Scotland tasked with making Euro 2020 after successful Glasgow bid
SFA CHIEF executive Stewart Regan has thrown down the gauntlet to the national team to make sure Scotland are at the Euro 2020 party after Hampden was given the nod to host matches.
Michel Platini revealed Glasgow will be a host city at Euro 2020[GETTY]
UEFA’s executive committee confirmed in Geneva the bid – unveiled by president Michel Platini – had been successful and were awarded three group matches and a knockout game, with Wembley getting the final and last-four games.
The finals will be played in 13 cities as a 60th celebration of the European Championships. Glasgow’s bid controversially got the nod by just one vote ahead of Wales and Cardiff.
Regan said: “It’s wonderful news. Glasgow and Hampden will throw a fitting birthday party for the European Championships and I know the whole country will make it an occasion to remember.
“We have worked hard to establish our strategic plan and today’s announcement gives us a perfect platform on which to realise our ambitions.
“It would be great if Scotland can qualify for Euro 2020, playing in front of a full house at Hampden.
“On the back of a hugely successful Commonwealth Games, and ahead of what will be a memorable Ryder Cup, I’m delighted Scotland, Glasgow and Hampden will again look forward to being the focus of worldwide attention for Euro 2020.”
Scotland has not qualified for a major finals since the 1998 World Cup and the last time they made the European Championships was two years earlier in England.
National coach Gordon Strachan is hoping to break that run before then by qualifying for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
Munich in Germany, Baku in Azerbaijan, St Petersburg in Russia and Rome in Italy will all host a quarter- final and three group matches.
Denmark’s Copenhagen, Bucharest in Romania, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Dublin in Ireland, Bilbao in Spain, Budapest in Hungary and Brussels in Belgium will host one last-16 game and three group matches.
Platini believes the death of influential UEFA member David Taylor, the Scot having passed away earlier this year, could have aided Glasgow’s bid.
He said: “Taylor was a man greatly loved and it may be that held some weight when it came to the choice of making Glasgow one of the host cities.”
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino confirmed it was nip and tuck all the way between Wales and Scotland with the Millennium Stadium ranked technically superior to Hampden.
He said: “There was only one vote in it with Glasgow getting 22 and Cardiff getting 21.”
Also, as the finals will have several hosts, all nations will have to qualify.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
