GDANSK (Reuters) – A feature of Euro 2012 so far is the smuggling of bangers and flares into stadiums, in particular by fans of Russia and Croatia, triggering hefty fines for their football associations.

The controlled use of flares or fireworks in some countries’ stadiums has helped reduce their illegal and risky use however, while satisfying some fans’ appetite for big bangs and sparks, some supporters say.

GDANSK, June 21 (Reuters) – A feature of Euro 2012 so far is
the smuggling of bangers and flares into stadiums, in particular
by fans of Russia and Croatia, triggering hefty fines for their
football associations.

The controlled use of flares or fireworks in some countries’
stadiums has helped reduce their illegal and risky use however,
while satisfying some fans’ appetite for big bangs and sparks,
some supporters say.

GDANSK (Reuters) – Couch-surfing, a junk-food diet, bootleg kits, budget flights at punishing hours, and above all enough passion for the beautiful game to remind yourself why you endure this.

Welcome to the life of a football fan in the age of austerity.

Tens of thousands of fans from crisis-hit Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland and Portugal have travelled across Europe to follow their teams in the European Championship, leaving the chronic unemployment, massive spending cuts, and widespread disenchantment of their homeland behind for a few weeks.

GDANSK (Reuters) – Couch-surfing, a junk-food diet, bootleg kits, budget flights at punishing hours, and above all enough passion for the beautiful game to remind yourself why you endure this.

Welcome to the life of a football fan in the age of austerity.

Tens of thousands of fans from crisis-hit Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland and Portugal have travelled across Europe to follow their teams in the European Championship, leaving the chronic unemployment, massive spending cuts, and widespread disenchantment of their homeland behind for a few weeks.

WARSAW (Reuters) – Every once in a while a sports tournaments pits two nations against each other for whom the confrontation could not be more timely.

Greece progressed from the Euro 2012 group stage against all expectations and will play Germany on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. In Athens, the soccer clash is being relished.

WARSAW (Reuters) – Every once in a while a sports tournaments pits two nations against each other for whom the confrontation could not be more timely.

Greece progressed from the Euro 2012 group stage against all expectations and will play Germany on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. In Athens, the football clash is being relished.

WARSAW, June 16 (Reuters) – Determination to neutralise
Russia’s strengths and a clear focus earned Greece their 1-0
victory in their last Group A game and a place in the Euro 2012
quarter-finals, coach Fernando Santos said on Saturday.

Greece, who upset Russia with a first-half goal from captain
Giorgos Karagounis in their must-win match, went through as
Group A runners-up and will play the Group B winners in the last
eight.

WARSAW (Reuters) – Warsaw police pledged to protect tens of thousands of fans expected in the Polish capital on Saturday and to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the Euro 2012 match between Poland and Russia this week, leading to almost 200 detentions.

Russia play Greece in Warsaw on Saturday evening and 20,000 Russians and 4,000 Greeks have tickets to the stadium. At the same time Poland face the Czech Republic in Wroclaw and Warsaw’s 100,000-capacity fan zone is expected to be full.

WARSAW (Reuters) – Warsaw police pledged to protect tens of thousands of fans expected in the Polish capital on Saturday and to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the Euro 2012 match between Poland and Russia this week, leading to almost 200 detentions.

Russia play Greece in Warsaw on Saturday evening and 20,000 Russians and 4,000 Greeks have tickets to the stadium. At the same time Poland face the Czech Republic in Wroclaw and Warsaw’s 100,000-capacity fan zone is expected to be full.

WARSAW, June 16 (Reuters) – Warsaw police pledged to protect
tens of thousands of fans expected in the Polish capital on
Saturday and to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the
Euro 2012 match between Poland and Russia this week, leading to
almost 200 detentions.

Russia play Greece in Warsaw on Saturday evening and 20,000
Russians and 4,000 Greeks have tickets to the stadium. At the
same time Poland face the Czech Republic in Wroclaw and Warsaw’s
100,000-capacity fan zone is expected to be full.