Excitement mounts as Gibraltar prepare for their big night

Faro || On Sunday September 7 (kick-off 7.45pm) little Gibraltar will take on the might of Poland at the Algarve Stadium. This historic occasion is Gibraltar’s first ever European Cup qualifier after finally being admitted to UEFA in May 2013.
Excitement is mounting on The Rock as the territory gears up for its biggest ever night of football. Gibraltar has recently played two games at their ‘home stadium’ in Faro, drawing 0-0 with Slovakia and beating Malta 1-0 in June.
Poland, twentieth in the UEFA rankings, have Robert Lewandowski leading their attack. He recently signed a five-year deal with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich after moving from Borussia Dortmund where he scored 74 goals in 131 appearances.
Another player to watch is Arsenal’s goalkeeper Szczęsny who, last season, was jointly awarded the Premier League Golden Glove award alongside Petr Cech of Chelsea, both keeping sixteen clean sheets.
Gibraltar’s main men to watch are Preston North End defender Scott Wiseman, whose mother was born in Gibraltar, Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) and Reece Styche (Kidderminster Harriers).
The majority of the squad play for the territory’s top team Lincoln Red Imps.
Gibraltar are in Group D for UEFA Euro 2016 alongside Germany, Poland, Georgia, Republic of Ireland and Scotland. World Cup champions Germany will play Gibraltar at the Algarve Stadium next June whilst the Republic of Ireland (September) and Scotland (October) travel to the Algarve later in the year.
Tickets for the Poland game will be on sale at the Algarve Stadium as from September 4. Before then tickets can be reserved by emailing: tickets@gibraltarfa.com. Ticket prices: €20, €25 and €30. Hospitality packages are also available and information on these can be obtained from the above email address.
Whilst Gibraltar are definitely the underdogs there is no doubt that their passion and team commitment will make them difficult opponents. The game against Poland will be Gibraltar’s biggest football occasion since they drew with Real Madrid way back in 1949.
By CHRIS WRIGHT