Euro 2020: an atypical and special 1:21 tournament
(CNN) -
The one-year delay has only added to the excitement for Euro, the 2020 UEFA European football championship. The European tournament, which continues to be called Euro 2020 despite now being held in 2021, was postponed last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It all starts on Friday, June 11, when Italy and Turkey meet in the opening match of the tournament at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, and the final will be held at the English Wembley Stadium on Sunday, July 11.
For the first time, the competition will take place across the continent, in some of the largest and most famous stadiums in Europe, and not in one or two countries.
Wembley Stadium, prior to Euro 2020.
Besides London and Rome, the other host cities are Baku, Saint Petersburg, Copenhagen, Budapest, Amsterdam, Bucharest, Glasgow, Seville and Munich.
Bilbao, in Spain, and Dublin, in Ireland, were scheduled to host the matches, but after local authorities did not allow fans to attend matches due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the agency rector of European football, UEFA, decided to move the matches from Bilbao to Seville and those from Dublin to Saint Petersburg.
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There are 24 teams that will play 51 games in the 11 host cities over the next month, with some well-known nations among the favorites.
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World champion France is in excellent shape, with a talented squad, and the return of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, who brings an added offensive threat to the team.
Benzema shoots during a friendly match against Bulgaria.
Reigning champion Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, looks strong again, while FIFA ranked number 1 Belgium will be joined by superstar Kevin de Bruyne after suffering a facial injury in the Champions League final League.
Spain and Germany, who have won the competition three times each, hope to bounce back after poor World Cup performances three years ago, while after a few years on the sidelines, Italy is looking forward to a more fruitful tournament in 2021, with its talented midfield as a strong reason to be optimistic.
The youth and exuberance of England and the Netherlands could help carry them through the tournament, or will there be an opponent who can shake up the competition like Greece did in 2004?
A UEFA European Championship Fan Zone football village on Ofelia Beach in Copenhagen, Denmark.
If you are within one of the participating countries, here you can see the action:
Austria: ORF
Belgium: VRT / RTBF
Croatia: HRT / Sportklub
Czech Republic: Republic Česká televize
Denmark: DKDR / NENT Group Denmark
Finland: YLE
France: M6 / TF1
Germany: ARD / ZDF
Hungary: MTVA
Italy: RAI / Sky Italy
Netherlands : NOS
North Macedonia: Sportklub
Poland: TVP
Portugal: Sport TV Portugal
Russia: Channel One / Match TV / RTR
Slovakia: RTV Slovakia
Spain: Mediaset Spain
Sweden: SVT / TV4
Switzerland: SRG
Turkey: TRT
Ukraine: Media Group Ukraine
UK : BBC / ITV
Others:
Australia: Optus
Brasil: Globosat
India: Sony
Indonesia: MNC / Mola TV / RCTI
Kenya: Star Times / SuperSport / Canal + Afrique / KTN
Nigeria: Star Times / SuperSport / Canal + Afrique
South Africa: SuperSport
United Arab Emirates: beIN Sports
United States: ESPN / Univision
Click here for the full list
Eurocup
