FIFA vice-president David Will claims Scotland and Ireland are neck-and-neck with Austria and Switzerland in the race to host the 2008 European Championships.

The two joint bids are among seven aiming to stage the tournament, but Will, from Brechin, believes the Scottish/Irish bid that he is backing is an early favourite.

He said: "I would put Scotland and Ireland joint favourites with Austria and Switzerland. These two are the strongest bids. The pendulum might swing our (Scotland and Ireland's) way even more when it is realised a Swiss/Austrian championship would follow so closely after the World Cup in neighbouring Germany just two years before.

"I also believe we have an advantage in that we have a majority of very large capacity stadia, like Hampden Park (above), which makes us attractive to UEFA.

"We will be providing six out of eight stadia with large capacities of 50,000 or more, which makes it attractive from a financial perspective."

Other bids include one from four Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Although Scandinavians have a strong political presence within UEFA, the administrative problems of staging a tournament across four countries makes them comparative outsiders.

Furthermore, UEFA communications director Mike Lee has confirmed that if the bid were successful, only two of the four host countries would be allowed automatic qualification.

If UEFA were to decide in favour of the Nordic bid, it would mean accepting a possible scenario whereby European Championship matches would be played in one, or even two, countries which had not qualified for the finals.

Scotland and Ireland's main drawback is the fact that the 1996 tournament was staged in England. That might affect some thinking within UEFA, even though for football purposes Scotland is viewed as independent from England.

The other bids, from Greece/Turkey, Bosnia/Croatia, plus single bids by Russia and Hungary, would all need to convince UEFA's executive committee they could overcome serious problems with stadia and security.

What may prove crucial to the eventual winner is when the seven are reduced to a short-list of two or three before a final vote on the host is taken on December 13th by members of the UEFA executive committee.

Of the 14 members of the executive committee, six come from countries involved with a bid and are ineligible to vote. If their bids are not short-listed, however, those members can then join in for the final votes.

Scotland and Ireland

UEFA visit: September 9th-13th

Advantages: The best stadia of all the bids, six out of eight grounds with capacity of more than 50,000. Scottish and Irish fans have an unrivalled reputation across the world. No worries about security.

Disadvantages: The fact the championships were held within the British Isles so recently (England, Euro 96). No land border between Scotland and Ireland.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Geoff Thompson (England), possibly Joseph Mifsud (Malta), Mathieu Sprengers (Holland), and Angel Villar Llona (Spain).

Chances: Very good.

Austria and Switzerland

UEFA visit: August 19th-23th

Advantages: Good political backing, with UEFA and FIFA both based in Switzerland. Austria has bid unsuccessfully in the past. Decent stadia and neither country has staged a major football tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Switzerland.

Disadvantages: It would mean the European Championships taking place in central Europe just two years after the World Cup in neighbouring Germany.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany), and possibly Henri Roemer (Luxembourg). Giangiorgio Spiess (Switzerland) not eligible to vote.

Chances: Good.

Greece and Turkey

UEFA visit: October 14th-18th

Advantages: An opportunity to build bridges between traditional political enemies, following the example of Korea and Japan. Turkey, especially, is establishing itself as a footballing power in Europe and the game is hugely popular in both countries.

Disadvantages: Greece would struggle with the stadia required, as to a lesser extent would Turkey. Another problem is the security situation with fans, as Turkish supporters have been involved in several incidents in recent years, while Greece has its internal problems.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Mario Lefkaritis (Cyprus), while Malta's Joseph Mifsud is a possible if he decides against Scotland and Ireland. Senes Erzik (Turkey) not eligible to vote.

Chances: Fair

Hungary

UEFA visit: September 23rd-27th

Advantages: Like Russia, has the advantage of being a single country bid. Lost out to Portugal for 2004 last time when bidding jointly with Austria.

Disadvantages: Lost due mainly to poor stadia last time and the situation remains much the same now. Little political backing on UEFA's executive committee.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Probably none.

Chances: Poor

Nordic bid

(Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland)

UEFA visit: August 26th-30th

Advantages: Scandinavians carry heavy political clout within UEFA - the president is Sweden's Lennart Johansson. Norway, Finland and Denmark have never staged a major football competition. Good stadia available.

Disadvantages: Administrative complications of organising a tournament across four countries, with four different governments and numerous security forces. Sweden hosted the European Championship as recently as 1992.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Johansson, Per Ravn Omdal (Norway), and Eggert Magnusson (Iceland) are all ineligible to vote but do wield influence.

Chances: Fair

Russia

UEFA visit: September 9-13

Advantages: One of only two single country bids, which at a stroke removes the administrative problems associated with co-hosting. Will have a large potential fan base at every venue.

Disadvantages: Big problems with the standard of stadia required. The sheer distances in such a vast country could count against them.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), but he is ineligible to vote. Possibly Michel Platini (France).

Chances: Fairly Poor

Bosnia and Croatia

UEFA visit: October 7-11

Advantages: A chance to use football to heal divisions caused by the war in the Balkans. It would spread European football to countries which have never had the opportunity to host a major soccer event.

Disadvantages: Enormous problems with the stadia. Security problem is more about fears of the continued lack of stability in the region.

Supporters on UEFA executive committee: Probably none.

Chances: Non-existent