MATCH! -julkaisun 1 June 2021 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

1. THE BIG KICK-OFF! We’ve been waiting a long time for Euro 2020 to finally start, so we’re hoping Turkey and Italy deliver a proper performance in the opener! The Italians are the big favourites at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, especially considering they’ve never lost to Turkey in 11 meetings between the two nations! Italy v Turkey GROUP A June 11, 8pm 2. DRAGONS DESIRE! Wales will want to start their Euro 2020 campaign the same way they did five years ago – with a win! Three points from the first game is always a big morale boost, but Switzerland also won their opener at Euro 2016 and will be out to spoil any Welsh celebrations. We think it’ll be well tight! Wales v Switzerland GROUP A June 12,…

Italy Population: 60m Capital: Rome Gaffer: Roberto Mancini Ranking: 7th STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! Ciro Immobile Striker Italy will view the 2020 Golden Shoe winner as their biggest goal threat and believe he can fire The Azzurri to glory! The Lazio hitman is a lethal finisher who always finds himself in dangerous positions! FIXTURES! June 11 Turkey Rome, 8pm June 16 Switzerland Rome, 8pm June 20 Wales Rome, 5pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… Italy are as inconsistent as you could get at major tournaments - they either do amazingly or miserably! VERDICT! They’re one of the most in-form sides going into the comp and have an experienced boss in Roberto Mancini. They should breeze through this group! Turkey Population: 83m Capital: Ankara Gaffer: Senol Gunes Ranking: 29th STRONGEST LINE-UP!…

England Population: 56m Capital: London Gaffer: Gareth Southgate Ranking: 4th STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! Harry Kane Striker England’s captain and top scorer in qualifying heads into the Euros on the back of an awesome season for Spurs! He’d love to follow up his World Cup Golden Boot with the Euros prize! FIXTURES! June 13 Croatia London, 2pm June 18 Scotland London, 8pm June 22 Czech Republic London, 8pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… England have a habit of getting fans’ hopes up, only to fall near the final hurdle – like at World Cup 2018! VERDICT! The Three Lions head into the tourno with reasons to be optimistic – a young, talented squad and the luxury of playing all their matches at Wembley! Croatia Population: 4m Capital: Zagreb Gaffer: Zlatko…

DID YOU KNOW? Ex-Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic scored the first-ever goal at the futuristic stadium! STADIUM FACTS TEAM: Zenit Saint Petersburg COUNTRY: Russia CITY: Saint Petersburg BUILT: 2017 CAPACITY: 67,800 RECORD ATTENDANCE: 71,381, Russia v Finland, 2018…

Belgium Population: 11m Capital: Brussels Gaffer: Roberto Martinez Ranking: 1st STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! KevinDe Bruyne Midfielder Belgium’s talisman is one of the best players in the world and can spot a killer through-ball from almost anywhere on the pitch! His vision, passing and shooting make him unplayable, so he’ll be their main man! FIXTURES! June 12 Russia Saint Petersburg, 8pm June 17 Denmark Copenhagen, 5pm June 21 Finland Saint Petersburg, 8pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… As it’s their nickname, it seems only right to give Belgium ‘The Red Devil’ emoji! And they’re deadly! VERDICT! They topped their qualifying group without losing a single match and finished first in their Nations League group. They’re one of the big favourites! Russia Population: 146m Capital: Moscow Gaffer: Stanislav Cherchesov Ranking: 38th…

Spain Population: 47m Capital: Madrid Gaffer: Luis Enrique Ranking: 6th STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! Ferran Torres Winger This Spain team has a real youthfulness about it, and Torres is one of its standout stars! He’s shown glimpses of his class at Man. City this season, but his sick hat-trick v Germany in November shows what he’s capable of! FIXTURES! June 14 Sweden Seville, 8pm June 19 Poland Seville, 8pm June 23 Slovakia Seville, 5pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… Spain love having control and possession of the ball! Expect them to be top of the pass accuracy charts! VERDICT! Spain are a stylish side who play nice football, but they’re not the winning machine of 2008 or 2012! They lack an elite goal grabber, but should progress! Poland Population: 38m…

9 Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most matches in the tournament’s history and is the joint-highest scorer on nine goals! 2016 He helped Portugal become the first team to win the tournament despite not winning a single game in the group stage in 2016! 3 The Three Lions have lost three penalty shootouts – the most in Euros history along side Italy and Netherlands! 108 goals were scored at Euro 2016 – the most in the tournament’s history! 2012 In the last two tournaments, only one team has won all three group matches – Germany in 2012!…

EUROS EXCITEMENT! KINGSLEY SAYS: “It’s always going to be a motivation to play for your country at a major tournament!” TOP TALENT! KINGSLEY SAYS: “We have some of the best young players in the world and hopefully we can be around for many more tournaments!” FRANCE’S CHANCES! KINGSLEY SAYS: “We know our ability but, when you talk about winning a European Championship or World Cup, it is never easy because of the quality of teams you need to beat along the way. To dominate international football is the aim though with the players we have!” LETHAL LEWANDOWSKI! KINGSLEY SAYS: “He is a natural goalscorer – even though he works hard, he just makes scoring goals look so easy! Last season he showed he was the best – both in Europe…

Netherlands Population: 17m Capital: Amsterdam Gaffer: Frank de Boer Ranking: 16th STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! Frenkie de Jong Midfielder The Netherlands will be looking to their classy midfielder to lead them to success this summer! The 24-year-old is a master of the ball, has unreal technical ability in tight spaces and makes the game look easy! FIXTURES! June 13 Ukraine Amsterdam, 8pm June 17 Austria Amsterdam, 8pm June 21 N. Macedonia Amsterdam, 5pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… The Netherlands are buzzing to be back at a major tournament for the first time in seven years! VERDICT! They’re the firm favourites to win Group C with some very exciting young talents in their squad, but will they cope without Virgil van Dijk? Ukraine Population: 41m Capital: Kiev Gaffer: Andriy Shevchenko…

Germany Population: 83m Capital: Berlin Gaffer: Joachim Low Ranking: 12th STRONGEST LINE-UP! STAR MAN! Serge Gnabry Winger The electric Bayern winger scored eight goals in seven matches in qualifying, as well as grabbing an assist! His link-up play with club team-mates Goretzka, Sane, Muller and Kimmich is a big bonus for Germany! FIXTURES! June 15 France Munich, 8pm June 19 Portugal Munich, 5pm June 23 Hungary Munich, 8pm IF THEY WERE AN EMOJI… They topped their qualifying group, but got thrashed 6-0 by Spain in 2020 and lost to North Macedonia in March! VERDICT! Germany want to make up for being knocked out early at Russia 2018. With home advantage, plus Muller and Hummels back, they’ve got every chance! France Population: 67m Capital: Paris Gaffer: Didier Deschamps Ranking: 2nd STRONGEST…

FIFA 21 CHALLENGE! Name the two England stars from these awesome FUT cards! BACK OF THE FUTURE Which classy full-back has gone back in time to own Poland & Ukraine 2012? CLUB SHARERS! Which team have these Euros legends all played for? You Tube STAR! Which France defender has taken over a Knuckleball Twins video? CAMERA SHY! Which Euro heroes are hiding from the MATCH snapper in these pics? NAME THE TEAM! Can you name England’s XI that beat Republic of Ireland in their November friendly? 1. Chelsea Wing-back 2. Everton Centre-back 3. Burnley Goalkeeper 4. Man. United Centre-back 5. Everton Striker Aston Villa Centre-back TYRONE MINGS 6. Chelsea Midfielder 7. Arsenal Wing-back 8. Aston Villa Winger 9. Tottenham Midfielder 10. B. Dortmund Winger SUPER SKIPPERS! Which footy heroes captain these…