Euro 2020

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      Euro 2020 fixtures: Wales, Denmark and Belgium in action TODAY, England vs Croatia this weekend

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      EURO 2020 is finally upon us with a massive festival of football ahead.It’s set to be a huge summer of action from around Europe as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions go for glory.
      Southgate will be hoping to build on a good performance in the 2018 World CupCredit: AFP
      Billy Gilmour will be in action for Scotland after being picked by Steve ClarkeCredit: The Sun
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      There is plenty of home nations interest as well with Wales and Scotland involved in this summer’s showpiece.
      Re-arranged from last year’s cancelled tournament, Turkey face Italy in the Group A curtain-raiser in Rome.
      Euro 2020 confirmed groups
      There are 24 nations competing in Euro 2020, which will get underway on Friday, June 11 2021.
      Of the Home Nations, three have made it to the finals with England and Scotland both in Group D, while Wales have a tough ask in Group A.

      Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland.
      Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia.
      Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia.
      Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland.
      Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia.
      Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, Hungary.

      Euro 2020 fixtures
      Every single match of this summer’s tournament will be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.
      You can catch the games on either the BBC or ITV, so anyone with a valid TV licence can watch.
      Games kick-off at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm BST – so there’s no late nights or early mornings like we’ve had in some recent World Cup’s.
      If you want to stream, the BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub will allow you to do so – all you have to do is create a free account.

      The best TV deals for Euro 2020 including LG, Sony, Toshiba and more

      GROUP STAGE – Matchday 1
      Friday, June 11

      Turkey 0-3 Italy

      Saturday, June 12

      Wales vs Switzerland, 2pm (Group A, BBC/S4C for Welsh language commentary)
      Denmark vs Finland, 5pm (Group B, BBC)
      Belgium vs Russia, 8pm (Group B, ITV)

      Sunday, June 13

      England vs Croatia, 2pm (Group D, BBC)
      Austria vs North Macedonia, 5pm (Group C, ITV)
      Holland vs Ukraine, 8pm (Group C, ITV)

      Monday, June 14

      Scotland vs Czech Republic, 2pm (Group D, BBC)
      Poland vs Slovakia, 5pm (Group E, ITV)
      Spain vs Sweden, 8pm (Group E, BBC)

      Tuesday, June 15

      Hungary vs Portugal, 5pm (Group F, ITV)
      France vs Germany, 8pm (Group F, ITV)

      GROUP STAGE – Matchday 2
      Wednesday, June 16

      Finland vs Russia, 2pm (Group B, BBC)
      Turkey vs Wales, 5pm (Group A, BBC/S4C for Welsh language commentary)
      Italy vs Switzerland, 8pm (Group A, ITV)

      Thursday, June 17

      Ukraine vs North Macedonia, 2pm (Group C, ITV)
      Denmark vs Belgium, 5pm (Group B, ITV)
      Holland vs Austria, 8pm (Group C, BBC)

      Friday, June 18

      Sweden vs Slovakia, 2pm (Group E, BBC)
      Croatia vs Czech Republic, 5pm (Group D, BBC)
      England vs Scotland, 8pm (Group D, ITV)

      Saturday, June 19

      Hungary vs France, 2pm (Group F, BBC)
      Portugal vs Germany, 5pm (Group F, ITV)
      Spain vs Poland, 8pm (Group E, BBC)

      GROUP STAGE – Matchday 3
      Sunday, June 20

      Italy vs Wales, 5pm (Group A, ITV/S4C for Welsh language commentary)
      Switzerland vs Turkey, 5pm (Group A, ITV)

      Monday, June 21

      Ukraine vs Austria, 5pm (Group C, ITV)
      North Macedonia vs Holland, 5pm (Group C, ITV)
      Russia vs Denmark, 8pm (Group B, BBC)
      Finland vs Belgium, 8pm (Group B, BBC)

      Tuesday, June 22

      Croatia vs Scotland, 8pm (Group D, ITV)
      Czech Republic vs England, 8pm (Group D, ITV)

      Wednesday, June 23

      Sweden vs Poland, 5pm (Group E, ITV)
      Slovakia vs Spain, 5pm (Group E, ITV)
      Portugal vs France, 8pm (Group F, BBC)
      Germany vs Hungary, 8pm (Group F, BBC)

      KNOCKOUT STAGE – Round of 16
      Saturday, June 26

      Match one – Runner up Group A vs Runner-up Group B, 6pm
      Match two – Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group C, 8pm

      Sunday, June 27

      Match three – Winner Group C vs 3rd Group D/E/F, 6pm
      Match four – Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/D/E/F, 8pm

      Monday, June 28

      Match five – Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group E, 6pm
      Match six – Winner Group F vs 3rd Group A/B/C. 8pm

      Tuesday, June 29

      Match seven – Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group F, 6pm
      Match eight – Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D, 8pm

      KNOCKOUT STAGE – Quarter-finals
      Friday, July 2

      Winner of Match six vs Winner of Match five, 6pm
      Winner of Match four vs Winner of Match two, 8pm

      Saturday, July 3

      Winner of Match three vs Winner of Match one, 6pm
      Winner of Match eight vs Winner of match seven, 8pm

      KNOCKOUT STAGE – Semi-finals
      Tuesday, July 6

      Quarter-final two winner vs Quarter-final one winner, 8pm

      Wednesday, July 7

      Quarter-final four winner vs Quarter-final three winner, 8pm

      KNOCKOUT STAGE – Final
      Sunday, July 11

      Semi-final one winner vs Semi-final two winner, 8pm

      This summer’s showpiece will be held at Wembley in LondonCredit: PA
      Where will the Euro 2020 final be held?
      In a huge boost for Gareth Southgate and England, the semi-finals and final will be held at Wembley Stadium.
      Euro 2020 confirmed venues are:

      Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
      Baku (Olympic Stadium)
      Copenhagen (Parken Stadium)
      St Petersburg (St Petersburg Stadium)
      Amsterdam (Johan Crujff Arena)
      Bucharest (National Arena)
      London (Wembley Stadium)
      Glasgow (Hampden Park)
      Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
      Munich (Fußball Arena München)
      Seville (La Cartuja Stadium) More

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      Who is Denmark vs Finland referee Anthony Taylor, and has he been to the Euros before?

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      ANTHONY TAYLOR has the honour of refereeing at Euro 2020 this summer.A familiar face to fans of the Premier League, Taylor will take charge of Denmark vs Finland as Group B gets underway on June 12.
      Taylor will be in the middle for Group B clash between Denmark and FinlandCredit: Ryan Browne-The Times
      Here is everything you need to know about the referee.Who is Anthony Taylor?
      Anthony Taylor is from Wythenshawe, Manchester.
      He first started refereeing in the Northern Premier League in 2002.
      Taylor refereed his first Premier League game eight years later in February 2010, taking charge of Fulham’s 1-0 win over Portsmourh.
      Has he refereed a major tournament before?
      A former prison officer, Taylor doesn’t take any nonsense on the field – and believes he has taken the tough qualities of that job into his refereeing.
      He explained: “Working in a prison meant I needed a lot of communication and management qualities to deal with daily situations.
      “I spent a considerable number of years working with those who suffered severe mental health problems, a lot of attempted suicides, that kind of thing.
      “I’ve seen the depths that people can reach, sometimes through no fault of their own.”
      Taylor is heading to his first international tournament this summer but has big game experience having taking charge of the 2020 Super Cup final.

      What happened with Arsene Wenger?
      Arsene Wenger was seen shoving Taylor after Burnley were awarded a late penalty at the Emirates in February 2017.
      Following the match, Taylor, who was fourth official, accused Wenger of swearing at him and questioning his integrity.
      Taylor wrote in his post-match report: “Mr Wenger left his technical area to confront me in disagreement at the decision.
      “Before he said anything I said ‘think carefully before you say anything’.
      Arsene Wenger and Anthony Taylor have historyCredit: Reuters
      “He responded by saying ‘you are dishonest to your federation’.
      “I considered this to be questioning both mine and the referee, Jon Moss’s integrity and impartiality.
      “I stated to Mr Wenger that such a comment was not acceptable and he told me to ‘f*** off’ on two separate occasions.”
      The then-Arsenal boss subsequently received a four-match ban for his behaviour. More

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      Who is Switzerland vs Wales referee Clement Turpin and has he officiated at the Euros before?

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      FRANCE are one of the favourites for Euro 2020 – and they are sending their top man to officiate.Clement Turpin was named the best referee in the country by the FFF in 2016 and has taken on some of the biggest jobs in Europe over recent years.
      Turpin is only 39 but has over 10 years’ experienceCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Who is Clement Turpin?
      Turpin, 39, is one of the most experienced whistlers heading to this summer’s tournament. 
      The Frenchman began in the National league in 2006, taking just two years to reach Ligue 1 and the highest rung in the domestic ladder.
      In 2010 he was given Fifa listed status, meaning he could branch out into Europe.
      Since then he has reffed in 2014 and 2018 World Cup qualifiers and was in the middle during Euro 2016 in his home country.
      Turpin was in the middle for last month’s Europa League finalCredit: PA
      You may recognise Turpin from the Europa League final in Gdansk, where he was ably assisted by Jérôme Brisard and Benjamin Pages.
      Those two assistants have worked with the Frenchman for years and will once again be by his side at the Euros.
      Turpin takes charge of Switzerland vs Wales, the second game of the tournament after Italy’s win over Turkey in the opener.
      Ahead of the match between Man Utd and Villarreal he said: “I feel very proud.
      “Not only for myself, but also for my assistants, who have accompanied me for a number of years, and for all referees in France.

      “I never said to myself that I would referee a European final one day.
      “From the start, I preferred to set myself small targets and challenges along the way.
      I’ve never had a particular role model as a referee, but I’ve watched other referees and taken little bits of what they do and incorporated them into my own refereeing.” More

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      Daniel O’Shaughnessy is hoping to craic the Euros with Finland after spells with Cheltenham and the army

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      IRELAND might not have qualified for Euro 2020 but there will be a bit of craic about the Finland team this summer.From playing League Two football in England to heading for a spell of national service and now playing on the international stage, it’s been some journey for Daniel O’Shaughnessy.
      Daniel O’Shaughnessy is gearing up to impress for Finland – and it’s been some journeyCredit: Getty
      The defender played for almost two seasons with then-League Two side CheltenhamCredit: Getty
      The 26-year-old’s father Robert is from Galway, and his mother is Finnish. But with his dual-nationality O’Shaughnessy nailed his mast to the Nordic country.
      And that decision has worked a treat – O’Shaughnessy made the cut for boss Markku Kanerva’s Euro 2020 squad after an impressive season with HJK in his homeland.
      But the defender learnt much of his craft playing in the lower reaches of the English football league.
      After spells with Finnish outfit Klubi-04 and Metz B, O’Shaughnessy signed for Brentford in 2014.
      But his two years with the Bees were restricted to the development squad and loan spells with Braintree Town and Danish Superliga side Midtjylland.
      However there was one English club who decided to take a chance on O’Shaughnessy – Cheltenham Town.
      He joined them in 2016 and played a vital part in helping The Robins avoid relegation back to the National League that season.
      He featured for half of the next campaign before moving back to where he had played some youth team football in Finland, HJK.
      BETTING SPECIAL – GET ENGLAND TO WIN EURO 2020 AND HARRY KANE TO BE TOP SCORER AT 18/1
      O’Shaughnessy now faces elite footballers like Olivier Giroud on the international stageCredit: AFP
      The Finland defender may have an Irish-sounding name, but he is all NordicCredit: Getty
      The centre-half will be hoping to make some great strides this summerCredit: Rex

      And now the left-sided centre-half is preparing to feature on the international stage hoping to keep the likes of Christian Eriksen, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne quiet in Finland’s Group B.
      Will Boyle played alongside O’Shaughnessy for Cheltenham four years ago, and isn’t surprised to see his former team-mate making decent strides in the game.
      Speaking to SunSport, the 25-year-old Yorkshireman said: “He always had the ambition, that was always something he planned to do.
      “Technically he was a very good player. He could strike a great ball, long range of passing, good on the ball, a right good player.
      “He definitely had the capability and I think the international game probably suits him and his characteristics a bit more than say club football in England did to be honest.”
      O’Shaughnessy helped Cheltenham avoid a drop straight back into non-leagueCredit: Rex
      After an unsuccessful time with Brentford, Cheltenham decided to take a chance on the Finnish defenderCredit: Rex
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      In his second season back in his country of birth, O’Shaughnessy had to enrol in conscription, mandatory for all males in Finland.
      And now the Riihimaki-born star will be hoping to come out all-guns blazing this summer and help his team provide a few shocks.
      Boyle continued: “I got on quite well with him, we spent a few afternoons in the gym together and when you got to know him he was a really nice lad.
      “Within the group he was quite quiet. He was a really nice lad.
      O’Shaughnessy’s former Cheltenham team-mate Will Boyle is not surprised to see the defender making great stridesCredit: Rex
      “We played very similar positions, left-sided centre half, he played left-back aswell. We had a good working relationship.
      “We talked how we could work together and improve to complement each other’s games and try and improve each other’s games.
      “We played a lot together, we played a back three and he played on the left.”
      And according to Boyle, despite his strong Irish name, pulling on the green jersey was never going to be an option.
      The former Huddersfield man added: “He classed himself as definitely Finnish as oppose to Irish. He spoke really good English, and only had a twang of the accent.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      O’Shaughnessy could be one of the finds of the tournament this summerCredit: AFP More

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for Wales vs Switzerland as Dragons look to surprise at Euros again

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      IT’S five long years since Wales’ heroics at Euro 2016 – and they’re out to shock the footballing world once again.The Dragons take on Switzerland in Group A on Saturday, looking to get off to a winning start before tough games against Turkey and Italy.
      Wales will hope Gareth Bale can fire them even further than 2016Credit: AP
      This clash is taking place way out in Baku, with BBC ONE and S4C the place to head for live TV coverage back home.
      Wales vs Switzerland £20 risk free bet + 85/1 bet builder tip
      What’s the form?
      Rocking up to just their third major tournament, the Wales camp looks to be steady despite the ongoing suspension of boss Ryan Giggs.
      Former centre-half Rob Page will be in the dugout for the finals, with the Welsh coming into this clash unbeaten in 13 competitive matches.
      Switzerland though have hit form at just the right time, heading to Baku on the back of six consecutive victories.
      They’re anything but consistent, with that run of form coming after seven games WITHOUT a win – although that sequence did involve excellent draws with Germany in the Nations League.

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      The Welsh look to have a fully fit 26-man squad to pick from, although Aaron Ramsey and David Brooks are both returning from long-term injuries.
      Page has a number of big calls to make, with Keiffer Moore hoping to partner Gareth Bale and Dan James up top.
      The Swiss have an abundance of talent in their squad, with familiar Premier League faces Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri carrying their hopes.
      Breel Embolo and Yann Sommer will be trusted to get the goals as the Swiss look to clamber out of a tough Group A.

      Watch out for…
      Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid star has hinted at retirement despite ending his on-loan season at Spurs looking like his old self.
      But this isn’t club football and Bale’s heart is in Wales – remember that famous flag?
      He’ll be at the top of his game, let’s just hope it isn’t a last hurrah.
      We are getting there. We’ve got young, hungry players coming into the squad that want their jerseys. Nobody can rest on what they’ve done before.Rob Page, Wales temporary coach
      The famous flag that Bales celebrated with after Wales made it to the finalsCredit: Reuters
      If the game’s rubbish…
      Take a delve into Bale’s notoriously private lifestyle – including a mansion where he’s built his own private golf course.
      The Madrid superstar’s childhood sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones will likely be cheering on from the stands in Baku, along with their three kids Alba, Nava and Axel.
      Wales are definitely a team that deserves respect, they’re a team that reached the semi-finals last time around. We respect our opponents – but we’re not scared of anyone.Vladimir Petković, Switzerland coach
      Gareth and Emma have been together since schoolCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The pair were married in 2019 at a secret ceremonyCredit: Instagram
      In 2018, work was completed on building a three-hole golf course in Bale’s estate in Wales that amazingly features copies of real holes.
      His chosen three holes were the the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.
      Bale plays off a single-figure handicap and loves his golf
      Fancy a punt?
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds:

      Wales to win 11/4
      The Draw 19/10
      Switzerland to win 23/20

      Power prices:

      Gareth Bale & Xherdan Shaqiri each have one or more shots on target from outside the box – was 3/1 now 4/1
      Gareth Bale to score first – Was 6/1 Now 7/1

      Euro 2020 outright odds:

      Switzerland 66/1
      Wales 150/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
      Wales vs Switzerland FREE – Live stream, TV channel and kick-off time for Euro 2020 match More

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for Belgium vs Russia as Red Devils begin Euros challenge

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      BELGIUM are fancied to go all the way in Euro 2020 – but they face a tough opening assignment against Russia. Roberto Martinez’s exciting side take on the World Cup 2018 hosts, who once again have home advantage in St Petersburg.
      Belgian fans are confident this is finally their year after a number of near missesCredit: AP
      Settle down with your Saturday night takeaway and get ready to watch the Red Devils in action on ITV1 at 8pm.
      Belgium vs Russia risk free bet + 66/1 bet builder tip
      What’s the form?
      There’s a good reason that many people are tipping Belgium to go all the way this summer.
      Under Martinez they’ve developed into a well-oiled machine and were a perfect ten from ten in qualifying, netting 40 GOALS.
      Russia have it all to do then, especially as they come into the tournament with just three wins in 11 games.
      This game being in St Petersburg is a huge plus for the Russians though, who showed at the World Cup how they can lift their game in front of home fans.

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      Martinez has selected just five defenders in his 26-man squad, instead looking to unleash the frightening attacking talent at his disposal.
      Kevin De Bruyne should be fit after this game despite undergoing facial surgery less than a fortnight ago, while Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Carrasco are all raring to go.
      It will be the most emotional tournament ever. I think it can become a celebration. It can set a before and after for this Covid nightmare.Roberto Martinez, Belgium managerThe Telegraph
      Skipper Artem Dzuyba carries the hopes of the Russians, who also include talented Monaco star Aleksandr Golovin in the squad.
      All but four players in the 26 play outside of the Russian Premier League.

      Watch out for…
      De Bruyne’s fitness – and whether KDB is forced to return with facegear.
      We’ve become accustomed to wearing a mask over the past year or so, but should De Bruyne be fit for this clash he might be forced into donning some face protection of a different kind.
      The irony to all this? Antonio Rudiger, the man who clouted De Bruyne in the Champions League final, was also wearing a protective mask.
      De Bruyne was left with a fractured eye socket after a sickening clash with RudigerCredit: AP
      If the game’s rubbish…
      You might be able to spot Dries Merten’s wife Katrin Kerhofs in the St Petersburg stands.
      A self-confessed ‘beast in the bedroom’, businesswoman Kat boasts a whopping 356k followers on Instagram.
      She met childhood sweetheart Dries in their hometown of Leuven, and they married in 2015 after ten years of dating.
      Mertens and Kat tied the knot in 2015 after meeting in BelgiumCredit: Instagram @katkerkhofs
      The blonde described herself during a TV interview as ‘a beast in the bedroom’Credit: Instagram @katkerkhofs
      Fancy a punt?
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds

      Belgium to win 7/10
      The draw 5/2
      Russia to win 4/1

      Power prices

      Kevin De Bruyne & Eden Hazard to have 1 or more shots on target each – Was Evens now 6/4
      Romelu Lukaku to score in the first 20 minutes – Was 7/1 Now 9/1

      Euro 2020 outright odds

      Belgium 13/2
      Russia 75/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
      Belgium vs Russia live stream, TV channel and kick-off time and team news for Euro 2020 match More

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for Denmark vs Finland as Danes look for winning start in Group B

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      SUPER SATURDAY continues at Euro 2020 with a Group B clash between Denmark and Finland.Both sides will both be desperate to get three points on the board early in what is a competitive group, with Belgium and Russia playing later in the day.
      Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel will be trusted between the sticks for Denmark this summerCredit: Reuters
      Sandwiched between Wales vs Switzerland and that match, this clash takes place in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen at 5pm BST.
      What’s the form?
      The Danes enter the tournament in terrific form, with just one defeat in their last 12 matches.
      That also included an unbeaten campaign in qualifying, although they were held to draws in four of their eight matches.
      It’s a different story for Finland, who have been fairly dismal since booking their place in the Finals following a solid qualifying.
      No wins in six for Markku Kanerva’s side is a concern, with their limp display against Estonia last time out anything but good preparation.

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      Denmark have a number of high profile players in their ranks and Christian Eriksen will hope to mastermind a run akin to 1992.
      The Inter midfielder is still only 28, while Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg can all play big roles.
      The entire Danish people knows what happened in 1992. They showed it’s possible to win a big tournament.Christian Eriksen
      Finland’s hopes lie almost squarely at the feet of their goal machine forward Teemu Pukki, who was once again prolific for Norwich as they returned to the Premier League.
      Tim Sparv and Glen Kamara are also big names but Pukki – eyeing up Jari Litmanen’s national goalscoring record – will have the biggest say on whether Finland shock Group B.

      Watch out for…
      Denmark – just in general.
      The Danes have really emerged as dark horses for this summer’s tournament and could spring a surprise.
      They have a core of excellent players front to back and will fear nobody.
      Like Eriksen said…. anybody remember 1992?

      They have better players than us in every position, but we have shown before that the sum of all the parts in our puzzle is greater than what people think.Lukas Hradecky, Finland goalkeeper
      If the game’s rubbish…
      You might be able to spot Kasper Schmeichel’s wife Stine Gyldenbrand supporting the Leicester ace on the terraces.
      Stine runs a charity named FodBoldDongen, which organises events to aid vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
      The pair met when they were just 17 years old and have two children named Max and Isabella.
      Stine and Kaspar celebrate Leicester’s miraculous title win in 2016Credit: Getty
      Stine is a midwife and is regularly seen supporting her husband at Foxes gamesCredit: Getty
      The pair have been together for over ten years and married in 2015Credit: Reuters
      Fancy a punt?
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds

      Denmark to win 2/5
      The Draw 3/1
      Finland to win 8/1

      Power prices

      Christian Eriksen to have 2 or more shots on target from outside the box – Was 3/1 Now 7/2
      Kasper Dolberg & Teemu Pukki to have 1 or more shots on target each – Was 11/8 Now 13/8

      Euro 2020 outright odds

      Denmark 25/1
      Finland 500/1

      *All odds from correct at time of publication.
      Denmark vs Finland live stream, TV channel and kick-off time and team news for Euro 2020 match More

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      Sex and Euro 2020: Should England, Scotland & Wales be up for the cup… or hold fire to boost performance ON the pitch?

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      CAN England go all the way without going all the way?  The Three Lions’ WAGs and families are banned from the team hotel for the Euros due to Covid-19 squad bubbles.
      England players could be up for the cup but their wives and girlfriends will be away from the team hotelCredit: PA
      Megan Davison is married to childhood sweetheart, England keeper Jordan Pickford, but might not see him much at the EurosCredit: Darren Fletcher – The Sun
      Boss Gareth Southgate hopes players can have a ‘little bit of home time’ but it still exposes the question of whether abstaining from sex is good or bad for sportspeople before games.
      In other words, would England be better off as the Sex–Free Lions?
      Or would Southgate’s up-and-coming players have more chance of putting to bed 55 years without a major trophy if private cuddles were added to public huddles?
      Scientific evidence suggests sex is no physical impairment for sporting performance soon afterwards – and in fact could be beneficial.
      That’s as long as the players still sleep properly… and if their keep-it-uppies exclude extreme extra-time and ‘penalties’.
      Contrary to what many believe, sex boosts the male body’s production of testosterone – rather than dulling natural instincts.
      So it actually increases aggression – possibly giving you a competitive edge.
      Porn star Alina Eremenko promised Aleksandr Kokorin 16 hours of sex if the Russian forward netted twice at Euro 2016
      Wanda Nara says she has sex with her husband, PSG hero, Mauro Icardi, up to 12 times a day but he abstains before gamesCredit: Instagram
      The Sun’s sex expert Dr Pam Spurr has pointed out that ‘research shows that at the physical level, sex isn’t actually that draining’.
      But unfortunately, coronavirus restrictions mean it’s a different ball-game this time around.
      Nonetheless, Dr Spurr believes the England, Scotland and Wales stars – as well as their rivals – should not suffer from being away from their partners.
      That’s because players’ experience with club ‘bubbles’ during lockdowns means they already used to restrictions.
      She said: “It’s a fact of pandemic-life that couples have actually become used to how the pandemic affects them being with or without each other – depending on their occupation – and having to potentially live in a work-place bubble as the players will be. 
      “If this was very early on in the pandemic I think it’d be more stressful but couples have come to manage some of the stresses of these situations better at this point.”
      Former Brazil, Barcelona and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, twice a World Cup winner, famously claimed sex before games ‘helps you concentrate’.
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      He told Brazilian TV in 2011: “I have had sex several times before some games.
      “I have noticed that in some games, I played better because I had sex before them.”
      But at the previous year’s World Cup in South Africa ex-England manager Fabio Capello only allowed his squad’s WAGs to visit the team camp for a limited time – AFTER matches.
      Sadly, the Three Lions got a good stuffing on the pitch – as Germany walloped them 4-1 in the round of 16.
      Nowadays, the thinking on sex and sport is more rounded – with WAGs like Rebekah Vardy amongst the high-profile advocates for extended pre-match warm-ups.
      Amid England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, striker Jamie’s wife Rebekah suggested manager Southgate had the correct, liberal attitude.
      She said: “He’s got the right idea of the team mentality…
      “There’s nothing scientifically proven to say that sex hinders performance. If anything it probably excels performance.”
      But ex-Chelsea chief Antonio Conte turned that belief on its head by arguing that men should get on top of the situation.
      Becky Vardy, wife of Leicester’s ex-England striker Jamie, pointed out at the last World Cup there’s no proof that sex flags playing performance
      Gareth Southgate hopes England have staying power at the EurosCredit: Getty
      The 2021 title-winner with Inter Milan told L’Equipe: “During spells of matches the players should not have sexual relations that last for long periods.
      “They need to make as little effort as possible. The best position for them is if their partners go on top.
      “And it is preferable that they are with their own wives. That way they are not obliged to put in an exceptional performance.”
      Meanwhile, PSG frontman Mauro icardi’s wife Wanda Nara has revealed that, after defeats, the Argentina ace is too grumpy for rumpy-pumpy.
      The model and agent has claimed the couple can have sex up to 12 times some days.
      She added: “He should try it before a match, but Mauro is very professional and does not do anything before a match.
      “Only after and if the match went well. If it does not go well, he does not even want to look at me.”
      So what DO the experts say?
      After three months without sex, not uncommon for some athletes, testosterone dramatically drops close to children’s levels.Professor Emmanuele Jannini
      Ian Shrier, a sports medicine specialist at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, believes sex could be a “releaxing distraction” if “athletes are too anxious and restless the night before an event”.
      He said it was a ‘long-standing myth that athletes should practice abstinence before important competitions’.
      And endocrinology professor Emmanuele Jannini, of the University of L’Aquila in Italy,  pointed out that ejaculation for men stimulates testosterone production – making them more aggressive.
      Jannini, who studies bodily secretions, said: “After three months without sex, which is not so uncommon for some athletes, testosterone dramatically drops to levels close to children’s levels.
      “Do you think this may be useful for a boxer?”   
      And a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Physiology found no connection between having sex and athletic performance.
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      Indeed, numerous therapists say sex in the right emotional context is generally a major part of greater well-being and fulfilment, including boosting self-esteem.
      So, what about intimate encounters as an incentive to raise your game?
      Porn ‘celebrity’ Hennesy, aka Alina Eremenko, offered Russia striker Aleksandr Kokorin 16 hours of sex if he scored twice at Euro 2016.

      He and his team flopped as they finished bottom of Group B, with Wales nailing them 3-0.
      It’s hardly conclusive evidence.
      But there was certainly no Russian bare for Kokorin afterwards – indeed his career went downhill with an ACL injury and even time spent in a penal colony for assault.
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