The games "at home" of the national football team of Gibraltar, in the qualification campaign for the 2016 European Championship, will be played, from 7 September, at the Estádio Algarve.
This is the first time that the Gibraltian national team competes in qualifying for the Euro and has no easy task ahead: in the European football campaign, Gibraltar will face Poland, Georgia, the newly crowned world champion. Germany, Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
All these teams will visit the Algarve for the games, stresses the Gibraltar Football Association (AFG).
The AFG, together with UEFA, “chose the Estádio Algarve for several reasons to be the host for the Euro qualifying campaign. The first of these reasons is that it was the closest available stadium to Gibraltar that meets all the requirements and has all the conditions stipulated by UEFA as necessary to host such matches. The conditions, accessibility and facilities offered by the Stadium are excellent».
In addition, stresses the AFG, this entity «also has excellent relations with the Portuguese Football Federation, the Algarve Football Association and the administration of the Algarve Stadium».
Finally, stresses the Gibraltar Football Association, «The Algarve has been, for many years, an extremely popular tourist destination for Gibraltarians throughout the year. This, combined with the easy four-hour drive from Gibraltar to the Algarve, meant that choosing the Stadium as “home” was not much to think about».
AFG says it is "in the process of obtaining the necessary licenses to build" its own stadium in Gibraltar, but until that is done, "the Algarve Stadium will be our home".
This qualification for Euro 2016 will be the Gibraltar national team's absolute debut in international competitions. Gibraltar was admitted as the 54th member of the UEFA football family in May 2013.
Its Association, however, is one of the oldest in Europe and even in the world, as it was founded in 1895 and has been striving for international recognition ever since.
Gibraltar National Team qualifying matches at the Algarve Stadium:
7th September 2014 – Gibraltar V Poland – starts at 19:45.
14 October 2014 – Gibraltar V Georgia – starts at 19:45 pm.
June 13, 2015 – Gibraltar V Germany – start at 19:45.
4th September 2015 – Gibraltar V Republic of Ireland – start at 19:45.
11th October 2015 – Gibraltar V Scotland – starts at 19:45.
For all matches, information and tickets can be obtained via email [email protected]
Tickets for the September 7 game between Gibraltar and Poland cost 20, 25 or 30 euros.
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