January 27 – England and Wales have lost their rival bids to host the 2013 European Under-21 Championships after UEFA today chose Israel to stage the tournament.
Israel won the vote by UEFA’s Executive Committee in Nyon today with Bulgaria and the Czech Republic the other bidders, another blow for English football, still reeling from its disastrous failure to win the 2018 World Cup.
Wales had bid to host the eight-team tournament at the grounds of Swansea and Cardiff, plus Llanelli’s Parc Y Scarlets with the final at the Millennium Stadium.
Israel previously hosted the European Under-16 tournament in 2000 and staged UEFA’s annual Congress in Tel Aviv for the first time last year.
Israeli FA chairman Avi Luzon hailed the decision as an “unprecedented achievement” for the country.
“I am as excited and happy as I was when my first son was born, I hope that with this achievement Israeli soccer will receive a boost,” said Luzon.
Israel had also been candidates to host this year’s Championships which will be held in Denmark.
The 2009 Championships was held in Sweden and won by Germany, who beat England 4-0 in the final with the goalscorers including Mesut Özil.
As automatic qualifiers for the competition, Israel will participate in the event for the second time after playing in the 2007 Championships in the Netherlands.
Israel originally played in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) but were moved to Oceania because teams mainly from Arab countries refused to play them, before becoming full UEFA members in 1994.
The awarding of the event will add impetus to the building of new venues.
Stadiums under construction in Haifa, Netanya and Petah Tikva are due to be ready in time and the 60-year-old National Stadium in Tel Aviv is also set for rebuilding.
The draw for the qualifying tournament will be made in Nyon next Thursday (February 3).