The team are now in Switzerland ahead of the announcement with canvassing still uppermost in their minds as they attempt to bring the event to Scotland and Ireland after 18 months developing the bid.

Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor has joined Lyons and John Henderson in Geneva with Football Association of Ireland officials also in the country.

But, while Lyons concedes there may be an element of political voting in the final count, he is adamant the majority of the UEFA delegates will go into the decision with an “open mind”.

Lyons said: “We are up against some pretty tough competition and the decision is not just a straight-forward ‘merited’ one.

“It involves politics as well which is much harder to read. But we believe we have a very strong case on paper and on merit.

“People have their political views and perceptions but it is whether those are strong. Very few will have made up their mind before the presentation.

“They will go into that presentation with a very open mind – very few of the delegates will have buttoned down their decision before then. But let’s see what happens.

“We are all quietly confident. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said last week that the candidates should have most of the facilities in place by now and we have.

“Our bid document is very strong and there isn’t a need for us to do too much more.”

But Lyons admits he is feeling “anxious” after 16 months spearheading the bid alongside former civil servant John Henderson.

Lyons’ own background as a marketing guru, which persuaded bid officials to hire him in August 2001, did not offer him an insight into the emotions he would feel as the long race hurtles to its climax on Thursday.

Lyons said: “I’m feeling anxious. We have been working for almost a year and a half building up to this.

“But we have put together a very professional and very strong case. It is now up to UEFA to look at us and make their decision.”