Ireland, Scotland & Wales - EURO 2020 bid

[The Doctor]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/18069127

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have formally declared an interest in hosting Euro 2020.

Ahead of a midnight deadline, they have told Uefa that they would be interested in bidding to host the European Championships on a three-way basis.

Until now, Turkey were the only nation expected to bid.

But it appears that European football's governing body itself encouraged the joint bid from the Celtic nations, while Georgia have also now declared.

Turkey's bid is in some disarray already because its FA has been engulfed by allegations of corruption and match-fixing in domestic football, while it also conflicts with Istanbul's bid to land the Olympics in the same year.

A formal declaration of interest does not commit the Celtic countries to proceeding with a bid as a decision is not due to be taken by Uefa for 18 months.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford stressed: "It is not a bid, it's a declaration of interest and that will allow us to obtain the information from Uefa so that we can fully assess and determine, independently and together, whether we should submit a bid."

The Celtic nations have a major hurdle to overcome to win the tournament, which has been expanded from 16 teams to 24 from 2016 onwards, should they decide to bid.

The competition's demands would mean the three nations might struggle to provide up to 10 stadia with sufficient capacity.

Scotland and Wales considered a joint bid for the 2016 championship - which will be played in France - before deciding not to go ahead, while a joint bid for Euro 2008 by the Scots and the Irish failed.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan is reported as having told the website www.insidethegames.biz: "I'm not able to comment publicly at this stage because it has not gone to our board, but there will be an exchange of correspondence before the deadline.

"It's obviously something that has been discussed."

Asked if Scotland and Wales would be able to meet Uefa's criteria for stadia, Regan replied: "There are other ways of skinning a cat and alternative ways of being considered for a major tournament."

Uefa president Michel Platini has indicated his support for Turkey's bid - but only if Istanbul fails to land the 2020 Olympics.

Georgia have confirmed interest in hosting the tournament despite their hopes of Azerbaijan joining them in a joint bid being dashed.

Sports minister Lado Vardzelashvili told a news conference that they would proceed with a solo bid after Azerbaijan decided to concentrate on a bid by Baku for the 2020 Olympics.

"Azerbaijan has made a bid to host the Olympics, so Georgia will continue bidding for Euro 2020 independently," Vardzelashvili was quoted as saying by media in Georgia.

The former Soviet republic may struggle to fulfil the Uefa criteria for stadiums, but Vardzelashvili insisted that construction of "ultra-modern stadium" will start this year.

Finally, we might qualify for a tournament!

[ScouseFox]

Scotland would probably still fail to qualify.

[HEGGSY]

Can you imagine a major tournament in Azerbaijan and Georgia?

[Christoph]

Can you imagine a major tournament in Azerbaijan and Georgia?

Almost as bad as having it in the middle east like Qatar or something!...oh wait

[Guest Bilo]

If San Marino, the Faroe Islands and the Icelandic womens' under-17 team qualify Scotland might even get past the group stage. As runners-up of course.

[Guest MattP]

Bet the Irish can't wait to have us back over

[Guest Bilo]

Bet the Irish can't wait to have us back over

Went swimmingly in '95 didn't it?

[Finnegan]

There'd be some great stadia involved, Ibrox, Celtic Park, Hampden, Murrayfield, Croke Park, Landsdowne, Millennium Stadium.

But surely three host nations automatically qualifying is taking the piss? Especially if, post Team GB we're supposed to be paranoid about UEFA and FIFA questioning our individual unions. Love it to happen but a lot of questions.

[HEGGSY]

Croke Park and Landsdowne are class stadia. I think if this bid got some backing, it could be great.

[Mack]

This desperately needs a decent Footballing nation to step in and declare interest.

Why dont Italy go for it? It's been a long time since they held a tournament.

I suppose they are skint like Spain and Portugal, and with Russia having other plans, France having the next one I suppose the only other option would be England!?

At least they wouldn't have to let three pony teams into a 16 team tournament.

[leicesterlad1989]

This desperately needs a decent Footballing nation to step in and declare interest.

Why dont Italy go for it? It's been a long time since they held a tournament.

I suppose they are skint like Spain and Portugal, and with Russia having other plans, France having the next one I suppose the only other option would be England!?

At least they wouldn't have to let three pony teams into a 16 team tournament.

The tournament will become a 24 team tournament from 2016 onwards. But i do agree that it's a bit of a joke allowing 3 teams to enter with no qualification, considering Wales never qualify

for anything!

[davieG]

So anyone but Turkey then!

[Mack]

The tournament will become a 24 team tournament from 2016 onwards. But i do agree that it's a bit of a joke allowing 3 teams to enter with no qualification, considering Wales never qualify

for anything!

Ah OK I didn't know that, but I still think allowing three weak teams in as hosts is a liberty.

Maybe they should have their own two bob round robin tournament with the winner qualifying? Mind you, last time they held a tournament in Dublin no one showed up!

[leicesterlad1989]

Ah OK I didn't know that, but I still think allowing three weak teams in as hosts is a liberty.

Maybe they should have their own two bob round robin tournament with the winner qualifying? Mind you, last time they held a tournament in Dublin no one showed up!

Look on the bright side, we can watch them get humiliated at a tournament on their home turf! It probably won't happen, Turkey will get it or some other corrupt nation.

[Finnegan]

This desperately needs a decent Footballing nation to step in and declare interest.

Why dont Italy go for it? It's been a long time since they held a tournament.

I suppose they are skint like Spain and Portugal, and with Russia having other plans, France having the next one I suppose the only other option would be England!?

At least they wouldn't have to let three pony teams into a 16 team tournament.

I love to see different nations hosting. I wanted Japan to get the last rugby world cup and I think Australia would have been a brilliant World Cup host. It's good for the sport.

Especially if they have the stadia and infrastructure which clearly we do. Some great, big, grounds and some appropriate modern, smaller grounds like Parc y Scarlets, Liberty and Cardiff for the like of Belgium vs Denmark.

Sure even Easter Road and Tynecastle would get a game or two.

[davieG]

I don't think it matters that much if the 3 get to play this way, they all have a great history/pedigree and we already have most teams in it just making up the numbers with little or no chance of winning it with England gradually falling into that group.

[James.]

I don't think it matters that much if the 3 get to play this way, they all have a great history/pedigree and we already have most teams in it just making up the numbers with little or no chance of winning it with England gradually falling into that group.

That's partly true of the World Cup but not the Euro's.

[davieG]

That's partly true of the World Cup but not the Euro's.

With the expansion it will become the same as the world Cup and it's true of England we've never performed sufficiently in this to even get to a final

[leicesterlad1989]

Why are they expanding it anyway? At the minute all 16 teams in the Euros are competitve, even though there is probably only a handful who have a chance to win it.

Adding a further 8 teams will just mean there will be needless crap teams in it.

[James.]

With the expansion it will become the same as the world Cup and it's true of England we've never performed sufficiently in this to even get to a final

I was just picking up on the fact you said it already has most teams making up the numbers when in reality it is an incredibly competitive tournament.

But yeah increasing it to the size of the World Cup will be a pretty shit move I reckon. The weaker teams get their chance during qualification.

[Finnegan]

Personally love the expansion. My favorite thing about the world cup is watching minnow nations who nobody expects much from showing up the big boys.

Besides, teams like Scotland and Wales may not be world beaters but, banter aside, we're clearly competitive and will give a good game to most sides. It's not like Andorra and Moldova are going to waltz in because there's a few more places.

[Mack]

That's partly true of the World Cup but not the Euro's.

Exactly, the Euros is 16 of the finest National sides in the world, they are no passengers.

[purpleronnie]

Bet the Irish can't wait to have us back over

Thankfully those idiots are long gone.

[Guest MattP]

Think the expansion is bollocks personally, look at Group A of this years tournament, absolute cack and that's with 16 teams.

God knows what the 24 team tournament will look like. If they do change it they had better keep it to group winners and 2 runners up, having a 24 team tournament going into a knockout of 16 teams would render it a complete joke.

[Finnegan]

Exactly, the Euros is 16 of the finest National sides in the world, they are no passengers.

Then how the **** do you get in?