By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – France, Turkey and Italy have formally handed over their bids to UEFA as the race to stage the 2016 European Championships reached a crucial stage.
With Sweden and Norway withdrawing in December through lack of government investment guarantees, the three candidates had the floor to themselves at UEFA headquarters in Nyon just over three months before the decision is taken on May 28.
The 2016 event marks the first time the European championship will feature 24 teams, eight more than have traditionally competed in the finals and a potential financial windfall for whoever wins the vote.
“Today marks a very important milestone in the bidding procedure, as it finalises the period of hard work and enormous commitment by each bidder,” said UEFA’s national teams competitions committee chairman Gilberto Madail.
Italy, whose failure to land the 2012 tournament was blamed on a hooligan problem and the poor state of its stadiums, has already said it will stage matches in nine different cities. Italy hosted the tournament in 1980 and France four years later while both have each staged two World Cups.
This is in stark contrast to Turkey, which has never staged a major international soccer tournament and whose dream of sharing the 2008 or 2102 tournament with neighbours Greece never materialised.
The Turks, who have promised to bring passion to the event, will be the emotional favourite but have their work cut out proving to UEFA that they can accommodate an expanded tournament.
Their candidature was nevertheless supported by a phalanx of media outlets in Nyon. Turkish FA President Mahmut Ozgener (pictured) told the Uefa hierarchy, led by Michel Platini, that his country had done its homework and would provide seven new state-of-the-art stadiums as well as a sustainable legacy, with all projects financed by the Central Government.