90th-minute hope for ticketless fans at Euro 2012

Ticketless Irish fans intent on travelling to Poland next month have been given a boost by the prediction that tickets for some games could flood back onto the market.

The FAI said the biggest demand for tickets is for Ireland’s first game against Croatia in Poznan on Jun 10. Ireland play two of their games in the city, the second of which is against Italy on Jun 18.

Ireland’s game against reigning European and World Cup champions Spain is in Gdansk, some 300km away. For this reason, most fans are expected to mainly base themselves in Poznan.

Abbey Travel and 747 Travel are still offering packages with tickets, but it is expected more tickets will come on the market as Italian and Spanish fans tend not to travel in as large numbers as the Irish.

“The Spanish and the Italian match tickets will float in,” said Travel Extra editor Eoghan Corry.

The danger for Irish fans is that many of the tickets will be held by scalpers, who could charge €170 per ticket.

The FAI expects at least 20,000 to make the trip to the group stage in Poland.

Accommodation might prove more difficult to locate than flights and match tickets, however.

Both of the Carlsberg FanCamps in Gdansk and Poznan are expected to have room.

It has also been rumoured that the ferry running between Finland and Gdansk will stay in port for a number of nights around the Spain game and may rent out four-person cabins for about €90.

Fans have been advised not to book directly with hotels but to trawl price comparison websites and contact Irish tour operators.