SPORTS> Feature and Column
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SPORTS> Feature and Column
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Soccer-Croatia looks ahead to Euro 2012 joint bid
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-09 10:45 ZAGREB, June 9 - Although the eyes of Croatian fans are set on the World Cup, leading officials are licking their lips at the possibility of Croatia co-hosting Euro 2012 with Hungary. The three bidders, the others are Italy and a joint entry by Poland and Ukraine, submitted their offers to Europe's governing body UEFA last week and a 12-man commission will make a final decision on the winner on December 8. While it might be said twice former host Italy was the strongest candidate, recent match-fixing allegations in Serie A have not helped its cause. "Soccer is the number one sport in Croatia," national team coach Zlatko Kranjcar told Reuters. "It will gain even more popularity if we get the opportunity to stage such a big event." The desire of officials to jointly stage Euro 2012 is illustrated by the words of the president of the Croatian Soccer Association. Vlatko Markovic recently told the Vecernji List daily: "I'd rather see Croatia host Euro 2012 than win the 2006 World Cup. "It would be far more beneficial for Croatia and its soccer in the long run." If the joint bid with Hungary succeeds, the matches in Croatia would be played in the four biggest cities of the capital Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Osijek. Osijek is the heart of the fertile Panonian valley while the two coastal cities of Rijeka and Split and their nearby islands provide appealing Mediterranean atmospheres. "I believe Croatia's accommodation and transport capacities are similar to most countries that have hosted such competitions," said Kranjcar. |
