Fan Zones Empty As Poland And Ukraine Exit Euro 2012

Four days after Poland's first-round exit, Euro 2012 is sliding off the front pages and organisers are desperately seeking ways of keeping party zones humming. Officials say only 30,000 visited Warsaw's fan zone before and during the final games of the group stages on Tuesday, down from 170,000 for Poland's defeat to the Czech Republic on Saturday.

that when Poland lost, everyone left in about 15 minutes flat, leaving their drinks behind them. It was almost like one of those western scenes with tumbleweed in the desert.

Ukraine, desperately short of funds and still discussing another bailout with the IMF, struggled more than European Union member Poland to build the infrastructure required by Uefa. The tournament in Ukraine has been marred by politics.

Kiev's fan zone was all but deserted yesterday afternoon but that may have had something to do with the excessive heat. Cars have largely ceased to carry the national flags used to express support for the team.