A perfect Euro for the fans

The three teams that have krakow as home base during the tourney (Italy, England and Holland) has enjoyed during these days of a city open to the world. Indeed Krakow is an unofficial host city with its own unofficial fan zone:  Błonia Park, the point of fan activity and attention during the tourney.

With the enormous Błonia Meadow the city has the perfect place for it. In addition to its accommodating spaciousness and a history of hosting large scale events from music festivals to papal masses, the Błonia also is conveniently located directly between the city’s two main football stadiums – Wisła stadium on the Błonia’s north side (which will serve as practice facilities for the Dutch national squad) and Cracovia stadium on the south side (which will host the Italian side). Kraków’s fan zone will be free to enter and open every day from June 8th to July 1st.

But the emotion was not only in Błonia and it was possible to find the football players relaxed in their spare day. They took the opportunity to go for a walk around krakow with their families and friends and because of this the private security and the police has appeared like one more guest of the party.

It's a pity that Holland has abandoned the tournament so early because the colour of the Dutch fans -decked in classic bright orange - bring to the tournament is always a pleasure to see.

These days the city is full of people of all nationalities and we have to make a special mention to the Irish. “Ireland fans are the best in the world and many people will be crying when they leave", said some days ago tourism chief of Poznan, Jan Mazurczak, paying tribute to the Green Army, who sang  in each match the full repertoire of songs, incluiding 'Stand up, Sit down, Shoes off for the Boys in Green’ or 'The Fields of Athenry", an antherm of freedom and love for a country that is not in it's best moment.

"Low lie the Fields of Athenry

Where once we watched the small free birds fly.

Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing

It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.".

Franek Fernandez