Back On Track?
World Soccer|November 2018

The successful bid for Euro 2024 has given German football the chance to rebuild its reputation. Keir Radnedge reports

Keir Radnedge
Back On Track?

German football sees the opportunity for redemption in the European Championship – both on the pitch and off it, with the national team hoping to reclaim in 2020 the lustre it squandered at this year’s World Cup and the DFB putting financial scandal behind it by staging Euro 2024.

In September, UEFA’s executive committee voted 12 to 4 – with one abstention and one illness absentee – in favour of Germany for the latter finals.

The European federation is relieved to return the 24-team tournament to a single host after the derided, all-over-the-place staging in 2020. The last time the finals were held on German territory was by the former Federal Republic in 1988, two years before reunification.

Turkey, meanwhile, must go on waiting to stage a major tournament, although Istanbul did host the Champions League Final in 2005 and will do so again in 2020. However, this was the country’s fourth failure in its pursuit of hosting the Euro finals.

The Turks had lost to France by just one vote in the duel for 2016 and their media assailed UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin over 2024 for reneging on some unspecified suggestion that he had promised to back Turkey in exchange for support in his 2016 presidential bid.

The idea appears highly unlikely and Ceferin has denied it. But whatever the truth, he will not be counting on Turkish support when he seeks re-election next spring – though that should have little effect on him remaining in his post.

Regardless of any voting promises, UEFA’s own report on the rival 2024 bids identified a string of German advantages.

Firstly, the DFB had proposed 10 stadia, all of which already exist, while Turkey had proffered seven existing arenas, plus two more to be rebuilt and one to be renovated. In addition, the total capacity for the 51 matches in Germany will be 2,780,000 – as opposed to 2,290,000 in Turkey.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2018-Ausgabe von World Soccer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2018-Ausgabe von World Soccer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS WORLD SOCCERAlle anzeigen
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 Minuten  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 Minuten  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 Minuten  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 Minuten  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 Minuten  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 Minuten  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 Minuten  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 Minuten  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 Minuten  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 Minuten  |
July 2024