Euro 2016 is "a great opportunity"

Lega Calcio President Maurizio Beretta insists that Italy should not let the opportunity to host the UEFA European Championships in 2016 slip through their hands.

Italy were strong favourites to host the 2012 edition of the tournament, but were surprisingly beaten in the final vote by the joint proposal of Poland and Ukraine in April 2007.

"Our position is clear, we fully support the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Italy's candidacy for UEFA Euro 2016," Beretta told Rai's GR Parlamento radio station. "The tournament in 2016 may be a great opportunity but we must do the homework.

"We cannot present ourselves in a worse condition compared to the others. We can work hard under pressure, and have an incredible chance that we should not pass up.

"We have an essential step to go through as regards to stadium ownership laws (currently awaiting Parliamentary approval), then we can play the game right until the end."

Italy, who delivered their bid dossier to UEFA last month, are battling with France and Turkey for the hosting rights on May 28 but recent media reports suggest that the French bid is being favoured by European football's governing body.

"A few years ago we entered as favourites to host the 2012 championships, but that was assigned to Poland and Ukraine," continued Beretta. "At the end it does not matter how you enter, whether favourites or not, but how you exit.

"We must believe we can win even if we are not favourites, because it can happen again this year."

Source: Mediaset