365 Media Group - Euro 2008 In association with Puma

In association with Puma

Romania links

Group C
Team Pl Pts
Holland 3 9
Italy 3 4
Romania 3 2
France 3 1

Uefa set for Euro expansion

European Championship likely to be expanded to 24 teams

  • European Championship: Set for expansion

    European Championship: Set for expansion

Also see

Uefa is set to announce the expansion of the European Championship finals from 16 to 24 teams later this week.

The football governing body is to meet in Bordeaux on Thursday and Friday where it is expected the decision will be rubber-stamped.

An expansion - which has received almost unanimous backing - would then come into effect from 2016, but Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith acknowledges that the decision will have drawbacks.

The SFA and the Football Association of Ireland proposed the expansion in 2007, but Smith recognises that the increase in teams would mean that Scotland no longer have the neccesary stadia to host the competition.

Future

Smith said: "I think the expansion will be better for the game - more teams will have the chance of qualifying and the excitement of the groups will go on for longer.

"It is disappointing in that it means we will not be able to stage the tournament in the future, and we recognise that will be the case.

"It was a trade-off between trying to stage it or open up the qualification process and we have decided to look at something that helps everybody."

Smith, though, said the proposal had not been an attempt to make it easier for Scotland to qualify for major finals.

He added: "It will make it easier but it will make it easier for other countries such as England who failed to qualify for Euro 2008. We didn't do it specifically for that purpose however."

More Romania Stories

Around the site today

Sneijder: Topped the ratings after some stand-out displays for the Dutch

Euro Hot or Not

With a memorable Euro 2008 done and dusted, we inspect your final Hot or Not ratings.

Torr de force!

Torr de force!

Reece Killworth salutes Fernando Torres after his goal won Euro 2008 for Spain.

Spain conquer Europe

Spain conquer Europe

Have your say on what was a glorious night for the Spanish in Vienna.

  • © 2008 365 Media Group plc. All Rights Reserved
  • Contact Us