Kyiv Prepares For Crowds As Co-Host Ukraine Meets Sweden

Soccer fans react as they watch the soccer match between the Netherlands and Denmark in the fan zone in Kyiv

Officials in Kyiv are expecting tens of thousands of soccer fans to flood into the city's Euro 2012 fan zone on June 11 as the co-host nation competes in its first match of the championship.

Authorities say 30,000 liters of beer and 10,000 hot dogs were sold in the Kyiv fan zone during the first two days of the championship.

Ukraine is set to face off against Sweden in its opening Group D match in the capital, with a strong French team meeting England in Donetsk earlier in the day.

Ukrainian coach Oleh Blokhin on June 10 angrily dismissed questions about racial violence dogging the three-week tournament, saying there is "no racism" in Ukraine and that the important thing was that "two teams play soccer."

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and Interfax