Soccer: Scotland to back joint bid for Euro 2008

The Scottish Executive has announced that it will support a joint Scottish-Irish bid for the 2008 European football championships.

First Minister Jack McConnell announced the move to the Scottish Parliament today.

"We shouldn’t be over-confident," he said, "but I believe that if we do this right and unite behind the bid, then we can win."

Over the next four weeks, the Scottish Executive will finalise the details of the bid with the Irish Government, the Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, discussed the matter via telephone with Mr McConnell today.