The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) intends to change the format of the qualifying cycle for the 2008 European Football Championship, the decisive stage of which will be held in Austria and Switzerland. \n \nTeams that finish second and third in their groups will have a chance to reach the final stage. UEFA representative William Gaillard reported that by means of a draw, pairs will be formed from these national teams, which will determine the strongest in two play-off matches. They will advance to the final of Euro 2008, where they will join the group winners, as well as the national teams of Austria and Switzerland, which are spared from the qualifying cycle as the host countries of the tournament. \n \nThe decision to change the format is to be adopted at a meeting of UEFA representatives on Wednesday, February 2, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland). "On Wednesday the UEFA Executive Committee will decide whether to keep the previous form of the draw or introduce an alternative one," Gaillard noted. "Sometimes only the goal difference took one team into the play-off matches and deprived another of all chances to continue the struggle. The new scheme is a fairer way to determine the best national team." \n \nIn addition, on Wednesday UEFA will consider the issue of reducing European club squads to 25 players. Among other things, the problem of foreign players in European football will be discussed. "We believe that a club should have a minimum of eight footballers from the same country as the team – that is, almost a third of the entire squad," Gaillard emphasized. \n \nThe meeting on Wednesday is also planned to determine the cities where the final matches of the 2006 and 2007 European cups will be held.