Warsaw - Once doubtful and pessimistic, a majority of Poles now believe preparations will be completed in time to co-host the Euro 2012 football tournament with Ukraine.

Seventy-eight per cent now believe their cities will make it before deadline, said a survey of 3,000 people in the daily Rzeczpospolita on Monday.

The survey marks a swing in mood before the football championship. In June, some three-quarters were afraid the country might not be ready or didn't have enough time, according to a poll from the Public Opinion Research Center.

The boost in confidence came as people could see stadiums being built or roads getting renovated in their cities, the daily reported.

Others gained confidence when a United Nations conference went without a hitch in December and showed Poznan could handle large crowds, the daily said.

Poland's to-do list includes building new stadiums and hotels, and completing thousands of kilometers of new roads.

Poland and Ukraine were an unlikely choice in April 2007 for co- hosts of the prestigious tournament. They have since both faced criticism about slow progress in building infrastructure. (dpa)