England keen to stage 2020 Euro finals

LONDON – England would be keen to stage the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 if UEFA president Michel Platini’s plan to hold the tournament across Europe became a reality, English FA chairman David Bernstein said on Monday.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

LONDON – England would be keen to stage the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 if UEFA president Michel Platini’s plan to hold the tournament across Europe became a reality, English FA chairman David Bernstein said on Monday.Platini’s idea of having matches in 12 or 13 European countries with the final stages in one venue will be discussed by UEFA’s executive board in December with a decision made early next year.Bernstein told a media briefing at Wembley: "Clearly Wembley is incredibly highly thought of by UEFA and it is something we will probably push for."UEFA want to hold the semi-finals and the final on the same ground, or in the same city and I think we would be on their shortlist - but there would be some strong competition.”Turkey have expressed their wish to stage what will be a 24-team tournament in 2020, but their bid will be dropped if Istanbul is awarded the Olympic Games in the same year.Scotland, Wales and Ireland have also declared their interest in staging the finals.Platini was in London last week and discussed his idea of staging the finals across the continent with the FA, who would be keen to stage what would effectively be a "finals week”.Platini was so impressed with Wembley’s staging of the 2011 Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona that UEFA awarded the 2013 final to Wembley as well, which coincides with the FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations.