Explainers

EURO 2020 is finally upon us with a massive festival of football already in full swing.It’s set to be a huge summer of action from around Europe as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions go for glory.
Raheem Sterling scored England’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over CroatiaCredit: Getty
Kieffer Moore scored Wales’ only goal of the campaign so far against SwitzerlandCredit: The Mega Agency
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 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.

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GROUP STAGE – Matchday 1
Friday, June 11

Saturday, June 12

Sunday, June 13

Monday, June 14

Tuesday, June 15

GROUP STAGE – Matchday 2
Wednesday, June 16 – TODAY

Result: Finland 0-1 Russia
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

BELGIUM’S national anthem La Brabanconne is sung in three languages, has three verses – and at the Euros this Summer all eyes will be on three of their key players.The trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku hope to fire Belgium to their first major trophy – after they finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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Belgium got their campaign off to a superb start with a 3-0 winCredit: Getty
And after quarter-final disappointment at Euro 2016 the Red Devils will be hoping their holy trinity can help their golden generation deliver on a golden promise.
What are the lyrics to La Brabanconne?
Verse 1Noble Belgique, ô mère chérie,À toi nos cœurs, à toi nos bras,À toi notre sang, ô Patrie !Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras !Tu vivras toujours grande et belleEt ton invincible unitéAura pour devise immortelle :Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Verse 2O dierbaar België, O heilig land der Vaad’ren,Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.Aanvaard ons kracht en het bloed van onze ad’ren,Wees ons doel in arbeid en in strijd.Bloei, o land, in eendracht niet te breken;Wees immer uzelf en ongeknecht,Het woord getrouw, dat g’ onbevreesd moogt spreken,Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht!
Verse 3O liebes Land, o Belgiens Erde,Dir unser Herz, Dir unsere Hand,Dir unser Blut, o Heimaterde,wir schwören’s Dir, o Vaterland!So blühe froh in voller Schöne,zu der die Freiheit Dich erzog,und fortan singen Deine Söhne:Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!

What are the lyrics in English?
Verse 1Noble Belgium; O, mother dear;To you we stretch our hearts and arms,With blood to spill for you, O fatherland!We swear with one cry, you shall live!You shall live, so great and beautiful,And your invincible unityShall have for device immortal:The King, the Law, the Liberty!
Verse 2O dear Belgium; O, holy land of the fathers,Our soul and our heart are devoted to you!Accept our strength and the blood in our veins,Be our goal, in work and struggle.Prosper, O land, in unbreakable unity;Always be yourself and serve no other,Faithful to the word that you may speak boldly,For King, for Freedom and for Law!
Verse 3O, dear country; O, Belgium’s soil;To you our heart, to you our hands,To you our blood; O, native land,We swear to you; O, fatherland!So gladly bloom in beauty full,Into what freedom has taught you to be,And evermore shall sing your sons:To Law and King and Freedom, hail! More

TURKEY continue their Euro 2020 adventure against Wales – but there’s nothing they like more than a little bit of competition.Take their national anthem for example – it was put together in 1930 using the best of 724 poems submitted as part of a national contest.

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Turkey are going for glory at Euro 2020 this summerCredit: Getty
And instead of turning to a musical maestro they simply launched another competition to find the melody.
Turkey will be hoping to pull the strings against the Welsh – but in reality could be left singing the blues at the end of 90 minutes.
What are the lyrics to İstiklal Marşı?
Verse 1Korkma, sönmez bu safaklarda yüzen al sancak;Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.O benim milletimin yildizidir parlayacak;O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.
Verse 2Çatma, kurban olayim çehreni ey nazli hilal!Kahraman irkima bir gül! ne bu siddet bu celal?Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarimiz sonra helal,Hakkidir, Hak’ka tapan, milletimin istiklal!

What are the lyrics in English?
Verse 1Fear not, the crimson flag, waving in these dawns will never fadeBefore the last hearth that is burning in my nation vanishes.That is my nation’s star, it will shine;That is mine, it belongs solely to my nation.
Verse 2Oh coy crescent do not frown for I am ready to sacrifice myself for you!Please smile upon my heroic nation, why that anger, why that rage?If you frown, our blood shed for you will not be worthy.Freedom is the right of my nation who worships God and seeks what is right. More

THIS summer’s Euros is underway with 24 teams battling against each other to earn the right to be European champions. All 24 teams have been divided into six groups of four, and each team will play three group games.
Patrick Schick scores for Czech Republic against ScotlandCredit: PA
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The top two teams go straight through to the knockout stages of the competition.
But they will also be joined by four of the best 3rd placed teams.
Portugal back in 2016, finished 3rd in their group behind both Hungary and Iceland, but qualified for the knockout stages and even went on to win the competition!
But are the group stages sorted by goal difference or head-to-head? Well, we’ve got you covered.
Are Euro 2020 groups sorted by goal difference or head-to-head?
If two or more teams finish level on points after having played all three group stage games, head-to-head record will decide which team finishes higher.
This means that if three teams finish level on points, their position in the group will be decided exclusively on results against each other, with games against the fourth team being almost irrelevant.

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Goal difference will only come into play if teams can’t be separated by their head-to-head record.
The head-to-head system is used to sort teams level on points across all Uefa competitions.
This is in contrast to the World Cup, and all Fifa competitions, in which goal difference sorts teams level on points. More

EURO 2020 is in full swing after an excruciating wait.And fans watching on the box will have noticed varying attendances across the eleven host cities.
Wembley will be one of the main venues for Euro 2020Credit: Reuters
Which cities are hosting Euro 2020?
This summer’s competition will be hosted in 11 different cities, down from the original 12.
The stadiums hosting the competition are as follows:

Wembley Stadium – London, England
Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany
Stadio Olimpico – Rome, Italy
Olympic Stadium – Baku, Azerbaijan
Krestovsky Stadium – Saint Petersburg, Russia
Arena Nationala – Bucharest, Romania
Johan Cruyff Arena – Amsterdam, Holland
Estadio de la Cartuja – Sevilla, Spain
Puskas Arena – Budapest, Hungary
Hampden Park – Glasgow, Scotland
Parken Stadium – Copenhagen, Denmark

How many Euro 2020 games are in England?
Eight. Wembley will host all three England group games, two round of 16 games, two semi-finals and the final.
How many Euro 2020 games are in Scotland?
Four. Hampden Park will have two of Scotland’s games and the Croatia vs Czech Republic group game.
The Glasgow stadium will also host the final round-of-16 game.

Which countries are still hosting Euro 2020 and how many fans will they allow?
The following countries are hosting the competition.
ENGLAND
Wembley Stadium, London (90,000 capacity)
Wembley is set to host the Euro 2020 final
Wembley is set to host all England’s group matches, plus the Euro 2020 semi-final and final.
The FA have committed to hold their group games at a 25 per cent capacity.
However, this is likely to increase for the semi-final and final, with talk of a 50 per cent, or even a full capacity for those games.
The National Stadium will also host the last 16 match initially scheduled for Dublin, which will involve England if they win their group.
Fans must show a negative Covid test or proof of two doses of an approved vaccine to enter.
SCOTLAND
Hampden Park, Glasgow (51,866 capacity)
Scotland has given Hampden Park the go-ahead for Euro 2020 matchesCredit: PA:Press Association
After months of speculation, the Scottish FA confirmed that Scotland would be able to host Euro 2020.
Hampden Park is the venue for two of Scotland’s Euro 2020 group games, plus Croatia’s match against the Czech Republic and one last 16 match.
It will host games at a 25 per cent capacity.
Fans in Scotland will not need a ‘vaccine passport’ to enter games at Hampden, but social distancing will be 1.5 metres compared to one metre in England.
AZERBAIJAN
Olympic Stadium, Baku (68,700 capacity)
Baku will host matches at a 50 per cent capacityCredit: Reuters
Azerbaijan is hosting all three Group A matches not involving Italy, as well as a quarter-final.
All matches will be held at a 50 per cent capacity.
DENMARK
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen (38,065 capacity)
Copenhagen was the first city to announce it would host Euro 2020 games with fansCredit: Getty – Contributor
Copenhagen is hosting all three of Denmark’s group matches, plus one last 16 match.
The Danish capital was the first city to announce in 2021 that it would host Euro 2020 with fans.
Just stays before their opening match, the Danish FA announced an increase to a 65 per cent capacity for Copenhagen’s games.
RUSSIA
Krestovsky Stadium, St Petersburg (68,134 capacity)
Russia has been holding matches with fans throughout this seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
St Petersburg is hosting two of Russia’s three home group games, plus Finland vs Belgium and one quarter-final.
In addition, it has been handed the three group games that were set to be hosted by Dublin.
All matches will be played at a minimum 50 per cent capacity.
Russia has been holding matches at half full stadiums throughout this season, while most of Europe has been playing behind closed doors due to coronavirus.
ROMANIA
Arena Nationala, Bucharest (55,600 capacity)
Romania did not qualify for Euro 2020 but the Arena Nationala will still host gamesCredit: Getty
Romania failed to qualify for Euro 2020 but their national stadium will still host three matches from Group C and one last 16 match.
Games at the Arena Nationala was set to host at a capacity of 25-33 per cent.
However, the Romanian Sports Minister on Thursday, June 10 announced an increase to 50 per cent.
HOLLAND
Johan Cruyff Arena (56,000 capacity)
Amsterdam will be hosting all Holland’s Euro 2020 group gamesCredit: Getty – Contributor
Netherlands was the second country to announce it would host Euro 2020 games, following Denmark.
All Holland’s group games, as well as a last 16 game, are being hosted at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam with a 25-33 per cent capacity able to attend.
The country began piloting matches with fans back in March, with the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
HUNGARY
Puskas Arena, Budapest (67,215 capacity)
Budapest is expecting to host games at full capacityCredit: Getty
Budapest will host two of Hungary’s three group matches, plus a repeat of the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France.
It will also host one last 16 match.
The Hungarian capital is the only city to announce that games will be hosted at full capacity, subject to strict entry requirements.
67,000 fans are packing in for the game between Portugal and Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been keen to showcase his country on the world stage and reports suggest he has pushed to make sure there is a full crowd in the Puskas Arena.
He said last Friday: “Everyone who is registered [to come the match] will definitely have been vaccinated, and with their vaccination card will have the opportunity to take part in this event.”
You may remember that the same stadium was used to host Champions League matches in the latter stages of the tournament.
The Hungarian FA have hailed the countries vaccine rollout and claimed they want to give “lifetime experience to as many Hungarian fans as possible”.
ITALY
Stadio Olimpico, Rome (72,698 capacity)
Rome has given Uefa the assurances it needsCredit: EPA
Italy was given extra time by Uefa to confirm that it could host fans at Euro 2020.
And the Stadio Olimpico in Rome has announced that it will host games at a 25 per cent capacity.
Rome will host all of Italy’s group matches and a quarter-final which could involve England.
GERMANY
Allianz Arena (70,000 capacity)
Munich was the last of the original host cities to agree to host the tournamentCredit: Getty
The last of the original host cities to be announced – Munich was only confirmed on April 23.
The German city has committed to host matches in front of a minimum of 14,500 fans – a 20 per cent capacity – the lowest of all the host cities.
It will show all Germany group games and a quarter-final.
SPAIN
Estadio de la Cartuja, Seville (60,000)
Seville is a last minute addition as a Euro 2020 co-hostCredit: Reuters
A last minute addition, Seville will host the games that would have been held in Bilbao after the Spanish FA deemed the Basque Government’s conditions for hosting matches there “impossible” to meet.
The stadium is well prepared to host games, having been the Spanish FA’s de facto home during the pandemic.
Estadio de la Cartuja has hosted all Spain games, two Copa del Rey finals and the Spanish Super Cup in the past 12 months.
Euro 2020 games there will be played at a 30 per cent capacity.
Which cities have been removed from hosting Euro 2020?
The following countries failed to give Uefa the assurances they need to host Euro 2020.
IRELAND
Aviva Stadium, Dublin (51,700 capacity)
Dublin is the most likely city to miss out on hosting Euro 2020Credit: PA
Dublin will miss out on Euro 2020 after failing to give Uefa guarantees that any fans will be allowed to attend matches.
The Irish capital was set to host three Group E matches and a last 16 game that may well have ended up involving England.
The three group matches it would have hosted have gone to St Petersburg while the last 16 match will be held at Wembley.
SPAIN
San Mames, Bilbao (53,322 capacity)
The Spanish FA have refused to back Bilbao’s submission to UefaCredit: Reuters
Bilbao did commit to meet Uefa’s minimum requirement of a 25 per cent capacity, however the Spanish FA refused to back their submission due to the conditions attached.
The Basque government had stated that it would be able to host games provided 60 per cent of the Basque country and the rest of Spain had been vaccinated and less than two per cent of those in hospital were coronavirus patients.
But the Spanish FA labelled these conditions “impossible” to meet.
As a result, Seville will host the matches that were set for Bilbao.

Will any cities allow fans of other countries to travel?
The following countries are set to allow away fans to travel.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan has announced that fans of all travelling teams (Wales, Turkey, Switzerland and the two Baku quarter-finalists) will be able to submit a negative PCR test to enter the country instead of quarantining.
This offer only applies to citizens or residents of the participating countries.
RUSSIA
St Petersburg is considering offering exemptions to entry requirements for all foreign residents with match tickets and a negative Covid test.
However, a final decision has not yet been confirmed.
HUNGARY
Foreign ticket holders looking to attend games in Budapest must provide evidence of two negative Covid tests taken in the five days before entering Hungary.
The Hungarian government will also accept a certificate of previous Covid infection in the 6 months before entering the country.
ROMANIA
Romania is considering providing an exemption to quarantine for foreign ticket holders for games in Bucharest.
This will apply to those who provide proof of a negative Covid test and restrict their stay in Romania to three days or less.
DENMARK
3000 Finland fans were allowed into the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for their Euro 2020 opener against Denmark.
ENGLAND*
England will allow Scotland fans to attend the game against the Three Lions at Wembley.
However, this trip would not involve crossing a border and no exemption is set to apply to fans of Croatia and the Czech Republic from overseas.
The FA are also reportedly considering allowing fans of the semi-finalists and finalists attend games under a bubble arrangement.
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