Soccer: The Republic of Ireland will be based in the Pomeranian city of Gydnia when they compete in Euro 2012 next summer. The location is part of the metropolitan area north of Gdansk, where Ireland will face Spain in their second Group C game on June 14th.
The other two games – against Croatia on June 10th and Italy on June 18th – will take place around 325km south in Poznan.
The decision, announced this afternoon by the FAI, was made after “site visits of more than 15 options across Poland and Ukraine” and a trip by Giovanni Trapattoni himself this week. His team will be based at the Sheraton Sopot Hotel, “which has a full range of facilities for the players during their stay”, according to the association.
“I am very happy that that we have been able to secure Gdynia as a base camp for Euro 2012,” said Trapattoni in a statement this afternoon. “This base meets and exceeds all of our criteria, having a good training ground, being close to the airport and being based in Poland.
“The hotel and training facilities are excellent and provide us with a well positioned base with all of the facilities required for the championships.”
Ireland will train at the new municipal stadium in Gdynia, which has a 15,000 capacity.
