Now England must be able to qualify after Euro expansion plan - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Now England must be able to qualify after Euro expansion plan

England will have no excuse in future if they repeat their failure to qualify for Euro 2008 after a proposal to extend the European Championship from 16 to 24 teams by 2016 won unanimous approval from UEFA's 53 member countries yesterday.

Added value: UEFA President Michel Platini

Added value: UEFA President Michel Platini

The proposal, put forward by the Scottish FA, should be ratified by UEFA's executive committee in September.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: 'We just missed this tournament behind Italy and France but under the proposed new regulations we would have qualified.'

UEFA president Michel Platini said: 'I am not worried about increasing the number of teams. Countries like England have the quality to take part.'

Spain and Italy have been put on standby to host Euro 2012 because of concerns over stadiums in Ukraine and Poland.

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