19.09.2014 14:50 h

Unanimous vote for Euro 2020 final in London, Germany withdrew bid

Germany withdrew its bid to host the Euro 2020 final and semi-finals, leaving the path free for London's Wembley stadium to win unanimous approval by UEFA, a top official said Friday.

But London was also the overwhelming favourite to win from the beginning, UEFA boss Michel Platini said.

Only Munich and London were left in the running to host the top games of the unique European championship in six years, which will see 51 games distributed between 13 different countries.

"The selection of London and Wembley stadium was made by a unanimous acclamation after Munich decided to withdraw its candidature just prior to the vote," Gianni Infantino, the general secretary of European football's governing body told journalists after the host cities were announced.

Regardless of Germany's decision however, the choice of Wembley was never in doubt, Platini insisted.

"In the bid evaluation, it was England that was first ahead of everyone... England had the best bid so maybe Germany understood England deserved it and so they withdrew to justify this choice of Wembley and London.

"Even if Germany withdrew, the executive committee voted unanimously to give the final and semi-finals to London," he added.

"I'd like to tell my friends in the English press that I voted for London and for England!" he also said jokingly.

Ahead of the vote, top German football officials had hinted they might withdraw if in return London supported their bid to host the tournament in 2024, when the Euro will return to the single-host format.

English Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke insisted however on Friday that there was no agreed trade-off.

"There is no deal. We had discussions with the German FA but there is no agreement," he said.

"It was quite clear whoever won the final for 2020 wouldn't be in the bidding for 2024... (but) we'll decide who to support at the time."