Ireland supporters received just 1,000 tickets for the World Cup play-off in Prague, with thousands more travelling to the Czech capital to watch the match
The Ireland team(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Thousands of ticketless Ireland supporters will be forced to watch their nation’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia from Prague bars, though one clever group of fans has found an alternative solution.
Irish fans were allocated just 1,000 tickets for the away end at the Fortuna Stadium, despite an estimated 6,000 Boys in Green supporters having made the journey to the Czech capital.
However, one resourceful group of fans secured a hotel room with a view directly overlooking the pitch for merely €220 for the evening. The Iris Hotel Eden sits right inside the Fortuna Arena complex.
The view from the room
Footage has emerged on social media from inside the room, with numerous fellow supporters applauding them for the ‘genius’ move.
One person responded: “Legends lads , now that is excellent foresight.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
Another remarked: “That’s unreal.”
A third added: “Genius.”
Meanwhile, captain Seamus Coleman paid homage to the thousands of Ireland fans undertaking the journey to Prague.
The view from the room
Speaking before the match, he said: “I’ve said it before the results last time, that this football team can lift the nation and we were proved right with that.”
He continued: “We’re so grateful for their support, we’re so grateful that they’re getting here anyway they can, many flights, trains, whatever way they can to be part of it.”
The skipper concluded: “As long as our supporters know that we don’t take that for granted and we want to give them another good night tonight.”
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