England warmed-up for the World Cup Finals with a 3-1 win over Mexico and are now into a BestPrice 13/2 to go all the way in South Africa. See all the 2010 World Cup betting odds.

France have beaten Turkey and Italy for the right to stage the European Championship in 2016.

The French, hosts in 1960 and 1984, beat Turkey by just a single vote after Italy were eliminated in the first round of voting.

Euro 2016 will feature 24 countries playing 51 matches over one month.

“This is a beautiful day for us,” said Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French Football Federation.

“It is a moment of intense emotion to know that in 2016 France will welcome European football and will fulfil its promises.

“What counts for us is to have the full confidence of Uefa and this trust will not be betrayed.

“We also understand the frustration of Italy and Turkey – particularly Turkey, who lost by a single vote after bidding for a third time.”

UEFA president Michel Platini admitted the contest had put him in a difficult situation.

“It was not an easy situation for me – I am French, my name is Italian and I have many friends in Turkey. But Uefa has proved once again that we have democracy.”

France’s winning bid for 2016 consisted of 12 venues – the Stade de France where France defeated Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, Paris Saint Germain’s Parc des Princes, Lens, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg, Saint Etienne and Nancy.

Platini added: “It was a very narrow decision – the work done by all three federations was outstanding, and I would like to congratulate the French.

“It has been a complicated situation from the outset and I believe there is a sigh of relief from French football, and they can now upgrade all their stadia to make them up to the same standard as other countries in Europe.”

The 2016 event will feature 24 countries for the first time, up from 16 in 2012, as France becomes the first country to stage the European Championship three times.

England warmed-up for the World Cup Finals with a 3-1 win over Mexico and are now into a BestPrice 13/2 to go all the way in South Africa. See all the 2010 World Cup betting odds.

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