A final decision will be taken by the UEFA Executive Committee on 15 December.

The other countries in contention are Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Turkey and Sweden. Italy and Portugal are also both bidding for the 2006 tournament.

FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: "We feel we have a very strong and high-quality bid. England would provide UEFA with outstanding stadiums and facilities, an unrivalled passion and atmosphere at the games, and a firm commitment to make this tournament the most successful in its history."

Under-21s coach Peter Taylor said: "An Under-21 European Championship in England would be a fantastic tournament which the fans would really get behind.

"Travelling around the country I have been overwhelmed by the passion for Under-21s football. No other country in Europe comes close. That enthusiasm would make for a colourful, exciting and highly successful championship."

The tournament would be played from 10-24 June across the Midlands, with the final at the magnificent new 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium. A shortlist of venues would be made from:

  • Pride Park (Derby County)
  • Walkers Stadium (Leicester City)
  • City Ground (Nottingham Forest)
  • Meadow Lane (Notts County)
  • Ricoh Arena (Coventry City)
  • Molineux (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
  • Britannia Stadium (Stoke City)
  • The Hawthorns (West Bromwich Albion)

The 2007 edition will be the first championship under UEFA’s new format, in which host countries are selected in advance and qualify automatically for the eight-team finals. To date, national associations have been invited to bid once the finalist teams are known.

England has a proven track record of hosting major UEFA tournaments. This year the North West was the stage for the highly successful UEFA Women's’ Euro 2005, which showcased the best of the continent’s women players in front of a record cumulative crowd of over 115,000.

In 2001, around 30,000 fans watched England’s Semi-Final against France at the UEFA Under-16 Championship in the North East, as well as the Final between France and Spain.

Euro 96 was the first European Championship to feature 16 teams, and brought fans from all over the continent together in a true festival of football. The total attendance of 1,279,000 averaged at over 41,000.

England were crowned European Under-21 champions in 1982 and 1984 under Dave Sexton.

Peter Taylor's current team face France in a two-leg play-off to achieve qualification for next year's finals.

The home leg will be played at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane on Friday 11 November (kick-off 7.30pm) with the return match in Nancy on Tuesday 15 November (kick-off 8pm UK time).