Explainers

FORMER Premier League referee Peter Walton will be part of ITV’s pundit team at Euro 2020 to provide expert insight on all the major decisions during games. The 61-year-old refereed games in the Premier League between 2003-2012 as well as the 2008 FA Community Shield.
Peter Walton was assistant referee for the 1996 FA Cup finalCredit: Peter Tarry – The Sunday Times  
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The first game he refereed in the Premier League was a memorable one – a 4-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers win against Leicester in 2003.
Walton currently provides insight for BT Sport’s coverage of the Premier League and Champions League, but will join up with ITV for Euro 2020.
He was subject of a BT Sport gaff two years ago in the Champions League semi-final as instead of cutting to images of Spurs players after Lucas Moura’s dramatic winner against Ajax, BT cameras switched to a grinning Walton.

Euro 2020 gets underway on June 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as Turkey take on Italy in Group A.
The sixtieth anniversary of the first Euros means this year the tournament is being held across the continent of Europe, rather than one host nation.

Eleven cities have been chosen to hold fixtures, with 25% of the stadiums set to be filled with supporters.
Dublin was originally scheduled to be a host city, but the Irish government could not assure UEFA that the Aviva Stadium could be 25% full.
Who are the eleven host cities for Euro 2020?

Amsterdam Arena – Amsterdam
Olympic Stadium – Baku
Arena Nationala – Bucharest
Puskas Arena – Budapest
Parken Stadium – Copenhagen
Hampden Park – Glasgow
Wembley Stadium- London
Allianz Arena – Munich
Stadio Olimpico – Rome
La Cartuja – Seville
Krestovksy Stadium – St. Petersburg

The first game Peter Walton will be on duty for is likely to be ITV’s first live game of the tournament – the Group B clash between Belgium take on Russia.
Twenty-four teams will contest Euro 2020 More

GARY LINEKER, Gabby Logan, Eilidh Barbour and Mark Chapman are set to present the BBC’s coverage of Euro 2020.Lineker & Co will host the Beeb’s coverage of this summer’s championship and will be joined by a host of pundits and ex-professionals from the three home nations who have qualified for the tournament.
The BBC have announced a star studded line-up to guide viewers through Euro 2020Credit: BBC
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Who are the BBC’s pundits for Euro 2020?

Alan Shearer
Rio Ferdinand
Alex Scott
Micah Richards
Ashley Williams
Mark Hughes
Shelley Kerr
James McFadden
Charlie Adam
Cesc Fabregas
Jurgen Klinsmann

Two of the Beeb’s pundits are in fact winners of the European Championships – Fabregas with Spain, and Klinsmann with Germany.
Another previous winner in Thierry Henry was scheduled to be part of the BBC’s team, but left after being an offered a role in the Belgium coaching set-up for the tournament.
Thierry Henry will no longer be a studio guest for the BBC
BBC regulars Alan Shearer and Alex Scott are likely to be in the studio for England games alongside Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards, while Ashley Williams and Mark Hughes will provide insight for Wales’ fixtures.
James McFadden, Shelley Kerr and Charlie Adam will join either Lineker, Logan, Barbour or Chapman to cast their eyes over the Scotland games this summer.
Alex Scott has also recently been announced as the new host for Football Focus
Micah Richards has proved to be a hit among television viewers this season

Who are the BBC’s commentators for Euro 2020?

Guy Mowbray
Steve Wilson
Robyn Cowen
Steve Bower
Jonathan Pearce
Vicki Sparks
Rob McLean
Mark Scott

Who are the BBC’s co-commentators for Euro 2020?

Karen Carney
Dion Dublin
Robbie Savage
Jermaine Jenas
Martin Keown
Danny Murphy
James McFadden

Robbie Savage has been a main part of BT Sport’s Europa League coverage this season
Carney, Dublin, Jenas, Keown and Murphy are likely to co-commentate primarily on England games as well as other European nations, while Robbie Savage will cover Wales, and James McFadden Scotland games.

The Beeb will broadcast the opening game of Euro 2020 between Turkey and Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on June 11, as well as England’s tournament opener against Croatia on June 13.
Wales and Scotland’s opening games will also be shown live on BBC, with Wales taking on Switzerland on June 12, and Scotland facing the Czech Republic on June 14.
The BBC will live broadcast seventeen group stage games from Euro 2020

Speaking on their coverage of Euro 2020, Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater said:
“After patiently waiting, the first of this summer’s major sporting events is now on the horizon and the BBC is ready to deliver another memorable football tournament, making sure audiences are entertained from start to finish.
“Three of our home nations are all in action on the BBC during the opening weekend, along with an array of the finest European talent on display throughout the Championship.
“All coverage will be brought to viewers and listeners by an unrivalled line-up of the best presenters and experts who can offer that unique insight, analysis and entertainment.” More

MARK POUGATCH, Seema Jaswal and Reshmin Chowdhury are set lead ITV’s live coverage of this summer’s European Championships. ITV’s Euro 2020 live coverage will also include Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira, Eni Aluko and Ashley Cole as studio pundits, while Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and John Hartson will be part of ITV’s co-commentary team.
ITV have announced a team of thirty for their broadcasting of Euro 2020 – Credit: ITV
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Who are the ITV pundits for Euro 2020?

Ian Wright
Roy Keane
Gary Neville
Patrick Vieira
Graeme Souness
Ashley Cole
Eni Aluko
Robert Earnshaw
Emma Hayes
Nigel de Jong
John Collins
Joe Ledley
Nadia Nadim
Scott Brown
Andros Townsend

Graeme Souness, Robert Earnshaw, Emma Hayes, Nigel de Jong, John Collins, Joe Ledley, Nadia Nadim, Scott Brown and Andros Townsend also make up ITV’s studio pundits for the TWENTY-SEVEN live games that will be shown on the channel.
Ian Wright and Ashley Cole were part of the BBC team for the FA Cup final but will be with ITV for Euro 2020
Eni Aluko was a runner-up of the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2009
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Joe Speight, Seb Hutchinson and Tom Gayle will head the commentary team.

Gabriel Clarke, Michelle Owen and Raman Bhardwaj will be stationed across Europe’s eleven host cities to report live from matchday venues, with ex-referee Peter Walton also set to be consulted to discuss and explain major decisions throughout the tournament.
Mark Pougatch and Andros Townsend will also host twelve Euro 2020 episodes of the ITV Football Football Show podcast which will feature special guests across the course of the tournament.
Mark Pougatch will lead ITV’s presenting team as well as hosting ITV’s Euro 2020 podcast
ITV will also broadcast England’s final two pre-tournament matches at home to Austria on June 2 and Romania on June 6.
ITV will EXCLUSIVELY show the mouthwatering clash between England and Scotland at Wembley on June 18, as well as England’s final group game against the Czech Republic on June 22.
As well as those games, ITV will broadcast Italy vs Wales on June 20 and Scotland vs Croatia on June 22.
Gareth Southgate and England kick off their Euro 2020 campaign on June 13 against Croatia

Speaking to ITV’s Euro 2020 live coverage on his hopes for the tournament, Gary Neville said:
“I’m most looking forward to the tournament being based, or quite a few of the games being based in England.
“It’s first time since Euro 96, of which I was a part, it is so special, the nation needs it – it’s been a tough twelve months obviously with Covid and lockdowns and people’s mental health.
“So the idea that we’ve got this home tournament almost whereby we can have all these games, England playing in Wembley, a great team, exciting team, a game against Scotland obviously which brings back the memories of the Euro 96 as well.
Gary Neville will be part of ITV’s studio team for Euro 2020
Euro 2020 gets underway on June 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as Italy take on Turkey, and will finish on July 11 with the final at Wembley.
The Stadio Olimpico in Rome hosts three games after opening Euro 2020 on June 11 More

THE Euros has been designed to keep as many teams in the tournament as possible and the excitement flowing.And after last year’s delay, it’s finally going to go ahead.
Portugal didn’t win a single group stage game back in 2016, but qualified for the knockout stages as one of the best 3rd placed teams and went on to shock France in the finalCredit: GETTY IMAGES
The best TV deals for Euro 2020 including LG, Sony, Toshiba and more

According to reports, Euros matches at Wembley are likely to be at full capacity.
Wembley could be a full house for when England meet Scotland in the group stages on 18 June.
Does Euro 2020 have a third-fourth place playoff in the group stages?
No. Euro 2020 does not have a third-fourth place playoff in the group stages of the competition.
And this is largely due to the procedures Uefa follow in order to rank teams as the group stages progress.
All of the qualified 24 teams are split up into six groups of four, and the top two qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
Four of the best 3rd placed teams will join them in the next stage as well.
However, in the event of two or more teams finishing level on points, goal difference will decide who finishes higher up in the table.
And if goal difference cannot separate the two or more sides, Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams will decide.
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Italy back at Euro 2016 is a good example of how it works.
The Azzurri finished level on points and goal difference with their continental neighbours, Belgium, in group E.
But it was Italy who topped the group due to their 2-0 win over the Red Devils.
Gareth Southgate fires up ambitious England not to be afraid of Euro 2020 glory More

ROME is set to host the Euro 2020 opening ceremony ahead of the first game of the delayed tournament. The ceremony will take place before the first game between Turkey and Italy at the Stadio Olimpico tonight.
The Stadio Olimpico will host four games over the course of the tournament
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However just 25% of the 72,698 seater Stadio Olimpico will be filled, as Coronavirus restrictions prevent the eleven host stadiums across Europe from selling out venues to fans.
The Euro 2020 trophy being displayed outside the Colosseum in Rome
The opening ceremony will see the tournament’s official song “We Are the People” played live for the first time.
Dutch DJ Martin Garrix is the composer of the track, which features U2 lead vocalist Bono and fellow band member Edge.
The 25-year-old had this to say about producing the song:
“It was amazing to work with Bono and Edge.
“They were very inspiring because they’re legends and because they have so much knowledge and wisdom.”
Dutch DJ Martin Garrix scored a UK Number 1 Single in 2013 with the song ‘Animals’

The ceremony this year will be far from the scenes of the opening ceremony five years ago at Euro 2016, which saw a packed Stade de France officially open the tournament in Paris.
French DJ David Guetta opened the tournament with Zara Larsson as they performed “This One’s For You” – the official song of Euro 2016.

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

David Guetta and Zara Larsson performed at the Euro 2016 opening ceremony
The official song of the 2016 Euros was titled ‘This One’s For You’
Euro 2020 kicks off on June 11 and is played over the following month before the final at Wembley on July 11
Dimitri Payet’s 89th minute winner that day saw hosts France beat Romania 2-1 on their way to the final, which they eventually lost to Portugal in extra time.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy will be hoping to repeat the feat this year following the opening ceremony in Rome, although Italy are not the only host nation.
This year the sixtieth anniversary of the first European Championships sees the continent of Europe host the tournament, with eleven cities in eleven different countries hosting games. More