Where It All Happens...
venues
Where It All Happens... Two countries... four stadiums... one tournament, here is everything you need to know about EURO 2012’s host stadiums in Poland and Ukraine.
POLAND National Stadium Warsaw Completed in 2011, Warsaw’s National Stadium is the newest venue at EURO 2012. It will play host to three group games – Poland v. Greece, Poland v. Russia, and Greece v. Russia – as well as one quarter-final and one semi-final. Did you know? The new National Stadium’s striking red-and-white exterior was designed to mimic a waving Polish national flag. Its innovative retractable roof, which unfolds from a central spire, is made from lightweight PVC-coated polyester. Capacity: 58,145
Municipal Stadium Wroclaw Construction work on the Municipal Stadium began in April 2009 and was finished by September 2011. There will be three EURO 2012 group games played here: Russia v. Czech Republic, Greece v. Czech Republic, and Czech Republic v. Poland. Did you know? The stadium is home to Ekstraklasa (the Polish top flight) side Slask Wroclaw. Johan Voskamp scored the first ever goal at the Municipal Stadium on 28 October 2011, a second-half penalty for Slask against Lechia Gdansk that won the game 1-0 for the hosts. The match was a sell-out, an alltime record attendance in the Ekstraklasa. Capacity: 42,771 www.itv.com/sport/football | ITV guide | euro 2012
43
44
venues
PGE Arena gdansK The PGE Arena had work begun on it in 2008 and the upgrade was completed by the summer of 2011. The group games that will be held here include: Spain v. Italy, Spain v. Republic of Ireland, and Croatia v. Spain. One quarter-final will also be held here. Did you know? Home to Polish club side Lechia Gdansk, the stadium’s golden-hued exterior, constructed from 18,000 polycarbonate plates, has been designed to resemble amber, which has long been extracted from the Baltic coastline. Capacity: 43,615
City Stadium poznaN Originally built in 1968, the stadium underwent a complete makeover between 2003 and 2010. The stadium will host games between Republic of Ireland v. Croatia, Italy v. Croatia, and Italy v. Republic of Ireland. Did you know? Two Polish club sides are homed here – Lech Poznan and Warta Poznan. Manchester City fans now ‘do the Poznan’, a goal celebration that sees fans lock arms, turn their backs on the pitch, and jump up and down in unison. Capacity: 41,609
UKRAINE Olympic Stadium KIEV The Olympic Stadium was redeveloped between December 2008 and October 2011. Games hosted here include: Ukraine v. Sweden, Sweden v. England, and Sweden v. France from the group stages, as well as one quarter-final and the final. Did you know? The Olympic Stadium has had several different names; originally it was called the Red Stadium of Trotsky, before it was changed to the Republican Stadium, which stuck until 1996. Capacity: 70,000 ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
46
venues
Donbass Arena DONETSK The Donbass Arena was officially opened in August 2009 with a concert by Beyonce. EURO 2012 matches held at the venue include: France v. England, Ukraine v. France, and England v. Ukraine in the group stages, one quarter-final and one semi-final. Did you know? It cost €320m to build the Donbass Arena. The money was funded by Shakhtar Donetsk’s owner, Rinat Akhmetov. The company that designed the stadium also designed Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. Capacity: 51,504
Metalist Stadium KHARKIV Since it was built in 1926, the Metalist Stadium – originally known as the Traktor Stadium – has undergone several facelifts. Tournament games held here include the group matches between: Holland v. Denmark, Holland v. Germany, and Portugal v. Holland. Did you know? Locals have nicknamed the Metalist Stadium the ‘Spider Arena’ because its external pillars resemble an arachnid’s legs. Capacity: 38,863
Arena LVIV The smallest stadium that will be used at EURO 2012. Group games held here include: Germany v. Portugal, Denmark v. Portugal, and Denmark v. Germany. Did you know? The stadium’s spectacular opening ceremony, staged in October 2011, featured some 2,000 performers in a theatrical production dedicated to the history of Lviv. The city of Lviv lies 80km to the south of the Carpathian Mountains and just 70km from the Polish border. Capacity: 34,915.
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
4848
OFFICIALS
Fourth Officials ITV Sport introduces you to the fourth officials who have been specially chosen by UEFA for the European Championships this summer.
A FIFA match official since 2005, Pavel Czech Republic Královec also officiates in the Gambrinus liga, Czech Republic’s premier league. As his profile has grown Královec has found himself gaining more international experience. Having refereed in qualifiers for the UEFA Cup, Champions League and EURO 2008 he was drafted in to take charge of Champions League games in 2011. In the same year, he was selected as a match official for the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico. The success of that led to promotion to the Elite Development group of UEFA. Královec has also been chosen for the 2012 Olympics.
Pavel Královec
VIKTOR Shvetsov
Ukraine
Having been a referee since 1991, Shvetsov has been officiating in the Ukrainian top flight – the Prem’erLiha – since 2005. He was appointed as an international referee just three years later and made his international refereeing debut during a friendly match between Moldova and Georgia in 2010. That same year Shvetsov took charge of some preliminary rounds of the Champions League and gained more international experience by refereeing several qualifiers in the youth teams European Championship.
Borski has been a referee in the Polish top division since 1999 and on Poland FIFA’s books since 2006. A former stock exchange analyst, Borksi became a full-time referee as recently as 2008. In April of that year he participated in the UEFA Talents Programme, which is a specialist mentoring programme that’s aimed at honing the skills of young, promising referees; Borski took part in this programme for two years. Pilka Nozna magazine chose him as the top referee of the 2008/09 season from the Polish league. In December 2011, Borski was promoted to the UEFA Elite Development category of referees. In the same month, he was selected by UEFA as a fourth official for the EURO 2012 tournament.
Tom Harald Hagen
Norway
Hagen has been a referee since 1994. After taking charge of more than 50 games in the Norwegian second division, Hagen was promoted to the Norwegian Premier League in 2006. In 2010 he took charge of the Norwegian Cup Final between Strømsgodset IF and Follo FK. Since 2009 Hagen has been recognised as a FIFA referee and has officiated in UEFA Europa League and EURO 2012 qualifiers. In 2011 he refereed in his first Champions League game between AC Milan and BATE Borisov at the San Siro.
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
© Action Images
Marcin Borski
50
venues
The Referees
CUNEYT CAKIR Turkey
JONAS ERIKSSON sweden
STEPHANE LANNOY FRANCE
bjorn kuipers NETHERLANDS
VIKTOR KASSAI HUNGARY
PEDRO PROENCA portugal
DAMIR SKOMINA SLOVENIA
NICOLA RIZZOLI ITALY
wolfgang stark germany
CRAIG THOMSON SCOTLAND
CARLOS VELASCO CARBALLO SPAIN
HOWARD WEBB ENGLAND
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
© Action Images
These 12 referees have been picked from around Europe especially for this summer’s tournament. Here is your chance to familiarise yourself with the match officials.
Where It All Happens... Two countries... four stadiums... one tournament, here is everything you need to know about EURO 2012’s host stadiums in Poland and Ukraine.
POLAND National Stadium Warsaw Completed in 2011, Warsaw’s National Stadium is the newest venue at EURO 2012. It will play host to three group games – Poland v. Greece, Poland v. Russia, and Greece v. Russia – as well as one quarter-final and one semi-final. Did you know? The new National Stadium’s striking red-and-white exterior was designed to mimic a waving Polish national flag. Its innovative retractable roof, which unfolds from a central spire, is made from lightweight PVC-coated polyester. Capacity: 58,145
Municipal Stadium Wroclaw Construction work on the Municipal Stadium began in April 2009 and was finished by September 2011. There will be three EURO 2012 group games played here: Russia v. Czech Republic, Greece v. Czech Republic, and Czech Republic v. Poland. Did you know? The stadium is home to Ekstraklasa (the Polish top flight) side Slask Wroclaw. Johan Voskamp scored the first ever goal at the Municipal Stadium on 28 October 2011, a second-half penalty for Slask against Lechia Gdansk that won the game 1-0 for the hosts. The match was a sell-out, an alltime record attendance in the Ekstraklasa. Capacity: 42,771 www.itv.com/sport/football | ITV guide | euro 2012
43
44
venues
PGE Arena gdansK The PGE Arena had work begun on it in 2008 and the upgrade was completed by the summer of 2011. The group games that will be held here include: Spain v. Italy, Spain v. Republic of Ireland, and Croatia v. Spain. One quarter-final will also be held here. Did you know? Home to Polish club side Lechia Gdansk, the stadium’s golden-hued exterior, constructed from 18,000 polycarbonate plates, has been designed to resemble amber, which has long been extracted from the Baltic coastline. Capacity: 43,615
City Stadium poznaN Originally built in 1968, the stadium underwent a complete makeover between 2003 and 2010. The stadium will host games between Republic of Ireland v. Croatia, Italy v. Croatia, and Italy v. Republic of Ireland. Did you know? Two Polish club sides are homed here – Lech Poznan and Warta Poznan. Manchester City fans now ‘do the Poznan’, a goal celebration that sees fans lock arms, turn their backs on the pitch, and jump up and down in unison. Capacity: 41,609
UKRAINE Olympic Stadium KIEV The Olympic Stadium was redeveloped between December 2008 and October 2011. Games hosted here include: Ukraine v. Sweden, Sweden v. England, and Sweden v. France from the group stages, as well as one quarter-final and the final. Did you know? The Olympic Stadium has had several different names; originally it was called the Red Stadium of Trotsky, before it was changed to the Republican Stadium, which stuck until 1996. Capacity: 70,000 ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
46
venues
Donbass Arena DONETSK The Donbass Arena was officially opened in August 2009 with a concert by Beyonce. EURO 2012 matches held at the venue include: France v. England, Ukraine v. France, and England v. Ukraine in the group stages, one quarter-final and one semi-final. Did you know? It cost €320m to build the Donbass Arena. The money was funded by Shakhtar Donetsk’s owner, Rinat Akhmetov. The company that designed the stadium also designed Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. Capacity: 51,504
Metalist Stadium KHARKIV Since it was built in 1926, the Metalist Stadium – originally known as the Traktor Stadium – has undergone several facelifts. Tournament games held here include the group matches between: Holland v. Denmark, Holland v. Germany, and Portugal v. Holland. Did you know? Locals have nicknamed the Metalist Stadium the ‘Spider Arena’ because its external pillars resemble an arachnid’s legs. Capacity: 38,863
Arena LVIV The smallest stadium that will be used at EURO 2012. Group games held here include: Germany v. Portugal, Denmark v. Portugal, and Denmark v. Germany. Did you know? The stadium’s spectacular opening ceremony, staged in October 2011, featured some 2,000 performers in a theatrical production dedicated to the history of Lviv. The city of Lviv lies 80km to the south of the Carpathian Mountains and just 70km from the Polish border. Capacity: 34,915.
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
4848
OFFICIALS
Fourth Officials ITV Sport introduces you to the fourth officials who have been specially chosen by UEFA for the European Championships this summer.
A FIFA match official since 2005, Pavel Czech Republic Královec also officiates in the Gambrinus liga, Czech Republic’s premier league. As his profile has grown Královec has found himself gaining more international experience. Having refereed in qualifiers for the UEFA Cup, Champions League and EURO 2008 he was drafted in to take charge of Champions League games in 2011. In the same year, he was selected as a match official for the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico. The success of that led to promotion to the Elite Development group of UEFA. Královec has also been chosen for the 2012 Olympics.
Pavel Královec
VIKTOR Shvetsov
Ukraine
Having been a referee since 1991, Shvetsov has been officiating in the Ukrainian top flight – the Prem’erLiha – since 2005. He was appointed as an international referee just three years later and made his international refereeing debut during a friendly match between Moldova and Georgia in 2010. That same year Shvetsov took charge of some preliminary rounds of the Champions League and gained more international experience by refereeing several qualifiers in the youth teams European Championship.
Borski has been a referee in the Polish top division since 1999 and on Poland FIFA’s books since 2006. A former stock exchange analyst, Borksi became a full-time referee as recently as 2008. In April of that year he participated in the UEFA Talents Programme, which is a specialist mentoring programme that’s aimed at honing the skills of young, promising referees; Borski took part in this programme for two years. Pilka Nozna magazine chose him as the top referee of the 2008/09 season from the Polish league. In December 2011, Borski was promoted to the UEFA Elite Development category of referees. In the same month, he was selected by UEFA as a fourth official for the EURO 2012 tournament.
Tom Harald Hagen
Norway
Hagen has been a referee since 1994. After taking charge of more than 50 games in the Norwegian second division, Hagen was promoted to the Norwegian Premier League in 2006. In 2010 he took charge of the Norwegian Cup Final between Strømsgodset IF and Follo FK. Since 2009 Hagen has been recognised as a FIFA referee and has officiated in UEFA Europa League and EURO 2012 qualifiers. In 2011 he refereed in his first Champions League game between AC Milan and BATE Borisov at the San Siro.
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
© Action Images
Marcin Borski
50
venues
The Referees
CUNEYT CAKIR Turkey
JONAS ERIKSSON sweden
STEPHANE LANNOY FRANCE
bjorn kuipers NETHERLANDS
VIKTOR KASSAI HUNGARY
PEDRO PROENCA portugal
DAMIR SKOMINA SLOVENIA
NICOLA RIZZOLI ITALY
wolfgang stark germany
CRAIG THOMSON SCOTLAND
CARLOS VELASCO CARBALLO SPAIN
HOWARD WEBB ENGLAND
ITV guide | euro 2012 | www.itv.com/sport/football
© Action Images
These 12 referees have been picked from around Europe especially for this summer’s tournament. Here is your chance to familiarise yourself with the match officials.
