After almost three years’ worth of qualifying whittling 55 European nations down to 24, including an additional year of postponement, in a month’s time to today, the 11th of June 2021, Euro 2020 will finally kick off. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico hosts a match between Turkey and Italy which will signal the start of a month of tournament football played across 11 different countries culminating in the grand final at the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium in London.
Five years ago, Portugal took their first European title, edging out hosts France 1-0 after extra time in Paris, and the complement of countries competing at this year’s finals is fairly similar, with 20 of the 24 teams represented at Euro 2016 appearing this time too, albeit with a somewhat reshuffled hierarchy of abilities.
Group A sees the tournament comeback of Italy, the four-time world and one-time European champions who stunningly missed out on the 2018 World Cup but bounced back with 10 wins from 10 in qualification for this tournament, joined by consistent tournament qualifiers Switzerland, Nations League finalists in 2019, Turkey and Wales, semi-finalists in the 2008 and 2016 Euros respectively.
Belgium are the leading side in Group B, having reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup and currently being ranked first by the FIFA World rankings. They are joined by Russia, who impressed as tournament hosts in 2018, Denmark, who famously stunned the continent by winning the 1992 championships as a late inclusion after the withdrawal of Yugoslavia, and Finland, who have made the first major tournament in their 117-year history as a team.
In Group C, the sleeping giants of the Netherlands return, resurgent after absence from the major tournaments of 2016 and 2018, along with Ukraine, managed by their greatest ever player in 2004 Ballon d’or winner Andriy Shevchenko, Austria, 2008 co-hosts seeking their first win at a European Championship tournament after six futile matches across two previous entries, and Macedonia, the second tournament debutants who shocked Germany in World Cup qualifiers in March.
Group D hosts joint tournament favourites England, who will hope to lift the trophy in July in front of a home crowd but must first negotiate the challenge of their World Cup semi-final conquerors Croatia, who consistently punch above their weight among larger and wealthier nations. Completing the group are the Czech Republic, runners-up in 1996, and Scotland, finally back at tournament football following a 23-year absence.
In Group E three-time champions Spain seek to re-establish continental dominance following a series of disappointing tournaments performances which have failed to yield even a quarter-final place since their Euro 2012 victory. Sweden may be helped by the return of the evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will face off against another formidable forward foe in Robert Lewandowski of Poland, who were quarter-finalists at Euro 2016. Slovakia complete the group following play-off wins over the Republic and then Northern Ireland.
Group F looks to be the most intriguing, as world champions France will have a score to settle against Portugal, their conquerors at the last edition five years ago, while 2014 world champions Germany seem to be in a malaise but could prove to be an incredibly dangerous proposition should the soon-to-depart Jogi Low make his array of talented players dovetail effectively. Hungary, who reached the knockout stages in 2016, round out the Group of Death.
The top two from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, all make it into the last 16, from which point they will play a straight knockout tournament leading up to the final in London on July 11.
Who have you got?
Five years ago, Portugal took their first European title, edging out hosts France 1-0 after extra time in Paris, and the complement of countries competing at this year’s finals is fairly similar, with 20 of the 24 teams represented at Euro 2016 appearing this time too, albeit with a somewhat reshuffled hierarchy of abilities.
Group A sees the tournament comeback of Italy, the four-time world and one-time European champions who stunningly missed out on the 2018 World Cup but bounced back with 10 wins from 10 in qualification for this tournament, joined by consistent tournament qualifiers Switzerland, Nations League finalists in 2019, Turkey and Wales, semi-finalists in the 2008 and 2016 Euros respectively.
Belgium are the leading side in Group B, having reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup and currently being ranked first by the FIFA World rankings. They are joined by Russia, who impressed as tournament hosts in 2018, Denmark, who famously stunned the continent by winning the 1992 championships as a late inclusion after the withdrawal of Yugoslavia, and Finland, who have made the first major tournament in their 117-year history as a team.
In Group C, the sleeping giants of the Netherlands return, resurgent after absence from the major tournaments of 2016 and 2018, along with Ukraine, managed by their greatest ever player in 2004 Ballon d’or winner Andriy Shevchenko, Austria, 2008 co-hosts seeking their first win at a European Championship tournament after six futile matches across two previous entries, and Macedonia, the second tournament debutants who shocked Germany in World Cup qualifiers in March.
Group D hosts joint tournament favourites England, who will hope to lift the trophy in July in front of a home crowd but must first negotiate the challenge of their World Cup semi-final conquerors Croatia, who consistently punch above their weight among larger and wealthier nations. Completing the group are the Czech Republic, runners-up in 1996, and Scotland, finally back at tournament football following a 23-year absence.
In Group E three-time champions Spain seek to re-establish continental dominance following a series of disappointing tournaments performances which have failed to yield even a quarter-final place since their Euro 2012 victory. Sweden may be helped by the return of the evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will face off against another formidable forward foe in Robert Lewandowski of Poland, who were quarter-finalists at Euro 2016. Slovakia complete the group following play-off wins over the Republic and then Northern Ireland.
Group F looks to be the most intriguing, as world champions France will have a score to settle against Portugal, their conquerors at the last edition five years ago, while 2014 world champions Germany seem to be in a malaise but could prove to be an incredibly dangerous proposition should the soon-to-depart Jogi Low make his array of talented players dovetail effectively. Hungary, who reached the knockout stages in 2016, round out the Group of Death.
The top two from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, all make it into the last 16, from which point they will play a straight knockout tournament leading up to the final in London on July 11.
Who have you got?
