EURO 2020

Welcome to a European Championship like no other after a year like no other. A true festival of football shared among 12 nations, in 12 wonderful stadiums, across the most powerful footballing continent on the planet. Twenty-four teams, each a meagre six wins from the final, will contest 51 matches, with the last two nations duking it out in the ‘home of football’, Wembley Stadium, on 11 July to become European Champions. After the Icelandic embarrassment of 2016, The Three Lions are back in the groove under Gareth Southgate; Roberto Mancini’s Italy look back to their formidable best; Die Mannschaft should never be underestimated; Cristiano Ronaldo is still doing the business for the Portugeezers; and France, well, their second XI would have a good chance of making the final, that’s how…

A is for… ADIDAS UNIFORIA Uniforia is a portmanteau named in honour of the ‘unity’ and the ‘euphoria’ that football can bring. Its bold aesthetics are designed by adidas to celebrate the togetherness that this year’s tournament will inspire across the continent, and its unique ‘Hi-White’ material allows for better visibility on the pitch. B is for… “BRIDGE BETWEEN NATIONS” UEFA have described this summer’s tournament as a ‘EURO for Europe’. With 12 cities across Europe delivering 51 matches over 31 days, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the tournament will act “as a bridge between nations, and carry the competition closer to the fans, who are the essential lifeblood of the game.” C is for… CRISTIANO RONALDO Has made the most appearances in European Championship finals (21), has the most goals in qualifying and tournament phases (40), most…

JOURNEY TO EURO 2020 Şenol Güneş inherited a side somewhere between unsettled and in total disarray in February 2019, so in many respects it’s a surprise to see them line up at Euro 2020, let alone play in the gala-ridden opening fixture in Rome against Roberto Mancini’s rejuvenated Azzurri. So how did he do it? Well, taking four points off World Champions France didn’t do Turkey’s confidence or points haul any harm. They dominated Les Bleus in the home game, their imperious defence — marshalled with aplomb by Leicester City’s Çağlar Söyüncü — stopping France’s superstars in their tracks. Mistakes from the French allowed Turkey to score both their goals, but the manner in which said mistakes were punished shouldn’t be lost on other teams in Group A. Turkey let their advantage slip…

JOURNEY TO EURO 2020 Alongside Holland, Italy were the most notable failures to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia (the first time they had missed one in six decades). Ineffectual, unimaginative and at times plain ugly, their horror campaign prompted pundits to predict a long and painful recovery for the mighty Azzurri. Huge props then to new boss Roberto Mancini for the speed with which he’s managed to turn things around. Since his arrival, Italy ascended from national embarrassment to genuine contenders by adhering to a staunch new ethic: rapid pressing and transitions by hungry players desperate to impress the new boss. A qualifying group containing Finland, Bosnia, Greece, Armenia and Liechtenstein doesn’t appear too tough, but the ruthless way in which Mancini’s new-look side dismantled them is what Italian fans…

JOURNEY TO EURO 2020 It’s official: there’s never been a better time to be a Wales fan. After waiting an exhausting 57 years to reach a major football tournament, two have come in semi-quick succession. The 2018 World Cup proved beyond them, but they blossomed incredulously at Euro 2016 – winning hearts, minds and seriously difficult football matches – and reaching the semi-finals of the tournament before capitulating to Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventual winners, Portugal. Such miraculous endeavours have given the nation the kind of confidence boost that has made them fearless as opposed to reckless, although they did make hard work of the qualifying phase. Under Ryan Giggs’s stewardship, they started slowly, beating Slovakia 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium before losing to both Croatia and Hungary away from home. Once settled, they grew…

JOURNEY TO EURO 2020 In their last three major tournaments, the Swiss have vanquished their group and managed to secure knockout football, becoming renowned as a difficult team — with little enviable history — that give nothing away even to the continent’s biggest sides. Whilst the Swiss have by no means been given an easy task in Euro 2020 — drawn alongside the rejuvenated Italians, bullish Turks and fearless Welsh — Vladimir Petković and his players will in no way be overawed by the opponents on offer in Group A. Switzerland have consistency and experience on their side, you see. The backbone of the squad — Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Yann Sommer, Ricardo Rodríguez, Fabian Schär and Haris Seferović — have played together for an extended period of time, achieved more than expected…