THE beer is being drafted in by the keg and the sausages ordered for the barbecue.
The replica shirts are simply flying off the sports shops' shelves and in bars around the city the talk is turning to one thing.
There is no doubting it, footbal
l fever – or more precisely Euro 2008 fever – is in the air.
Scotland may not have qualified for the European Championship finals, but thousands of fervent Polish football fans in Edinburgh are gearing up to support their team.
Among the many nations boasting significant support in the Capital, including Italy, Turkey and Spain, it is Poland which can expect the most vocal backing after the tournament kicks off on Saturday.
With an estimated 35,000 Poles now living in the Lothians, many shops and bars are already doing thriving business on the back of the tournament. And, with the Tartan Army adopting Poland as its own over the coming weeks, it is an event which promises to see Scots and Polish fans standing shoulder to shoulder in city bars.
Lucyna Ellis, owner of Deli Polonia on Leith Walk, which is selling Polish football shirts, hats and scarves especially for the occasion, has noticed a growing buzz of anticipation in the city.
"A lot of British people are going to support Poland, that's what I've heard," she says. "We have had people asking how to say: 'Go Poland' in Polish – Do Bo Jupolsko."
Not far away, Dorothy Nowak-Solinska, who runs Pani Solinska, a Polish deli and restaurant on Broughton Street, is decorating her shop for the tournament.
"It's very exciting," she says. "We are thrilled and so proud of our team for getting through to this competition. There'll be a few parties if they win. The Poles certainly know how to party."
POLE POSITION: Viola, Sabina and Ania at the front with Lukasz, Zibi and Sebastian at Polish pub The Secret Arcade on Cockburn Street, which is screening Sunday's first match. Picture: IAN GEORGESON
Poland, whose stars include Celtic goalie Artur Boruc, are playing in the European Championship finals for the first time.
Such is the level of interest that city sports shops, who feared Scotland's failure to qualify would mean missing out on extra sales, have had plenty to cheer.
Tony Gill, manager of Sports World in the St James Centre, says he can't replace his stock of Poland shirts fast enough. "They are flying out the door," he enthuses. "We can't get enough of them and it's not just Polish people buying them either, it's a lot of Scottish people too.
"Many people work beside Polish people and, as we don't have any of our home nations in the tournament, they are supporting Poland.
"I had 30 or 40 a few weeks ago and now have only one left. It's on a par with if Scotland were in it."
With football being the dominant sport in Poland, arguably more so than in Scotland, there is huge interest in the national team's exploits this summer.
Entrepreneur Karol Chojnowski, 27, who runs the Edinburgh-based emito.net website offering advice to Poles coming to the UK, said the tournament is a big deal for most of his countrymen and women.
"When it comes to this stage, qualifying for such a big football tournament, we will all turn out. Football is the number one sport in Poland.
"Here you have rugby and golf as well, but in Poland there's just football, and to a lesser extent basketball.
"I'll be taking out my red and white T-shirt and supporting them," says Karol, who plans to watch the games at the Three Sisters, which is staging special Polish-themed nights.
The Cowgate bar has ordered in 20 kegs of Okocim Polish lager and 500 sausages for Poland's opening fixture against one of the tournament favourites, Germany, on Sunday night.
Edinburgh's Tartan Army spokesman Simon Johnston says the Capital's Poles will be far from alone when they cheer on their team.
"The Tartan Army has always supported the underdog so there'll be a number of folk who will support Poland," he says.
"It's a decent side, though it has never excelled at the major championships.
"They have a decent group so they have a fair chance. Austria aren't too hot just now. Good luck to them."
Scaffolder David Cattanach, 44, from Leith, a regular in the U Soltysa Polish bar on Bonnington Road, who works on a building site with dozens of Poles, is looking forward to the games.
"I was disappointed Scotland didn't qualify. I'll be in here Sunday. There was a great atmosphere the last time they had a big Polish game.
"They had flags and banners and the place was bouncing. I'll not be shouting my head off, but they are good guys."
Like Scotland when they qualify for such major tournaments, the Poles are rank outsiders.
However, if it would take a miracle for them to follow in the footsteps of fellow minnows Greece and win the trophy, there may still be hope.
The Polish team can claim considerable support within St Mary's Cathedral.
There, Fr Andrzej Jablonski, who came to Edinburgh last September and conducts two of the four Polish masses in Edinburgh every Sunday, is delighted at the chance to talk about his team's prospects – even if he is a little apprehensive about how they'll fare.
The priest, originally from Torun, in central Poland, says the congregation will be giving thanks at mass next week if Poland do upset the odds to win on Sunday.
"But I would be happy if they don't let in too many goals," he adds with a wry smile.
"It won't be so easy to win against Germany.
"Some of our players are very good, like Smolarek and Jacek Krzynowek and Maciej Zurawski, who played last year in Glasgow for Celtic.
"If they won the whole competition I would be very proud but I fear it is wishful thinking."
WAVING FROM THE STANDS OF THEIR OWN MINI EUROPE
FROM Turkey to Italy, Spain to Russia, Greece to Sweden – probably every country competing in Austria and Switzerland can boast support in the Capital.
Turk Nazmi Okan will be leading his country's support from his Pasta Fresca café in North Bridge Arcade.
And he will have plenty of shirts to hand out, thanks to his work with the Turkish Football Association, which has included organising the recent under-17 championships in southern Turkey. He says: "All the Turks will be in my cafe to watch the game against Portugal on Saturday. I'm going to have a Turkish buffet, bring flags and ask people to wear their tops.
"I would like to think Turkey has a good chance. Though they are not the favourites, every time Turkey are involved in these finals they raise their game. They have the talented players to do it – players like Kahveci, who plays for Villarreal and scored 18 goals this season, and Sanli who plays for Middlesbrough."
Italian Tony Crolla, of Vittoria's restaurants on Leith Walk and George IV Bridge, says he'll be watching their matches at home with his family, plenty of pizza and a good supply of Moretti Italian beer.
"The first match against Holland on Monday is the one I'm most worried about," he says. "The worst scenario is to lose to them and then have to beat the French the following Tuesday.
"If Italy make it to the semi-finals we'll put up a big screen. Forza Italia!"
The full article contains 1238 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
