France will host the European Championship for the third time after being named as the hosts for the 2016 finals on Friday.

They held the first tournament in 1960 - when just four nations competed - as well as in 1984, when led by Michel Platini they were crowned champions. They have also held two World Cups, most recently making the most of home advantage in 1998 as they won that tournament.

Italy and Turkey were also bidding to host the tournament. Italy were eliminated after the first round of voting, with France edging the second vote by seven members to six. Uefa's executive committee made the decision. Platini, Uefa president, abstained due to a conflict of interest.

"I want first to thank our friends from Italy and Turkey; I feel for them and the feelings of frustration and sadness after months of work and I wish Italian and Turkish football good luck," said French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes. 


"For us it is a moment of intense emotions, given that in 2016 we will welcome European football to France. We will fulfil our promises and we thank our friends on the executive committee at Uefa. They have put their trust in us and that's what counts for us. This is a beautiful day for us."

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, said €1.7 billion (£1.44bn) would be invested on infrastructure for the tournament. He also defended the merits of a bid in the midst of a recession - pointing out that 15,000 jobs are likely to be created as a result of hosting the tournament.

"Sport is an answer to the crisis. It is because we are in a crisis that we need sport. Nothing is more powerful than sport and, within sport, nothing is more powerful that football," he said.

Four stadiums will be built, with seven renovated. The new grounds will be in Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Nice. A total of 12 cities will host games, with the tournament set to include 24 nations for the first time.