England fans swerving Euro 2012 in droves...

[Czechmate]

I watched the programme for the first time last night , doesn't bother me , i have been to Ukraine 5 times , never any trouble even when they know i am English , if anything they are very friendly , just a very small moinority like any other country. The fight behind the reporter in the stand looked a bit put on to me ? Anyway i am going , 11 nights in Dnepropetrovsk for £400 in an apartment for 3 , with everything possible in it . Train cheap to Donetsk (3 hours) and also cheap to Kiev (5 hours) , return flight £230 from Prague to Donetsk. Bring it on !!

 

[Sheebo]

And of course, because we are sh*t, and only hard-core fans are going to mug themselves off

Isn't the fact that England are shit the main reason nobody is bothering?

I'll save the obvious 'supporter' definition for you (did you not go watch albion when we were 'shit' for yrs?) and I won't bother with asking 'shit' compared to what etc... BUT I don't think you seem to realise what happens / why people go to support their country at these tournos. It's all about the atmo, the laughs, the singing, the banter, the culture etc etc etc etc - not just the football. Yes, everyone wants THEIR COUNTRY to do as well as possible but all the other reasons mentioned in the beeb article and this thread (prices / travel time / racism / not the livliest place etc are without doubt the main reasons.

What f***ing ever. Bore off.

Portugal 2004 was ace. Beer, Football, Golf, Beach follow by the cycle on repeat. Best Night was Holland V Latvia in Braga where there was a festival which involved, I kid you not, of whacking strangers over the head with foam hammers followed by a load of fireworks and booze. Ace.

This looks about as much fun as your average science trip you were forced to do at School. No Golf. No Beach. Grey concrete buildings. Load of racist Eastern European gangsters trying to fleece you at every chance. It would be like spending a week in Coventry, being hounded by chavs learning about which buildings the Germans bombed with some shite football in between.

Stick Ukraine up your arse. I'll be wathing it in the pub and will be going somewhere nice on Holiday.

Nail head, in terms of what's put a lot of people off...

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

fair play to all that go ,sometimes you've got to mix it with the rough as well as the smooth .

 

[darters74]

Things to Do In Donetsk
Artema Street is the main sightseeing artery of Donetsk, running from Donetsk Railway Station down to the south of the city. Almost everything is on, just off or accessible via Artema Street. Google Map to Artema Street, Donetsk

Lenin Square
Lenin Square (Ploshchad Lenina) has formed the heart of Donetsk since the 1950s. It represents (the city's former) political life, having as its focal point the Lenin Monument; civic life, being a venue for events, recreation and celebrations; culture, being home to the Prokofiev Concert Hall and the Donetsk Drama Theatre; and its economic life, being home, also, to the grandly columned Ministry of Mining Industry. Also facing it is the famous Donbass Palace Hotel.
Google Map to Lenin Square, Donetsk

Donetsk Regional Museum of Art
The Donetsk Regional Museum of Art, founded in 1939, has over 11,000 paintings, sculptures and graphic works of artists the world over, but prides itself most of all on its collection of works by Ukrainians. 35 Pushkina Boulevard
Google Map to Donetsk Regional Museum of Art

Donetsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet
The Donetsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet is built in classical style, set off by beautiful grounds on the city's It was founded in 1932 and has been an important and loved part of Donetsk's cultural life since then, and the whole of the Ukraine's since in 2009, when it became a national theater. Donetsk, Artema Str, 82
Google Map to Donetsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet

John James Hughes Brewery
The John James Hughes Brewery is a big brewery and pub named after the Welsh engineer who founded modern Donetsk. It is well worth the visit for its delicious British and German style beers lovingly brewed on the premises and served in comfortable, classic surroundings, with live music. 129-B Artyoma str., Donetsk, Ukraine +38 (062) 208 98 00
Google Map to John James Hughes Brewery, Donetsk

Donetsk Digital Planetarium
Donetsk Digital Planetarium is a state of the art, digital facility built in 2008 features exceptionally high-resolution, three-dimensional recreations of space, with hi-fi sound effects. It offers the unforgettable experience of virtual travel through space and time, in armchair comfort. The commentary is all in Russian, but the spectacle alone is well worth it. 165 Artema Str., Donetsk
Google Map to Donetsk Digital Planetarium

Forged Figures Park
Donetsk is historically all about iron - even the coal mines were only to fuel the forges. The Forged Figures Park features iron forged figures, and opened in 2001 with just 10 figures, which has now grown to over 90, and still increasing. With a Tree of Life Pavilion, a Sweethearts Pavilion, Zodiac Signs Alley, a Fairy Tales Alley, and more. Humor, imagination, inspiration - all in iron. You'll no doubt see married couples here on weekends, as the Park is a popular venue for wedding shots. The Forged Figures Park is about 1 kilometer from the Donbass Stadium.
Google Map to Forged Figures Park, Donetsk

Sherbakova Amusement Park
The huge Sherbakova Amusement Park is in the center of Donetsk and offers a tranquil but fun alternative to the bustle of the city. Walk through the rose garden, rent a boat, listen to the outdoor orchestra on weekends, eat at a stall or stop in at a cafe.
Google Map to Sherbakova Amusement Park, Donetsk

Metsalov's Palm
Metsalov's Palm is a focal point of Pushkin Boulevard (Bulvar Pushkina). It is a replica of a palm tree made from a rail by a craftsman in 1898 that won first prize at the World Exhibition in France in 1900 and was made using only a hammer and chisel, with no welding or joints. The original is now housed in the Museum of the Mining Institute in St Petersburg (the capital of Russian Empire then). This exact replica was brought to Donetsk in 1999.
Google Map to Pushkin Boulevard, Donetsk

The Cathedral of Christ Transfigured
The Cathedral of Christ Transfigured is a picturesque, domed and golden-spiked cathedral on the major corridor of Artem Street retains a human dimension in spite of its size, and is surrounded with greenery. It was first built in the 19th century, the project being launched in 1883, but was destroyed by the Bolshviks in 1933. Rebuilding began in the mid-1990s and was completed only in 2006. The bronze of the Archangel Michael on a plinth in front of the cathedral was a gift from the capital city, Kiev, from its Independence Square.
Google Map to Cathedral of Christ Transfigured, Donetsk

Donbass Palace Hotel
The Donbass Palace Hotel lives up in to its name by being, indeed, palatial. Described on its website as a "harmonious alliance of magnificent interiors," this 129-room landmark has been named by the World Travel Awards Association as the leading hotel in the whole of the Ukraine. The Donbass Palace stages a weekly chocolate buffet and afternoon tea that rivals the Ritz and includes two gourmet restaurants and a wonderful spa. The hotel looks out over Lenin Square. 80, Artyoma Street, Donetsk, 83001, Ukraine Phone: +38 062 343 43 33
Google Map to Donbass Palace Hotel, Donetsk

The Donbas Arena is set to become the city's most famous sight in the run-up to Euro 2012 and beyond. The space-age stadium cost $400 million and took three years to build, including dedicated parkland surrounding it. Next year, it will host a quarter-final and a semi-final in addition to its group games. Google Map to Donbass Arena, Donetsk

Nightlife & Entertainment In Donetsk
Donetsk has a range of restaurants that befits its burgeoning cosmopolitan status in the east. If you're flush with cash and have the right wardrobe on hand, the ultimate place to start a night out on Donetsk is the Donbass Palace Hotel. A more budget option is Ba Na Na, a South American themed diner open all day and all night, recently voted one of the best dining experiences in Ukraine (Artema Str., 80-а).

Syr (Cheese) serves anything with cheese in it as the name implies, and even has pockmarked yellow walls for that Swiss effect. (Oktyabrskaya Str., 77)

Yo-mo-yo in the heart of the city makes its own vodka. (Illicha ave., 15-д) Donetsk has even more nightclubs than the capital, Kiev. Many of them are entertainment complexes where you can choose to boogie, bowl, bathe, banquet, or belt out some karaoke, such as Chicago (Artema Str., 123), Fort Knox (230th Strelkovoy Divizii Str., 39), Garage (Leninskiy Ave., 11-б), Hollywood (Arhitektorov Str., 21) Litsa (Illicha Ave., 89), or Virus (230th Strelkovoy Divizii Str., 1).

For a totally over-the-top, ultimate nouveau riche, experience of nightclub "elegance," try the night club, theatre, restaurant, Seven Heaven (if you're allowed in!) (Illicha Ave., 99-б) Detroit Music City is a live music venue for the younger crowd east of the main city center (Illicha ave., 21-в )
Google Map to Detroit Music City, Donetsk

No Pontins 48hr bender is it!!!

 

[Woodchip]

What f***ing ever. Bore off.

Portugal 2004 was ace. Beer, Football, Golf, Beach follow by the cycle on repeat. Best Night was Holland V Latvia in Braga where there was a festival which involved, I kid you not, of whacking strangers over the head with foam hammers followed by a load of fireworks and booze. Ace.

This looks about as much fun as your average science trip you were forced to do at School. No Golf. No Beach. Grey concrete buildings. Load of racist Eastern European gangsters trying to fleece you at every chance. It would be like spending a week in Coventry, being hounded by chavs learning about which buildings the Germans bombed with some shite football in between.

Stick Ukraine up your arse. I'll be wathing it in the pub and will be going somewhere nice on Holiday.

Anyone else spot the irony?

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Anyone else spot the irony?

What's your point?

We get ripped off in every country we go to. In Portugal, I was with a local who, after we had ordered beers, had a word with the bar tender which ensured that the bill came back up to 50% cheaper. I wasn't that fussed. I had a holiday budget and the prices we were paying, even inflated, were cheaper than I could imagine paying here. At local price level, it meant I could barely speak by the end of the night and they were friendly enough with it.

In Eastern Europe the experience is different. There is an undercurrent of nastiness. If you are English you may as well empty your wallet on the table and pull your trousers down. I've just got back from the pub and the technical guys have had a spoof competition about who goes to Poland next week to fix an issue becuase no-one wants to go. If it was Spain, Portugal, France etc they would fighting about who actually goes. I find Poland a Grey, drab unwelcoming shithole. The guys at work tell me Ukraine is worse. Roll on Quatar 2022. That will be the iceing on the cake.

 

[Springal]

What's your point?

We get ripped off in every country we go to. In Portugal, I was with a local who, after we had ordered beers, had a word with the bar tender which ensured that the bill came back up to 50% cheaper. I wasn't that fussed. I had a holiday budget and the prices we were paying, even inflated, were cheaper than I could imagine paying here. At local price level, it meant I could barely speak by the end of the night and they were friendly enough with it.

Do we? I have been travelling with England for 6 years, and can't really remember being 'ripped off' ? Obviously in some places, beer IS more expensive, but also been slap bang centre in Zargreb or Estonia paying £1.something a pint, £2 for a pizza etc. I have no reason to suspect Ukraine won't be similarly cheap, with beer sub £2 a pint in most places, maybe a bit more in Kiev.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Do we? I have been travelling with England for 6 years, and can't really remember being 'ripped off' ? Obviously in some places, beer IS more expensive, but also been slap bang centre in Zargreb or Estonia paying £1.something a pint, £2 for a pizza etc. I have no reason to suspect Ukraine won't be similarly cheap, with beer sub £2 a pint in most places, maybe a bit more in Kiev.

Without a doubt we do get ripped off but its win win. They get more than they would off a local, we pay significantly less than we do here, a local can pick them up on it. I was never that fussed as its pence in the grand scheme of things.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

In Eastern Europe the experience is different. There is an undercurrent of nastiness. If you are English you may as well empty your wallet on the table and pull your trousers down. I find Poland a Grey, drab unwelcoming shithole. .

That's a shame you've had bad experiences that have coloured your views on a lovely country.

I've been three times, once as a student, once for work, and once for a family holiday, and every time I've found it a great place, with pretty towns, great people, fantastically beautiful women and brilliant weather.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

That's a shame you've had bad experiences that have coloured your views on a lovely country.

I've been three times, once as a student, once for work, and once for a family holiday, and every time I've found it a great place, with pretty towns, great people, fantastically beautiful women and brilliant weather.

In terms of the bad in Eastern Europe I've been to Bulgaria (Very scary but things are apparently different now, I thought we might die), Poland (mentioned above) and Latvia (Russian, Gangster suberb)

On the flip side, the Czech republic and Hungary were very welcoming although my mate did get his nose broken in a strip joint in Budapest when a pole dancer mis-timed her jump and smashed her heel into his face. How we laughed.

For a football tournament, I'd just prefer a place with a beach, a golf course and somewhere I could sell to the family without getting a response of 'There is no way I'm going there' Also, somewhere where the flights and hotels prices aren't ridiculous would help. The admitedly limited research I did suggested they were taking the piss.

 

[Greyrun]

Doing better than the French,Radio5 said they had sold 27 tickets.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

To be fair watching England away is a thankless task!

From 1980 - 2000 i enjoyed many, many fantastic trips away with England.

Then it just stopped being fun, so I stopped.

I wish all those who go to Poland/Ukraine safe travels - I'm sure they will have a great time, but it's not for me any more.

 

[Brownstuff]

Doing better than the French,Radio5 said they had sold 27 tickets.

French football supporters are pathetic
Even when a major tournament is in their own backyard they are completely dis-interested
During the 1998 World cup in France always remember watching the France v Italy 1/4 final match in a crowded bar in Dieppe
It was on a small telly in one of the few bars in Dieppe open on that particular day
Hardly a glance was made at the telly all game by any of the punters in the bar even during the penalties
I wanted to shout out to them 'What is wrong with you, cheer you miserable bastards'

 

[Elvis]

As a veteren of Duusseldorf 88, Calagari 90, swede 92, france 98, bruges 00, portugal 04 and courtless qualify games around Europe! It just is not the same anymore! plus I'm too old for it all. Italia 90 was the best ever!! I will never forget those times can't believe it was 22 years and two wives ago.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

From 1980 - 2000 i enjoyed many, many fantastic trips away with England.

Then it just stopped being fun, so I stopped.

I wish all those who go to Poland/Ukraine safe travels - I'm sure they will have a great time, but it's not for me any more.

do you mean marching mob handed around the Grounds