Credit unions at the ready as fans get set for Poland

PACK your bags, Joxer, and take the cat out of the sack — you’re off to Poland!

Irish fans were last night beetling their brows as they planned next summer’s great trek to Poland after the draw for the European Championships placed Giovanni Trapattoni’s men in a group with world champions Spain, Italy and Croatia.

It is the first time the Republic has played at a championships since the heady days of Euro ‘88, and travel agents yesterday reported they had been deluged with requests for information even before yesterday’s draw in Kiev.