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Italy would be willing to co-host Euro 2016 with fierce rivals France, the Italian FA president said.

UEFA said last week that Italy, France and Turkey were considering single bids with Norway and Sweden looking at co-hosting the championship, which will be the first to have 24 teams.

"We do not have a problem with a joint bid for Euro 2016. If it were France, it would be a friendly and neighbouring country. If it were not technically and politically possible, we would go ahead alone," Giancarlo Abete told Italian radio.

"With great transparency, we want to check if a way forward can be found. If it is not possible, we are not scared of competing by ourselves."

Italy missed out on Euro 2012 to Ukraine and Poland partly because of the decaying state of many Serie A stadiums, which were built or refurbished for the 1990 World Cup.

Huge investment in difficult economic times would be needed to revamp Italy's footballing infrastructure, making the idea of a joint bid more appealing.

There is no love lost between Italy and France on the field and off it, with the teams having a long-standing football rivalry.

A golden goal by Italy-based France striker David Trezeguet gave Les Blues a Euro 2000 win over the Azzurri.

Italy got their revenge when they beat France on penalties in the last World Cup final three years ago and they triumphed again at Euro 2008 with a 2-0 win in the group stage.

Outspoken France coach Raymond Domenech, meanwhile, is constantly pilloried by Italian media.

Bid dossiers have to be presented to UEFA by February 15, 2010 with a final decision made on or around May 27 next year.

Reuters