European football’s governing body UEFA yesterday rubber-stamped the match schedule for Euro 2012 which will take place in Poland and the Ukraine at their executive meeting in Minsk.

A total of eight stadiums were approved in both countries for the tournament which will take place from June 8 to July 1.

“In Poland, Wroclaw and Poznan will host three group stage matches, while Gdansk will stage three group stage matches and a quarter-final,” UEFA said in a statement.

“Warsaw will host three group stage fixtures, including the opening Group A game featuring Poland, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Poland will play their second group match in Warsaw, and their third in Wroclaw.”

In Ukraine, Kharkiv and Lviv will stage three group stage matches with Donetsk hosting three group stage games, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Kiev will be the venue for three group stage matches, a quarter-final and the final.

Ukraine will play their opening Group D fixture in Kiev, and their other two group games in Donetsk.

In Poland, the first of four stadiums was inaugurated on September 20 at Poznan. The Gdansk stadium will be finished at the beginning of 2011 and Warsaw next June.

UEFA noted that there were “delays but also noteable progress” at the Wroclaw venue.

In Ukraine, the venues at Donetsk and Kharkiv are finished, with the reconstruction of the old Olympic stadium in Kiev set to be completed in June 2011 and UEFA officials expressed their confidence that the stadium at Lviv would be completed next summer.

The draw for the group stages of the tournament will take place on December 2, 2011.