over co-host Ukraine and Poland's long list of infrastructure left to build before opening day.

UEFA president Michel Platini picked four Polish cities from 12 candidates: Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan and Wroclaw. But Kiev was the sole Ukrainian contender to make the final cut, and that left room for speculation by Polish optimists.

While UEFA stressed it wanted to keep equality in the tournament and play the same number of games in each country, others hoped the two rejected Polish cities could still host matches if Ukraine proved unprepared in December.

Construction would not stop in either eliminated Krakow or Chorzow, officials there said, while Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki noted that 'anything is possible.'

Chorzow already had a stadium that just needed renovation, but the Silesian city was seen by most as an unlikely pick. It lacked modern hotels and other needed infrastructure to accommodate football crowds, and few tourist attractions for visitors.

Tourist-friendly Krakow's rejection came more unexpectedly. City president Jacek Majchrowski was visibly shaken, saying he was 'furious at UEFA' who had recently given Krakow high marks.

But when the emotions cool, the cities are likely to continue building, whether they end up Euro 2012 hosts or not. Contracts had already been signed, one official said, and the facilities can still bring in money by hosting rock stars or monster truck events.

There were few surprised faces when UEFA's decision came down in favoure of Warsaw. The Polish capital had just signed a deal with one of Europe's largest construction firms to build its stadium by 2011, and already has a slew of hotels.

Poznan's stadium was one of two in the country given a green mark for good preparatory work, its president recently said, but critics say local transport there needs improvement.

Gdansk on the Baltic coast has plenty of hotels, but likewise needs to modernize local transport and revive its airport, the daily Wyborcza said. Wroclaw, the daily reports, has similar problems with transportation and outdated train stations.

But the nation is feeling optimistic as construction across the country launches and gives residents proof that improvements are happening.

And when Euro 2012 is over, many hope the infrastructure that remains will revive Polish football and raise standards in the sport for the next generation.