So, will Ukraine gets its stadiums ready in time? If not, where will they switch it to? What do you reckon? (It's never too early to start getting excited about a major tournament.)

Silent Bob and I have been kicking that question around for a while in various places.

Our latest exchange is here (on the Futbol Espanol thread, where else?)

My concern is more over transport infrastructure than the stadia, but a lot will depend on the outcome of the current governmental crisis in Ukraine.

well it's been widely reported here that stadium in Dnepropetrovsk (Yanukovytch, russian-speaking land) has just been finished. so all the titles in the papers say: Ukraine 1 Poland 0.

agree totally with Ursus, like always: a lot will depend on current political events in Ukraine. btw: did you know that Yulia Timshenko's plait is fake? i didn't.

also a lot would depend on what big brother from the east is going to do. logically Ukraine (or its eastern part at least) is next on the menu after Georgia.

It's harder to poison fake hair . . .

Decision time in Bordeaux tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday as Uefa executive committee meets. Platini sounded dubious to the FT's Simon Kuper at the weekend about Ukraine remaining hosts.

yeah, but put a couple of drinks in him and it's anyone's guess what he'll propose...

The leaks leading into the meeting have leaned both ways, which makes me wonder whether they won't try to fudge it for another few months.

The problem has always been the absence of an obvious alternative, particularly if Poland is not to be punished for Ukraine's "issues" (which I would assume to be line that Platini would want to take, given his support from Central Europe).

Well, they've agreed to expand the Euros to 24 teams as of 2016, but no word on Ukraine/Poland, notwithstanding Surkis' pleas for "confirmation" that they will host the 2012 edition.

ursus arctos wrote:

QUOTE:
The problem has always been the absence of an obvious alternative, particularly if Poland is not to be punished for Ukraine's "issues" (which I would assume to be line that Platini would want to take, given his support from Central Europe)

Keep Poland as co-host with Germany stepping in to help?

With Germany based in "Breslau", right?

Arf. Or 'Elf', for you old timers?

So, they've been confirmed, but warned that significant progress needs to be made on infrastructure.

Basically kicking the can down the road a bit.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=587465&sec=europe&cc=4716]

first steps are always the hardest.

I would welcome a Poland/Germany co-hosting arrangement on a single condition.

All of the German cities and stadia would have to use exclusively Polish names for the entirety of the competition.

And if Poland isn't in the euro yet, they have to take Zloty.

just recently i made a drunk bet that we'd pay in euro come 2012.

and for the first part: seen a documentary about Jakub Blaszczykowski (who has only Kuba on the back of his BVB shirt) progress in Dortmund recently. conclusion: it would be way too harsh on germans to use polish.

More importantly, how the hell do you pronounce 'Grzegorz'?