Race to host Euro 2008 enters crucial stage

The race to host the European Championships finals in 2008 enters a crucial stage this afternoon.

All seven competing bids will be presented to UEFA's Executive committee in Nyon, Switzerland, this afternoon, with a final result expected by tomorrow lunchtime.

The merits of the Ireland-Scotland joint bid to host the finals will be entrusted to Scottish FA Chief Executive, David Walker. Walker will present UEFA's Executive committee with a video tape outlining the strengths of the Celtic bid, before answering questions from members of Europe's governing body.

The Austria-Switzerland bid is widely acknowledged as the favourite, while Greece-Turkey, Croatia-Bosnia/Herzegovina, Hungary and Russia are also in the running.

Eight of the 14 UEFA committee members are eligible to vote and after four or five of the seven bids are gradually eliminated, a simple majority vote will determine the unsuccessful candidate.