Europe's Biggest Football Showdown The Euro 2020 Championship
The Euro 2020 Championship, also known as Euro 2021, is the 16th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial football tournament contested by the national teams of Europe. Originally scheduled to take place from June 12 to July 12, 2020, the competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for June 11 to July 11, 2021.
Host Cities and Venues
The Euro 2020 Championship will be spread across 11 host cities in 11 different countries, marking the first time ever that the tournament will not be held in a single host nation. The host cities and venues are:
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Johan Cruyff Arena
Baku, Azerbaijan - Baku Olympic Stadium
Bilbao, Spain - San Mamés Stadium
Bucharest, Romania - National Arena Bucharest
Budapest, Hungary - Ferenc Puskás Stadium
Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
Glasgow, Scotland - Hampden Park
London, England - Wembley Stadium
Munich, Germany - Allianz Arena
Rome, Italy - Stadio Olimpico
Saint Petersburg, Russia - Krestovsky Stadium
Format and Qualification
24 teams will compete in the Euro 2020 Championship, divided into six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, as well as the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage, which includes the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
The 24 teams qualified for the tournament through a combination of their performance in the UEFA Nations League and the traditional qualifying process. The qualifying matches took place from March to November 2019, with a total of 55 teams competing for the 24 available spots.
Favorites and Contenders
The Euro 2020 Championship is widely regarded as one of the most competitive football tournaments in the world, with numerous top-quality teams vying for the title. Some of the favorites and contenders for the tournament include:
France - The current World Cup champions have a wealth of talent in their squad, including Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and N'Golo Kante.
England - Led by prolific striker Harry Kane, England has a talented young squad that made it to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup.
Belgium - Featuring stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Eden Hazard, Belgium is ranked as the top team in the world according to FIFA rankings.
Germany - Always a formidable opponent, Germany is a four-time World Cup champion and a three-time European champion.
Spain - A traditional powerhouse in international football, Spain won three consecutive major tournaments from 2008 to 2012.
Conclusion
The Euro 2020 Championship promises to be an exciting and highly competitive tournament, with 24 of Europe's top national teams battling for the title. With a new format and a spread of host cities across the continent, the tournament is sure to be a unique and memorable experience for players and fans alike.