Workers on UEFA EURO 2012 venues unite

Former Poland coach Andrzej Strejlau paid tribute to the people behind the beauty on Saturday as construction workers from Poland and Ukraine downed tools to play a friendly in Gdansk.

Strejlau was in charge of the Polish side of UEFA EURO 2012 stadium builders narrowly beaten 1-0 in the first leg of an impressively competitive tie at the newly-completed Arena Gdansk. Yet there is much for both teams to be proud of according to the 71-year-old. "I wanted to take part to thank all the people who worked so hard assembling these stadiums," said Strejlau. "They deserve all the credit; stadiums like this one in Gdansk are just beautiful."

Indeed, with its curved exterior consisting of 18,000 plates designed to resemble amber, which has long been extracted along the Baltic coast, UEFA EURO 2012's northernmost venue has gained plaudits since opening in August. Ex-FC Dynamo Kyiv captain Stanisław Koczubyński, who coached the Ukrainian side on Saturday, was spellbound.

"I am very impressed, especially as I understand it was finished so quickly," he said. "Because of EURO 2012 there are stadiums, roads, bridges, hotels being constructed and it's a tremendous boon for both countries. I want to give thanks and respect to the people behind these beautiful stadiums, especially the workers: they built these stadiums with their own hands."

Similar admiration also attracted former Poland coaches Jerzy Engel and Antoni Piechniczek to the Arena Gdansk, as well as sports commentator Dariusz Szpakowski. On the pitch Ukraine secured a slender victory meaning there will be all to play for in April when the second instalment takes place in Kyiv, venue for the UEFA EURO 2012 final.

"It is good to have events that allow the hosts to come together before the competition," added Gdansk mayor Paweł Adamowicz. "Our main goal is to build a positive relationship between the two nations."