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      Who is Andreas Ekberg? Referee from Sweden taking charge in Euro 2020

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      EURO 2020 is here and Andreas Ekberg will join the refereeing team.The Swede is a rising star in his homeland and the only official from his country to be named for the tournament.
      Andreas Ekberg will be officiating at Euro 2020Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Here’s all you need to know about him.
      Who is Andreas Ekberg?
      Andreas Ekberg was born in Malmo, Sweden in 1985.
      He became a referee in 2004 and was appointed to the Swedish top flight in 2009, at the age of just 24.
      In 2013, he became a Uefa referee as he took charge of two Europa League qualifiers and made his international debut by officiating Ireland’s 3-0 friendly win over Latvia.
      Then in 2018 he made his full Champions League debut by officiating Man City’s 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim.
      This season, Ekberg has taken charge of three Champions League group games – Basaksehir vs PSG, Marseille vs Porto and Dynamo Kiev vs Ferencvaros.
      He was also in charge of Arsenal’s 1-1 Europa League quarter-final draw at home to Slavia Prague.
      Additionally, Ekberg was one of the foreign officials trusted to referee in the Greece’s Super League.
      Under Greek law, all derby matches must be officiated by foreign referees to prevent corruption.
      And Ekberg was in charge as Olympiacos ran out 4-1 winners way to Panathinaikos in the play-off round in May.
      How the top pundits of the two channels stack up against each other More

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      Which Euro 2020 teams are taking the knee?

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      EURO 2020 is on its way and one new feature of the tournament looks set to be the differing stance teams will take against racism.England have become embroiled in a big row with the players condemning fans who booed them taking the knee against Austria and Romania.
      England will continue taking the knee throughout Euro 2020Credit: PA
      And manager Gareth Southgate said the players are even more determined to take the knee following the booing.
      Here’s what all 24 teams will be doing during the tournament.
      Which teams are taking the knee at Euro 2020?
      England
      England will continue to take the knee during Euro 2020, as they have been since the murder of George Floyd last year.
      The team have stated that they believe the gesture is not a political one and designed simply to show support for racial equality.
      Gareth Southgate said: “I think we have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don’t agree with.
      “That is not the reason the players are doing it. We are supporting each other.”
      Wales
      Wales and France take the knee in a pre-Euro 2020 friendlyCredit: Reuters
      Wales have taken the knee over the past year and will continue to do so.
      Interim manager Rob Page said: “We had a meeting and we all think it’s still important to take the knee.
      “That’s the message we’ve given out. We’re all in it together and there were no issues.”
      Belgium
      Belgium are the only non-British team to announce they will take the knee throughout Euro 2020.
      Romelu Lukaku said of any negative reactions: “I don’t care. I fight for diversity.
      “Not only for the black community, also for the women. Colour, sexuality, faith, it doesn’t matter. Everybody should be respected.”
      Switzerland
      Switzerland did take the knee in their opening Euro 2020 game against Wales.
      It is not known whether they will take the knee in their remaining matches.
      Which teams will not take the knee at Euro 2020?
      Hungary
      Hungary point to the Uefa Respect badge as Ireland take the kneeCredit: Reuters
      The Hungarian FA are the first association to confirm they will not take the knee at Euro 2020.
      In a statement they said they view the knee as a political gesture in defiance of Uefa and Fifa rules.
      It read: “The basic values ​​of the sport are equal opportunities, respect for the teammate and the opponent.
      “Football may have become the most popular sport in the world because it belongs to everyone.
      “The Hungarian national team not only follows the international rules and norms in all cases, but also pays tribute to everyone – be it an opponent, a fan or anyone else.
      “MLSZ has been fighting all forms of hatred for years as part of the ‘Hate is not a track’ campaign.
      “The rules of UEFA and FIFA do not allow politicization on the pitch and in the stadium either, which the MLSZ not only accepts but also agrees with.
      “The national team will not express its condemnation of any form of hatred by kneeling before the matches.”
      During their warm-up game against Ireland, Hungary pointed to the Uefa Respect logo on the sleeves of their shirts while the Irish team took the knee and were booed by a sizeable portion of the 15,000 crowd.
      The Republic of Ireland’s players were booed and jeered by some Hungary fans as they took a knee before kick-off in their friendly in Budapest. pic.twitter.com/15npHfKZcE— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 8, 2021

      Croatia
      England’s first opponents at Euro 2020 do not intend to take the knee.
      An official statement read: “CFF and the players are against any form of discrimination.
      “But the FA provides the players with the right to choose, as the act itself isn’t a part of Croatian culture and heritage.
      “The players chose not to kneel down before the Belgium game, but they’ve taken a respectful stance towards the gesture made by their Belgium colleagues.”
      Italy
      Italy did not take the knee in their opening match against Turkey.
      It is not known whether they will take the knee against Wales.
      Turkey
      Turkey did not take the knee in their opening match against Italy.
      It is not known whether they will take the knee against Wales.
      Denmark
      Denmark did not take the knee in their Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
      It is not known whether they will do so when they play Belgium.
      Finland
      Finland did not take the knee in their Euro 2020 opener against Denmark.
      It is not known whether they will do so when they played Belgium.

      What are the other teams doing?

      Scotland have made their decision ahead of their opener against Czech Republic
      Scotland stars originally said that would NOT be taking a knee prior to their Euro 2020 matches.
      The Scottish FA have confirmed they will continue to promote an anti-racist message by standing before matches.
      But just a day later, they confirmed that they WILL in their match against England.
      Scotland skipper Andy Robertson said: “It is important we continue to tackle the issue of racism and raise awareness of the need to change people’s mindsets but also their behaviours.
      “Prior to our World Cup qualifiers in March we spoke as a group and felt that taking a stand was the best way for us to show solidarity and also to reinforce the need for meaningful change in society.”

      Russia
      Russia have not made any public comment on taking the knee but their national team has never performed the gesture.
      Russian side Krasnodar allowed their players to make their own decision on kneeling before their Champions League games against Chelsea.
      In Russia, four players chose to kneel while at Stamford Bridge eight players decided to perform the gesture.
      Lean no
      Holland
      The Dutch team have a number of players who have been vocal in their support of Black Lives Matter.
      However, when they played Scotland and Georgia in their recent warm-up games, both teams chose not to kneel.
      Holland have also been vocal in support of improved conditions for migrant workers in Qatar, alongside Norway, Denmark and Germany.
      They have made no comment on taking the knee at Euro 2020.
      On the fence
      Austria
      Austria chose to join England in taking the knee in their recent friendly in Middlesbrough.
      It is not known whether they will do so in their Euro 2020 games.
      On the fence

      North Macedonia
      North Macedonia have not declared any position on taking the knee.
      Lean no
      Ukraine
      Ukraine have not announced a position on taking the knee.
      On the fence

      Czech Republic
      Czech Republic refused to take the knee in their game against Wales in March and are highly unlikely to do so at Euro 2020.
      The Czechs decided to point to the Uefa Respect logo in their sleeves on that occasion as a “neutral, apolitical gesture”.
      The players will discuss the gesture again before the Euros.
      However they are thought to be less likely than ever to take the knee after being angered by the ten-game suspension Uefa handed down to defender Ondrej Kudela after he was found to have racially abused Rangers’ Glen Kamara.
      No chance
      Spain
      While some La Liga players have shown solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, the Spain team have never taken the knee and their clubs also tend not to.
      Real Madrid did not take the knee against Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City while Villarreal chose not to kneel against Man Utd in the Europa League final.
      When Granada played Man Utd, only Brazil winger Kenedy took the knee.
      Spain have made no statement on taking the knee at Euro 2020.
      Lean no
      Sweden
      Sweden have not taken the knee in their recent friendlies or made any statement on taking it during the tournament.
      On the fence
      Poland
      Poland point to their Uefa Respect badge as England take the kneeCredit: Getty
      Poland are almost certain not to take the knee at Euro 2020 with the gesture being criticised by both their FA president and sections of their support.
      The Poles refused to kneel against England and instead pointed to the Uefa Respect logo on their sleeves.
      Polish FA President Zbigniew Boniek labelled the gesture “populism” that “achieved nothing” and said: “I am absolutely against such actions.
      “Footballers sometimes kneel, and if you asked some of them why they were kneeling, they wouldn’t even know.”
      No chance
      Slovakia
      Slovakia took the knee against Ireland and Scotland last October but were criticised in the Slovakian parliament.
      After this, the country’s FA said the players had only taken the knee because they believed Uefa had instructed them to do so and would no longer perform the gesture.
      Lean no
      Portugal
      Portugal have not taken the knee in their warm-up friendlies though many of their Europe-based players have done so in their domestic leagues.
      They have made no statement on performing the gesture at the Euros.
      On the fence
      France
      France took the knee in their first warm-up friendly against Wales but not in their second one against Bulgaria.
      This would suggest that they will only take the knee during Euro 2020 if the opposition does.
      They have made no statement on what they intend to do during the tournament.
      On the fence
      Germany
      Bundesliga players took the knee after the murder of George Floyd last season.
      However, the national team have not been kneeling in 2021.
      The German team have been vocal in their support of human rights for migrant workers in Qatar.
      On the fence More

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      Euro 2020 venues: How many are there and how many fans is each allowing? Host cities release EXTRA tickets

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      EURO 2020 is nearly here after an excruciating wait.And fans in two cities have received a boost with extra tickets set to be released.
      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 have given Uefa they assurances they need to host 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 has announced that it will be able to host Euro 2020 matches, including Wales’ fixtures against Switzerland and Turkey.
      Baku will also host Turkey vs Switzerland and one 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 will host 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 will host 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 will be 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’s, with the 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.
      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.
      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.
      The best TV deals for Euro 2020 including LG, Sony, Toshiba and more More

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      Is ITV pundit Scott Brown retired? Why isn’t he playing for Scotland at Euro 2020?

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      CELTIC club legend Scott Brown will not be representing Scotland at this summer’s European Championships. The 35-year-old retired from international football in early 2018 after making 55 appearances for his country between 2005 and 2017.
      Scott Brown captained Celtic to nine consecutive Scottish titles between 2011 and 2020Credit: The Sun
      WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game
      Instead he will join up with ITV’s star-studded line-up of studio pundits for Euro 2020.
      Brown will offer insight and analysis for Scotland’s fixtures this summer and will join the likes of Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira and Eni Aluko in the ITV studio.
      During his FOURTEEN years at Celtic Brown won the Scottish title TEN times, as well as five Scottish Cups and six Scottish League Cups.
      Scott Brown scored 29 goals in fourteen years at ParkheadCredit: PA

      Who has Scott Brown played for?

      2002-2007 – Hibernian (110 apps)
      2007-2021 – Celtic (620 apps)
      2021 – Aberdeen (yet to make debut)
      2005-2017 – Scotland (55 apps)

      After over a decade at Parkhead Brown announced that he would be leaving the club in March of this year, and officially join Aberdeen on July 1 as a player-coach, midway through Euro 2020.
      He is one of only seven players in the history of the club to have played over 600 games for Celtic.
      Celtic fans thanking Scott Brown with a commemorative shirt in his final game at the clubCredit: Getty

      Euro 2020 will be Scotland’s first major tournament in 23 years, after failing to qualify for every tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
      Scotland’s first game to be shown live on ITV is the mouthwatering clash between the Tartan Terriers and the Auld Enemy England at Wembley on June 18.
      Brown is likely to be in the ITV studio for that game, as well as Scotland’s final group game against Croatia on June 22.
      Scotland look forward to Euro 2020 and is their first summer tournament since 1998 More

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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
      WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game

      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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      Copa America 2021 – Brazil vs Venezuela FREE: Live stream, TV channel, team news, kick-off time for tournament opener

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      THE Copa America is here!And what a fixture we have in store to kick it off when hosts Brazil take on Venezuela in Brasilia.
      Lucas Paqueta and Neymar will be featuring for Brazil
      Brazil have strongly criticised the organisers, but have said they will not boycott the event.
      South American Football Confederation Conmebol moved the tournament from Argentina earlier this month.
      Brazil players said in a statement: “For different reasons, be they humanitarian or professional, we are not satisfied with the way the Copa America has been handled by Conmebol.”
      Colombia have already withdrawn from the tournament due to the civil unrest there.
      When is Brazil vs Venezuela?

      Brazil vs Venezuela takes place on Sunday, June 13.
      The match kicks off at 10pm BST. That is 6pm local time in Brasilia.
      The Estadio Nacional de Brasilia plays host.

      What TV channel and live stream is Brazil vs Venezuela on?
      Brazil vs Venezuela will be broadcast live on BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport’s website in the UK.
      How can I watch Brazil vs Venezuela for FREE?

      What is the team news?
      Brazil Copa America squad:
      Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
      Defenders: Emerson (Barcelona), Danilo, Alex Sandro (Juventus), Renan Lodi, Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
      Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paquetá (Lyon)
      Forwards: Everton (Benfica), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Richarlison (Everton), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
      Venezuela’s final squad for Copa America More