Poland to host 2017 UEFA Euro-U21s
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
28.01.2015 10:58
Poland has been selected as the host of the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Photo: Glowimages
The decision was taken at a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Nyon, Switzerland, and the host nation will automatically qualify for the 12-team finals.
Poland's host status follows on from the country's successful co-staging of Euro 2012 with Ukraine.
''The European Under-21 Championship is the second most important UEFA event for national sides,'' enthused Maciej Sawicki, Secretary General of the Polish Football Association (PZPN).
''The fact that it is being held in Poland is a great success for our country, the Polish Football Association, and personally for Zbigniew Boniek [chairman of PZPN].
''I am convinced that the European Championships in 2017 will be a fantastic football event promoting football in Poland and Europe,'' he added.
The finals will be divided between six Polish cities, although none has been confirmed as of yet. During Euro 2012, matches were played in Gdańsk, Poznań, Warsaw and Wrocław.
Previously, only eight teams competed in the final stage, but for the first time the number has beeb raised to twelve.
The 'Road to Poland' qualifying stages will begin in March 2015, running all the way through until November 2016. (nh)
Source: uefa.com, laczynaspilka.pl