Germany aims for EURO 2024

The German Football Association (DFB) has said it has agreed a deal with the English Football Association that will boost their ambitions to host the European Championships in 2024.

DFB general secretary Helmut Sandrock confirmed he was "very, very optimistic" over a successful bid for the championships, four years after the tournament will be staged in multiple venues across Europe.

The deal, struck between the two football federations, should see the semi-finals and finals of Euro 2020 be held in England. The final list of venues for Euro 2020 will be confirmed on September 19.

Previously, Turkey's bid to host the key 2020 matches had been approved by the DFB, but now the attention turns to England after Turkey withdrew their application for 2020 in April. Instead, Turkey appears to be one of few strong contenders for EURO 2024.

"We talked to them about their not bidding for EURO 2024 and supporting our bid," Sandrock told German sports magazine "Sport Bild." "We would in return not bid for the finals package of 2020 and support England in a bid for Euro 2028."

"A withdrawal of our application for the finals of EURO 2020 would only be an option for us if we were sure we could get EURO 2024," Sandrock added.

Olympics and football

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said on Tuesday that the German bid for EURO 2024 would not impede the efforts to stage the Olympic Games in the same summer.

"I see no potential for conflict," Bach said. "For the European Championships, the infrastructure is already there. Germany has the best stadiums in Europe, so no significant measures would be required."

The low-cost applications from Berlin and Hamburg for either 2024 or 2028 Olympic Games were submitted to the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) this week. A decision is expected before the end of the year.

rd/al (AP, dpa)