© EuroFootball.com
After the meeting of UEFA's executive committee in Malta on Tuesday, only three out of five contenders remain to host the 2012 European Football Championship - Italy, joint projects of Croatia/Hungary and Poland/Ukraine have moved on to the second stage.
During the committee members' vote, Italy received support from eleven out of twelve members eligible to express their assessment, nine for Croatia/Hungary, seven for Poland/Ukraine, six for Turkey, and two for Greece.
These voting results meant that Turkey and Greece did not advance to the second stage and unexpectedly withdrew from the competition to host the championship. Italy is now considered as the main favorite, having already hosted the European Championships in 1968 and 1980.
The remaining three candidates must submit new dossiers by May 2006, after which UEFA representatives will start visiting the countries. The final decision on the host of the 2012 European Championship will be made in December of the following year.
