Platini says no plan B for 2012

DESPITE PERSISTENT speculation that preparations for the 2012 European Championships due to be held in Poland and Ukraine are already far behind schedule, Uefa president Michel Platini has refused to consider the possibility of changing the tournament venue.

There is no Plan B and, for the time being, Uefa are not considering a switch to a country such as Germany or Portugal, which already has the necessary infra-structure in place.

Speaking in Vienna, Platini was repeatedly asked about the state of Polish/Ukraine readiness for the next European Championships in four years' time: "Next Wednesday, a 12-man Uefa delegation will meet with ministers and other relevant parties (in Poland and Ukraine) and in September in Bordeaux we will make a final decision . . . At the last meeting of the executive committee we told the countries to wake up and gave them four months. We will do everything we can to ensure Poland and Ukraine host it and there is no back-up plan.

"The only reason for us to decide not to have the tournament in Poland and Ukraine would be if there were no stadiums in the two capitals."

Despite Platini's insistence that Uefa remain totally committed to staging the 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine, many observers believe he may soon be forced to change his position.

For a start, work has not yet started on the new stadium due to be built in Warsaw, while contractors have yet to be appointed for a major refurbishment of the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Furthermore, both countries have yet to embark on programmes of road construction, hotel building and of wholesale improvement of their Soviet-built airports, train stations and public transport systems.

Despite the concern about the 2012 championships, Platini was in an upbeat mood, expressing his overall satisfaction at the way Euro 2008 had developed. He said he could not think of any real negative note to these finals, while the festive atmosphere and the bright quality of the football played had been very positive.

"I would like to thank the players and the coaches because they have given a very good image of European football. Since the start of the competition, the players have given happiness through the quality of their football. I'm happy the football and the national associations have given such a fine image of football."

Platini argued that attacking football had reaped its due reward at Euro 2008, with only sides that dared to play attacking football making progress in the tournament: "We protect the players to the maximum, there are no more tackles from behind; everything is done so that players can play and express themselves. And those that go forward win the match.

"Coaches should put it into their heads that you have more chance of going through a round if you play to win, rather than not to lose."

One possibility due for consideration at the September Uefa executive meeting is the enlargement of the tournament, changing from 16 to 24 finalists from 2016 onwards.