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Uefa unveils Euro 2012 shortlist

08/11/2005

Uefa has announced that three bidders remain in the running to host the European Championships in 2012.

Following an executive committee meeting in Malta today, the European governing body revealed that Italy, Croatia/Hungary and Poland/Ukraine will compete for the right to host the Championships.

The decision means that bids from Greece and Turkey will no longer be considered by Uefa.

"We made a presentation of the technical evaluation to the executive committee, who added the political dimension in taking the decision," said Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson.

"A new dossier should be submitted [by the candidates] to Uefa at the end of May 2006, and now all the site visits will take place.

"There will be a final decision to appoint the hosts for 2012 in December 2006."

The Italians last hosted the European Championships in 1968, the only time that the Azurri have claimed Europe's top prize and, with an impressive footballing infrastructure already in place, will be firm favourites to get the nod from Uefa.

However, the other four nations involved in the joint bids have never previously hosted a major European football tournament and, given the recent expansion of the European Union, Uefa may be keen to host the finals in eastern Europe.

The next European Championships will take place in 2008 and will be jointly hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

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