UEFA president Michel Platini has warned Poland and Ukraine they need to give cast-iron guarantees over their two main stadiums if they are to keep the Euro 2012 finals.
Platini is to head a top-level inspection visit to the two eastern European countries next week, and will focus on the stadiums in Warsaw and Kiev.
Work has not even started on the new stadium in the Polish capital, while contractors have not been appointed yet for the major refurbishment of the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.
Platini, speaking in Vienna, denied however that Italy have already been lined up as replacements.
He said: "We will do everything we can to hold it in Poland or Ukraine.
"There is no back-up plan, we have never had any second thoughts or other thoughts and we respect our decision to go to Poland and Ukraine.
"The only thing which would make me decide not to go is if there is no stadiums in the capitals, Warsaw and Kiev. If there are no stadiums there, no tournament."
It now looks as if Ukraine and Poland face a major battle to convince UEFA, but Italy would not be a straightforward alternative - they too would have to have a major stadium development programme.
The only countries with ready-made stadium facilities are England, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
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I have watched the Eurovision Song Contest all my life, I would imagine, every year as more and more Countries become independant and enter, the more political their voting becomes...European football is heading the same way, only in this, it is not the Countries that are becoming political, it is the leadership, You have Blatter in one corner, who is intent on doing all in his power to stop British Football from returning to its past status, then you have Platini, who used to be a supporter of the British game, turning on our supporters then teams and now seemingly blanking our Stadiums and abilities to handle major tournaments...he may cite the Eufa Cup Final as an example of our poor management but that was foriegn supporters and a minority at that. England has some of the finest stadium now, even Stokes, Britannia Stadium, is weel laid out and accessable. Stop with the politics and let football get on with it.
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