"We want to host the 2012 European Football Championship together with Hungary. I do not wish to underestimate the countries that hosted European Football Championships in the past, but I am convinced that we will outdo them in terms of organisation. This is also an opportunity to advance our road infrastructure, improve tourist services, renovate four stadiums and create new jobs," Sanader said after talks with the UEFA delegation.
In the next three days, the UEFA delegation will visit potential host cities for the EuroCup 2012 - Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Osijek, after which it will travel to Hungary.
The Organisation of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship was initially contested for by five bids representing seven countries: Croatia/Hungary (joint bid), Greece, Italy, Poland/Ukraine (joint bid), and Turkey.
On November 8, 2005, UEFA's Executive Committee whittled the candidates down to a short list of three - Italy, Croatia/Hungary and Poland/Ukraine.
On May 31, 2006, all three bids completed the second phase of the process by submitting more detailed dossiers. UEFA now conducts site visits to candidate countries. The host will be chosen on 8 December 2006.
Croatia should invest some 300 million euros in the reconstruction of stadiums.