2008 European Football Championship

The 2008 European Football Championship will take place in Austria and Switzerland, from 7 to 29 June 2008. It is the second successful joint bid. The only previous tournament held in two countries was the 2000 European Football Championship, hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.

Related Topics:
Austria - Switzerland - 29 June - 2008

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Austria and Switzerland will automatically qualify as hosts. The remaining 14 teams will be determined in a qualifying tournament that will start in September 2006.

Related Topics:
Austria - Switzerland - 2006

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The two countries jointly bid to host the games, and faced major competition from Greece/Turkey, Scotland/Ireland, Russia, Hungary and Croatia/Bosnia-Herzegovina. Austria had already bid with another country before, which was Hungary for Euro 2004. They had eventually lost to Portugal, who managed a successful championship.

Related Topics:
Greece - Turkey - Scotland - Ireland - Russia - Hungary - Croatia - Bosnia-Herzegovina - Portugal

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Scotland and Ireland's bid was one of the first to go, along with bids from Russia and Croatia/Bosnia-Herzegovina, which were rejected.

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Austria/Switzerland, Greece/Turkey, Nordic four-nation bid (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) and Hungary were recommended before the final vote. Greece and Turkey were soon rejected and let Hungary and Austria/Switzerland battle for the win.

Related Topics:
Denmark - Finland - Norway - Sweden

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But the final vote went to Austria and Switzerland, who had been the favourites in many people's eyes, all along.

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