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The arena set for the European Championship final next year was finally reopened by Shakira and the president of Ukraine after three years and £503m worth of renovations
The Kiev Olympic Stadium in Ukraine finally re-opened its doors to the public on Saturday, with an explosive show put on in front of a 70,000-strong crowd.
The 70,000 all-seater venue was officially presented by Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovich, in a politically-charged unveiling in which he stressed triumph and pride following a dogged preparation for Euro 2012 that has been blighted by allegations of corruption.
"With this stadium, Ukraine will organise a worthy Euro 2012," Yankuovich told an unhappy crowd, who jeered the president.
However, the bad feeling was quickly flushed out of the atmosphere, as pop star Shakira took to the field for a 40-minute set, including a performance of the 2010 World Cup official song, 'Waka Waka', along with a display of fireworks, art and a speech from Ukraine Football Federation president Hryhoriy Surkis.
"The stadium is a birthday present for the place which gave the world [coach Valeriy] Lobanovskiy and Dinamo Kiev," said Surkis.
"The stadium has been renovated to the highest standards. It will become one of the 10 best stadiums in Europe, in reality a new arena with all the latest technology, which can host not only football but athletics."
The stadium, which has cost an estimated €585 million (£503m) and has been in the works since December 2008, will stage five matches during the championships, including the final on July 1, as Ukraine prepare to co-host next year's European Championships with Poland.
The Olympic Stadium will play host to its first match on November 11, when Ukraine will face Germany in an international friendly.
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Former defender believes that the core of the squad does not possess what it takes to beat the likes of France, Germany, Italy and Spain in the continental competition next year
Former England defender Gary Neville insists that the current national team are "not good enough" to take on the big sides in the European Championship next year.
The ex-Manchester United man's assessment comes in light of the 2-2 draw with Montenegro on Friday, as Fabio Capello's men threw away a two-goal lead to eventually draw the game.
A point was enough for the Three Lions to book their place in the 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, but the 36-year-old remains sceptical about their mettle.
"The real issue is that the spine of the team is not good enough, as it stands, to take on Spain, Italy, France or Germany at Euro 2012," Neville wrote in The Mail on Sunday.
"We're now talking about [Wayne] Rooney possibly missing two games of Euro 2012 when what we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can't keep the ball.
"When I look at it coldly, a team that has John Terry, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, Darren Bent and Rooney in its central positions is nowhere near good enough to take on the major nations such as Spain.
"I"m not having a go at individuals; there are some very good players among those names. Collectively, Rooney aside, there is hardly any pace, very little invention and hardly any rotation of positions."
He added: "Somehow, Capello has to do something that no England manager has done in 15 years, and that is make the England players believe that this next match could be the most important of their life."
England take on Spain in an international friendly at Wembley next month.
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