Who Do You Want to Host Euro 2016?

France, Italy or Turkey all sound great. Please, no more double-hosting. And I would imagine it’s time to head back west, after Central and Eastern tournaments. I’d make the exception for Turkey, because that would definitely be different. Heck, I think the only country so unique in UEFA would be neighboring Israel.

Now there’s an idea.

I think Italy, but wouldnt mind france or turkey either. To be honest, as long as the stadiums are amazing and there are lots of things to do besides the football, I don’t mind too much

Scales? Snorway?

Yeah, it’s the West’s turn, but Turkey is just so *shiny*.

Imagine if Turkey and Isreal were playing in Istanbul! Thats one ticket I’d like to have.

Not being in Europe, the host choice doesn’t fuss me so long as the final is played at an hour that allows me to either stay up/wake up in time to watch some of it.

As for the name of the joint bid, easy. It’s Norden!

How about Norweden?

I prefer Sweway sounds better :P

Norway and Sweden? How about calling it the Arctic 2016?

Yeah I agree with mallymoodle, Norden is perfect, I know it means Northern in German and probably something similar in Swedish or Norweigan, ( or it may not, I’m talking out of my butt here.)

I’m sure the final will be played to a similar time the previous times have been. Somewhere around 9:45, 8:45, or 7:45 local time. I would be in favor of a Turkish bid, if they can produce the 9 required stadiums, ensure security, and have the number of cities that would be able to host. I wouldn’t want to see every game in Istanbul. If Turkey can’t meet those requirements I would then be in favor of France getting it. I’m not a fan of the joint bid and UEFA has done what it can with joint bids. It’s time to go back to a true host country. I think France would be a better bid than Italy for a few reasons; fan security, better stadia, everything is after that is pretty much equal. I’m not saying Italy’s stadiums are bad by any stretch the San Siro is great and Stadio Ollimpico is okay, too bad most of Italy’s stadiums have that running track which takes away from the intimacy of the game. At the end of the day this is how I’d vote:

1. Turkey (If can’t come up with solid bid, I’d vote for France)
2. France (If Turkey can’t come up with solid bid this would be my choice)
3. Italy (If France withdraws and Turkey’s bid isn’t solid, I’d vote Italy)

Turkey please! Talk about atmosphere…

Would be great if Turkey could host Euro 2016. We’re already constructing two brand new stadiums, one in Kayseri with a capacity of 35,000 and one in Istanbul, the 54,000 capacity Turk Telekom Arena which will serve as Galatasaray’s new home stadium.

A Euro competition in a sunny Turkey where it won’t be too hot would serve as a very memorable Competition. The Turkish federation would make all the necessary precautions needed as well. It’s still 7 years away, but I’m sure the Turks would be ready in time.

Turkey would be best. No France and no Italy, let some others have a chance with big tournaments. If Hungary or Romania bid it would be nice too, but I have more confidence in the ability of Turkey to pull it off.

France or Sweden would be great. I might actually be able to go!

Eh, doesn’t make a difference. All it is to me is the younger, smaller, weaker more boring deformed cousin of the World Cup, and I don’t really care for it. I’d say Italy, but I’d rather have us host a World Cup.
So France, or Turkey.

Oh, and Sweden-Norway = Norden?

Then again, what’s Turkey’s status on joining the EU?
To be honest I hope they’re denied due to the whole trying to kill an entire race of people off the face of the Earth.

What? You didn’t hear about that?
(and I’m not kidding in the least here.)

What a disgusting comment Mike. How about you go learn about some of your own history then try to spread your filthy hate.

I think FIFA and UEFA have an amnesty policy on that (see WC 1974 & WC 2006).

Not to be facetious, though, this is really not the place for an honest discussion on the Armenian genocide, or Turkey’s integration into the European Union.

So please, on behalf of the rest of the board, drop it.

It’s relevant to the discussion. If you aren’t part of the EU why should you be allowed to host the Euros?

And Musab, I’m not spreading hate in any way. I have nothing against you, personally, just what your people did in 1915 yet deny doing to this day. To what history are you referring that I should learn about?
I know my U.S. history, and my Italian history, as well as the history of Armenia and the genocide. Learn to accept what your people did and then talk to me.

Also, for the record, I enjoy Turkish football. I like the Turkish national team, they play some very entertaining and exciting football, and I did root for them in Euro ‘08 on occasion.

“It’s relevant to the discussion. If you aren’t part of the EU why should you be allowed to host the Euros?”

I didn’t hear you complaining when it was in Switzerland. Why aren’t you complaining now that it’s in the Ukraine? Neither of those countries are in the European Union.

Lol, and neither is half of UEFA.

EU=Union of Political Entities
UEFA=Union of Football Associations

Switzerland is a special case, and the Ukraine will be in the EU soon enough.
I know the difference between EU and UEFA, thank you. But if you aren’t part of EUROPE (or aren’t going to be any time soon) why should you be a part of their footballing competitions? Why mooch off European footy when you’ve got your own continent and footy association to play on and be a part of?

So what about Israel and Kazakstan?

You do understand that Europe and the EU are two different things, right? Hehe, Europe is a continent… unless you’re entire country moves it territory, you’re not going to become a part of Europe if you’re not, you know, already on it.

Turkey is not part of the Asian Confederation. Don’t think they ever have been… see they’ve been members of UEFA since 1962. They’ve represented UEFA well in the World Cup (third place finish) and done well in Euros. Explain how this is “mooching”?

Let’s keep going, this is so much fun :D

Turkey should get it based on the perfermances they had in the last Euros. If that wasn’t exciting football, I don’t know what is. And imagine that kind of performance in front of their home crowd. They might win the damn thing.

And also, if you dig deep enough in anyone’s history, you’ll find we’re all bad guys. The Nazis wanted to rid the world of the Jews, and yet they got to host a few world cups since then. What gives?

adas, I’m not going to argue about “bad guys” anymore, although there’s a difference in what I was talking about with the Armenian genocide than the Holocaust, but I won’t get into that anymore here.

Not necesserally “mooching” Jose (although I haven’t seen many interesting Kazakh footy matches lately…), but say Turkey plays in Europe(which they do), and then that detracts from the Asian Confederation (which it does), and so the football world just becomes more Euro-centric bit by bit.

As an Italian soccer fan, Italy needs to host Euro 2016 because it’s the only way the old, dilapidated stadiums used throughout the peninsula will finally be demolished and be replaced with some modern venues. I was hoping we would’ve won the bid for 2012 but unfortunately Ukraine/Poland won.

I hear you, Mike, but the thing is, Turkey is an odd country. Despite the fact that its territory is mostly in Asia, its culture is very much influenced by Europe. Similar to Russia. Turkey exists between two “civilizations” and honestly could have claimed to be part of UEFA -and- the Asia CF. They chose UEFA, and if you understood the Turkish mindset, you’d understand that that isn’t exactly a push. Turks aren’t much more similar to their Eastern neighbors (mostly Arabs) than they are to their Western ones. They’re not taking away from Asian football… they were never a part of it; and it’s completely justified given their history.

Look, really the only major difference between Turkey and most of the rest of UEFA is religion. They’re Muslim. Doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be in UEFA (after all, one wouldn’t begrudge Israel for similar reasons).

I understand you completely now Jose, this makes perfect sense. To be honest I was somewhat torn on the issue, and I was hoping for someone to lay things out like that.

No prob, Mike. Lol, I think we just proved some arguments CAN end well on the Internets!

Francesco, the San Siro isn’t dilapidated! Although the Curva Sud could use a good demolishing…

joking, of course…

haha exactly Jose! All it takes is some maturity :P

Mike, what are your feelings then on Israel being part of UEFA. Clearly that seems to be more of a security issue, but does that justify adding them to Europe?

Turkey would rule, France would go very smoothly.

Israel is also a special, difficult case. It’s even further from the EU and Europe. It is a very “European” nation though, culture-wise. Israel has incredibly strong bonds with Europe and the West as well. If I was to be a hard liner for “EU Members Only” I would say they should not be part of UEFA. But I am not, so I don’t really take issue with it.

That brings up a good point. But what do you think about Australia for instance. Is it right to move a team from one confederation to another if that team is too dominant in its regional confederation?

adas, again, Australia is very special case. It’s a country and continent, and to be honest I don’t know much about the Oceana Confederation, except that it’s often bullied by FIFA, so I can’t really say much about it or form an opinion.

It wasn’t a fifa decision to move them though. Australia requested the move to the AFC, and both fifa and AFC said it would be ok. Plus, its starting to sound like there are an awful lot of “special” cases. I’m not trying to argue with you. I’m just trying to open up a dialouge.

Well there are a lot of special cases. I mean look at everything you’ve brought up:
Australia – the only country that is a continent
Israel – Speaks for itself
Turkey – already discussed this.

I’m not saying it was FIFA’s decision to move them through, I meant that FIFA often bullied the confederation in WC qualifying and such, but again I don’t know a lot (well, anything really) about this, or about them moving to the AFC so I can’t form an opinion.

Mike I’m not talking about the San Siro. In fact, the San Siro and the Olimpico are the only UEFA 5 star rated stadiums in Italy. It’s every other stadium that’s the problem.

Oh I know Francesco, I was kidding. But it’s true, most of the stadiums are totally out dated and I’m sure pretty unsafe. Like I said before though, I would much rather host the WC than the Euros, but hey if it gets us new stadiums and I get to go to it, why not?

Wait, even Juve’s stadium isn’t 5 star? Hm, never knew that…

I mean only in Italy do we have a Serie A team playing in a stadium built inside a stadium.

Around 7 years ago Cagliari built stands on the athletic track to give the stadium a more intimate feel. Of course it looks completely ridiculous to boot.

http://footballitaliano.co.uk/images/stadiums/stadio_sant%27elia.jpg

if turkey played in the Asian CF, it just wouldn’t be the same. the would have no competition and just stomp all over opposing countries. Israel isn’t int he ACF because imagine if they had a WC Qualifier away game against Iran, i’m pretty sure that woudln’t turn out so swell. being turkish i would LOVE to see 2016 EUROs in Turkey. there are several new stadiums being built(including Galatasaray’s, Trabzonspor’s, and Kayserispor’s) and it would also give turkey that last little push they need to be considered a top class footy nation.

Israel was a dominant force in the Asian confederation before it was forced into the European confederation due to political reasons.

People often forget that. Israel would have qualified for many more world cups if only its non-democratic neighbors would be willing to play the Israelis in peace.

Post removed by moderators due to racist and/or offensive content.

Potential Turkish Bid

These are stadiums in Turkey that meet capacity requirements and that are built or under construction. I have 8 stadiums total. The problem is 4 of them are in Istanbul. I think a city is only allowed to use two stadiums.

Here’s a list of cities with capacity.

Izmir 65K
Ankara 35K
Kayseri 32-33K
Sanliufa 30K
Istanbul 80K, 53-54K, 50-51K, 42K

Joe : obviously the country isn’t austria or france. Portugal, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland are all countries that have as much if not more crime than Turkey. just becuase they’re a muslim nation and the roads aren’t paved with gold doesn’t mean that it’s a “shit hol”. and just so you know galatasaray’s stadium is no where near a shit hold, just because it has a track field surrounding doesn’t mean it’s a bad stadium, it probably has a better atmosphere than any stadium you have ever been to or see. so stop being so fucking ignorant and realize that maybe other nations aren’t as rich as yours but still deserve a chance. Mexico got the host the World Cup and if you tell if there is more crime and poverty in Turkey than Mexico, your opinions really aren’t valid.

Galatasaray’s new stadium with be finished this year. Is an all seater state of the art stadium. With no running track.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/past_future/pictures/future_stadiums/istanbul_yen.shtml

There’s not a chance in hell UEFA will give a European championship to Turkey. Their status as a European nation is already very much open to debate and chances are the Germans, French, English, and Italians that contral UEFA will not take too kindly to Turkey’s bid. Football at this level can also be a political creature. As an Italian, I would love to see Italy get it as an excuse to modernize the stadia. It’s a pity when members of the French league play day in and day out in better venues than Serie A clubs.

And to all my Turkish friends here… if ordinary Europeans are panicking at the thought of Turkey’s entrance into the European Union, do you honestly think that the creme de la creme of European society will validate Turkey in this manner? Maybe when hell freezes over.

And as someone who has been to Turkey, seen its charms, and heard of the great Turkish passion for football, I think this is a sad truth. I would rather see Turkey host a Euro than, for example, Greece or Portugal. But I don’t think it will ever happen.

Yes, I would love for Turkey to host it! It’s a very beautiful country, with a mosaic of both Asian and European culture. And their football team is always underrated. IMO, they’re easily in the top 15 nations of the world.

Turkey is definitely in my list of 5 most underrated countries. Here’s my most underrated in no particular order.

- Turkey
- United States
- Paraguay
- Ghana
- Korea DPR

Hands down Turkey…. I no longer want the same old… I want the passion to be put back into the game…. and Turkey is the avenue to do that…. and Damn right I wanna see those Turkish come backs…. just like how Galatasaray did against Bordeaux….

i think turkey should host the finals…i mean…they have good stadiums and 4 of them are in the same city…but the city is divided into two parts so would it work out as european istanbul and asian istanbul…here is a list of stadiums i turkey..
Ataturk Olympic Stadium – European Istanbul-80k
Aslantepe Turk Telekom Arena/Ali Sami Yen – European Istanbul-54k
Sukru Saracoglu Stadium – Asian Istanbul -52k
Izmir Olympic Stadium – Izmir -60k
Kayseri Kadir Has Stadium – Kayseri -33k
Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium – Trabzon -29k
there is many more