The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has led to the postponement of the 2020 European Championship which was originally scheduled to hold between June and July. The 2021 edition is billed to hold in various countries across the globe between 11 June – 11 July. This year’s pan-European event will make it 61 years since the inaugural tournament. This is as its diamond anniversary in 2020 could not be commemorated as a result of the unavoidable postponement.
The long-awaited Euro will take place in 12 countries as originally planned. This was asserted in a virtual meeting held by Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President, with the host nations. However, there was a change in the qualification process of this year’s edition. For instance, the implication of the tournament being held in various countries is that there will be no automatic qualifier – all teams have to work their way up.
It should be noted that the Euros serves as a flagship tournament for national football teams. Not only that but it is also an essential source of capital that could be utilized for the development of football at the grassroots. Bettors have also found great interest in the tournament as most betting sites and bookmakers make impressive betting offers available to players.
Despite the fact that the 2021 Euros will hold, stadiums might not be populated in full capacities as witnessed in the years preceding the outbreak. Conversely, the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are currently being rolled out may result in a situation where not all the games will be played or watched virtually. There are possibilities for viewers to be granted unhindered entry into the stadiums, though with the precondition of being vaccinated. Luckily, those wagering on the games can stay at home watching and betting comfortably from their couch. OLBG has put together this article identifying the MUST HAVE bookmakers for Euro 2020 to help the novice punter
The reason behind the tournament being held in 12 nations
The European Championship was scheduled to hold across various continents rather than the former way of confining it within one or two host nations. It is no coincidence that the decision was made by UEFA’s Executive Committee in 2012 to commemorate the diamond anniversary of the tournament.
Also, it considered the probability of a host country facing some economic challenges that may hinder it from investing in facilities to the premium requirements of the events. At this time of making the decision, it was not envisaged that a global pandemic that will affect the conduct of the game would occur.
Euro 2021 hosts
This year’s edition will feature a minimum of three group stage games as well as a knock-out round tie each. The 12 cities and stadiums are:
Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken Stadium
Budapest, Hungary – Ferenc Puskas Stadium
Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium
Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johann Cruijff Arena
Bucharest, Romania – Arena Nationala
Glasgow, Scotland – Hampden Park
Bilbao, Spain – San Mames Stadium
Baku, Azerbaijan – National Stadium
Munich, Germany – Allianz Arena
Rome, Italy – Stadio Olimpico
Saint Petersburg, Russia – Krestovsky Stadium
London, England – Wembley Stadium
Euro 2021 groups
Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland
Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia
Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, Georgia, North Macedonia
Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland
Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia
Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, Hungary
Euro group stage fixtures
Friday, June 11
Group A: Turkey vs Italy; Kick-off 8 pm (Rome)
Saturday, June 12
Group A: Wales vs Switzerland; Kick-off 2 pm (Baku)
Group B: Denmark vs Finland; Kick-off 5 pm (Copenhagen)
Group B: Belgium vs Russia; Kick-off 8 pm (St Petersburg)
Sunday, June 13
Group D: England vs Croatia; Kick-off 2 pm (London)
Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia; Kick-off 5 pm (Bucharest)
Group C: the Netherlands vs Ukraine; Kick-off 8 pm (Amsterdam)
Monday, June 14
Group D: Scotland vs the Czech Republic; Kick-off 2 pm (Glasgow)
Group E: Poland vs Slovakia; Kick-off 5 pm (St Petersburg)
Group E: Spain vs Sweden; Kick-off 8 pm (Seville)
Tuesday, June 15
Group F: Hungary vs Portugal; Kick-off 5 pm (Budapest)
Group F: France vs Germany; Kick-off 8 pm (Munich)
Wednesday, June 16
Group B: Finland vs Russia: Kick-off 2 pm (St Petersburg)
Group A: Turkey vs Wales: Kick-off 5 pm (Baku)
Group A: Italy vs Switzerland; Kick-off 8 pm (Rome)
Thursday, June 17
Group C: Ukraine vs North Macedonia; Kick-off 2 pm (Bucharest)
Group B: Denmark vs Belgium; Kick-off 5 pm (Copenhagen)
Group C: the Netherlands vs Austria; Kick-off 8 pm (Amsterdam)
Friday, June 18
Group E: Sweden vs Slovakia; Kick-off 2 pm (St Petersburg)
Group D: Croatia vs the Czech Republic; Kick-off 5 pm (Glasgow)
Group D: England vs Scotland; Kick-off 8 pm (London)
Saturday, June 19
Group F: Hungary vs France; Kick-off 2 pm (Budapest)
Group F: Portugal vs Germany; Kick-off 5 pm (Munich)
Group E: Spain vs Poland; Kick-off 8 pm (Seville)
Sunday, June 20
Group A: Italy vs Wales; Kick-off 5 pm (Rome)
Group A: Switzerland vs Turkey; Kick-off 5 pm (Baku)
Monday, June 21
Group C: North Macedonia vs the Netherlands; Kick-off 5 pm (Amsterdam)
Group C: Ukraine vs Austria; Kick-off 5 pm (Bucharest)
Group B: Russia vs Denmark; Kick-off 8 pm (Copenhagen)
Group B: Finland vs Belgium; Kick-off 8 pm (St Petersburg)
Tuesday, June 22
Group D: the Czech Republic vs England; Kick-off 8 pm (London)
Group D: Croatia vs Scotland; Kick-off 8 pm (Glasgow)
Wednesday, June 23
Group E: Slovakia vs Spain; Kick-off 5 pm (Seville)
Group E: Sweden vs Poland; Kick-off 5 pm (St Petersburg)
Group F: Germany vs Hungary; Kick-off 8 pm (Munich)
Group F: Portugal vs France; Kick-off 8pm (Budapest)
Source: Skysports
Euros 2021 final
The Euros 2021 final will hold at Wembley Stadium in London. The stadium is the seat of the England national team, who came fourth in the 2018 World Cup. Also referred to as ‘The Home of Football,’ the stadium has a capacity of 90,000, having hosted League Cup and FA Cup finals, as well as the Community Shield. The final kickoff is scheduled to hold on Sunday, July 11 at 8 pm
Conclusion
The event is another Super Bowl but in the football world. By the time the event will kickstart, it is expected that the Premier League, La Liga, and other soccer leagues would have completed their schedules, barring any external factors. So far, all the 12 hosts are yet to show any intention to withdraw. They are only to work on putting necessary precautionary measures to contain the virus spread in place.