Explainers

SLOVENIAN referee Slavko Vincic has emerged from a turbulent year to be appointed to Euro 2020.The continent’s biggest football competition seemed a world away a year ago, when he was arrested in Bosnia and accused of being part of a drugs and prostitution ring.
Slavko Vincic has emerged from a turbulent year to be appointed to Euro 2020Credit: The Sun
However, he was later released without charge and is now free to focus on football, where he is recognised as one of Europe’s best referees.
Who is Slavko Vincic?
A native of Maribor, Vincic turned professional in 2007 making his debut in Slovenia’s top flight.
Vincic was included in the Slovenian officiating team at Euro 2012 as an unused additional assistant.
The experienced 41-year-old has been a Fifa accredited referee since 2010 and has regularly officiated in the Champions League and Europa League.
Vincic took charge of Liverpool’s Champions League last 16 first leg tie against RB Leipzig in February and the first leg of Chelsea’s quarter final against Porto.
He is part of Uefa’s group of elite referees having officiated across Europe’s top competitions.

What happened in Bosnia?
Slavko Vincic said of his arrest: “I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting.
“I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it.
“I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened.
“I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners.
“Yes, they really took us to the police, asked as witnesses, when it turned out that we didn’t even know them, we were able to go.”
Vincic was defended by the Slovenian FA who viewed the incident as their man being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What games is he taking charge of at Euro 2020?
This has not yet been confirmed but he is expected to officiate in the group stages of the tournament. More

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.”
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.”

What are the other teams doing?
Italy
Serie A players took the knee last summer, however the national team did not take the knee in their most recent friendly against Czech Republic.
It is not known whether the Azzurri will remain standing, take the knee in all their games or only take the knee against Wales.
On the fence
Turkey
PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir take the kneeCredit: EPA
Turkey have not taken the knee in their recent internationals.
However, club side Istanbul Basaksehir did kneel against PSG after alleging that their assistant manager Pierre Webo was racially abused by fourth official Sebastian Coltescu.
Coltescu was revealed to have told referee Ovidiu Hategan to book “the black one” when pointing to the Basaksehir bench.
Uefa adjudged Coltescu to have been guilty of “inappropriate behaviour” but not racism and suspended him until the end of the 2020/21 season.
On the fence
Switzerland
Switzerland have not taken the knee in their recent games and their stance for the Euros is not known.
On the fence
Denmark
Denmark took the knee against both England and Belgium last autumn.
Christian Eriksen said at the time: “We all support the fight against all forms of racism.”
They have also joined other national teams in supporting political causes such as the ‘Football supports CHANGE’ initiative, condemning World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers.
Their stance on the gesture in the Euros is unknown.
Lean yes
Finland
Finland took the knee before their Uefa Nations League game against Wales and were vocally supportive of the gesture.
Captain Tim Sparv said: “The whole team stood behind it. All the players and the backroom staff wanted to oppose racism.”
Their stance on performing the gesture at the Euros is unknown.
Lean yes

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.
Lean no
Scotland
Scotland stopped taking the knee in March with manager Steve Clarke suggesting the gesture had become diluted.
He stated: “Recent events and past events show that you have to keep changing people’s mindsets about racism.
“I think the knee when it was first proposed and first taken was a really powerful symbol.
“It’s maybe now become a little diluted, there’s been some high profile cases recently, which shows the racism and the abuse is still there. It’s not acceptable to anybody.
“And maybe just taking a stand as opposed to the knee will just waken everybody up to the fact that if we go to sleep it will never go away.
“We have to keep confronting it, pushing forward and making sure that in years to come racism of any form is not acceptable.”
However, after England players were booed for kneeling at the Riverside, Clarke left open the possibility of the gesture returning.
He said: “It’s a conversation I’ll have with the players before we play our first game.
“Then we’ll decide what way we’re going to do it throughout the Euros.
“Whether that’s to take a stand against racism or take a knee, we’ll decide as a squad and then we’ll carry it on throughout the tournament.”
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

WHAT they lack in footballing prowess, Hungary certainly makes up for with its national anthem – the Himnusz.The 1989 hymn is TWICE the length of God Save the Queen and quite a mouthful.

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But spare a thought for Hungarians back home – they have to listen to it at 12.10am every single day on the radio.
What are the lyrics to Himnusz
Verse 1Isten, áldd meg a magyartJó kedvvel, bőséggel,Nyújts feléje védő kart,Ha küzd ellenséggel;Bal sors akit régen tép,Hozz rá víg esztendőt,Megbűnhődte már e népA múltat s jövendőt!
Verse 2Őseinket felhozádKárpát szent bércére,Általad nyert szép hazátBendegúznak vére.S merre zúgnak habjaiTiszának, Dunának,Árpád hős magzatjaiFelvirágozának.
Verse 3Értünk Kunság mezeinÉrt kalászt lengettél,Tokaj szőlővesszeinNektárt csepegtettél.Zászlónk gyakran plántáládVad török sáncára,S nyögte Mátyás bús hadátBécsnek büszke vára.
Verse 4Hajh, de bűneink miattGyúlt harag kebledben,S elsújtád villámidatDörgő fellegedben,Most rabló mongol nyilátZúgattad felettünk,Majd töröktől rabigátVállainkra vettünk.

Verse 5Hányszor zengett ajkainOzmán vad népénekVert hadunk csonthalmainGyőzedelmi ének!Hányszor támadt tenfiadSzép hazám, kebledre,S lettél magzatod miattMagzatod hamvvedre!
Verse 6Bújt az üldözött, s feléKard nyúlt barlangjában,Szerte nézett s nem leléHonját a hazában,Bércre hág és völgybe száll,Bú s kétség mellette,Vérözön lábainál,S lángtenger fölette.
Verse 7Vár állott, most kőhalom,Kedv s öröm röpkedtek,Halálhörgés, siralomZajlik már helyettek.S ah, szabadság nem virúlA holtnak véréből,Kínzó rabság könnye hullÁrvánk hő szeméből!
Verse 8Szánd meg Isten a magyartKit vészek hányának,Nyújts feléje védő kartTengerén kínjának.Bal sors akit régen tép,Hozz rá víg esztendőt,Megbűnhődte már e népA múltat s jövendőt!
Hungary are in a tough group with Germany, Portugal and FranceCredit: Reuters
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What are the lyrics in English?
Verse 1O God, bless the nation of HungaryWith your grace and bountyExtend over it your guarding armDuring strife with its enemiesLong torn by ill fateBring upon it a time of reliefThis nation has suffered for all sinsOf the past and of the future!
Verse 2You brought our ancestors upOver the Carpathians’ holy peaksBy You was won a beautiful homelandFor Bendeguz’s sonsAnd wherever flow the rivers ofThe Tisza and the DanubeÁrpád our hero’s descendantsWill root and bloom.
Verse 3For us on the plains of the KunsYou ripened the wheatIn the grape fields of TokajYou dripped sweet nectarOur flag you often plantedOn the wild Turk’s earthworksAnd under Mátyás’ grave army whimperedVienna’s “proud fort.”
Verse 4Ah, but for our sinsAnger gathered in Your bosomAnd You struck with Your lightningFrom Your thundering cloudsNow the plundering Mongols’ arrowsYou swarmed over usThen the Turks’ slave yokeWe took upon our shoulders.

Verse 5How often came from the mouthsOf Osman’s barbarian nationOver the corpses of our defeated armyA victory song!How often did your own son aggressMy homeland, upon your breast,And you became because of your own sonsYour own sons’ funeral urn!
Verse 6The fugitive hid, and towards himThe sword reached into his caveLooking everywhere he could not findHis home in his homelandClimbs the mountain, descends the valleySadness and despair his companionsSea of blood beneath his feetOcean of flame above.
Verse 7Castle stood, now a heap of stonesHappiness and joy fluttered,Groans of death, weepingNow sound in their place.And Ah! Freedom does not bloomFrom the blood of the dead,Torturous slavery’s tears fallFrom the burning eyes of the orphans!
Verse 8Pity, O Lord, the HungariansWho are tossed by waves of dangerExtend over it your guarding armOn the sea of its miseryLong torn by ill fateBring upon it a time of reliefThey who have suffered for all sinsOf the past and of the future! More

WHEN Cristiano and Co line up to begin the defence of their Euros crown they will head into battle – with a familiar war cry.Portugal’s national anthem – a marching song which was adopted by the country’s new Republic in 1911 – is not just an expression of pride.

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It is a call to arms, a notice of intent and a flexing of Portugal’s muscles as they prepare to honour the Homeland.
What are the lyrics to “A Portuguesa”?
Verse 1Heróisdo mar, nobre povo,Naçao valente, imortal,Levantai hoje de novoOs esplendor de PortugalEntre as brumas da memória.Ó Pátria sente-se a vozDos teus egrégios avósQue há-de guiar-te à vitória.
Chorus:Às armas! Às armas!Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!Às armas! Às armas!Pela Pátria lutar!Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
Verse 2Desfralda a invicta bandeiraÀ luz viva do teu céuBrade à Europa à terra inteiraPortugal não pereceu!Beija o solo teu jucundoO oceano a rujir d’amor;E o teu braço vencedorDeu mundos novos ao mundo!

Chorus:Às armas! Às armas!Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!Às armas! Às armas!Pela Pátria lutar!Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
Verse 3Saudai o sol que despontaSobre um ridente porvir;Seja o eco d’uma afrontaO sinal de ressurgir.Ráios d’essa aurora forteSão como beijos de mãeQue nos guardam, nos sustêm,Contra as injúrias da sorte
Chorus:Às armas! Às armas!Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!Às armas! Às armas!Pela Pátria lutar!Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
Portugal have a tough group with France, Germany and HungaryCredit: Getty – Contributor
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What are the lyrics in English
Verse 1Heroes of the sea, noble race,Valiant and immortal nation,Rise up once againThe splendor of Portugal.Out of the mists of memory,Oh Homeland, we hear the voicesOf your great forefathersThat shall lead you on to victory!
Chorus:To arms, to armsOn land and sea!To arms, to armsTo fight for our Homeland!To march against the enemy guns!
Verse 2Unfurl the unconquerable flagIn the bright light of your sky!Cry out all Europe and the worldThat Portugal has not perished.Your happy land is kissedBy the Ocean that murmurs with love.And your conquering armHas given new worlds to the world!
Chorus:To arms, to armsOn land and sea!To arms, to armsTo fight for our Homeland!To march against the enemy guns!
Verse 3Salute the Sun that risesOn a smiling future:Let the echo of an insult beThe signal for our revival.The rays of that powerful dawnAre like a mother’s kissesThat protect us and support usAgainst the insults of fate.
Chorus:To arms, to armsOn land and sea!To arms, to armsTo fight for our Homeland!To march against the enemy guns! More

MINNOWS Slovakia like their national anthem so much they sing it twice.Each line of Nad Tatrou sa blýska’s rousing two verses are repeated to pack a proper punch.

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It was originally a folk song written in 1844 by a student who was furious after his teacher was sacked but later adopted in 1993 after it split from the Czech Republic.
What are the lyrics to Nad Tatrou sa Blyska?
Verse 1Nad Tatrou sa blýska,hromy divo bijú.Zastavme ich, bratia,veď sa ony stratia,Slováci ožijú.
Verse 2To Slovensko našeposiaľ tvrdo spalo,ale blesky hromuvzbudzujú ho k tomu,aby sa prebralo.
Slovakia are in a tough group with Poland, Spain and SwedenCredit: AFP
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What are the lyrics in English?
Verse 1There is lightning over the Tatras,thunderclaps wildly beat.Let us stop them, brothers,for all that, they will disappear,the Slovaks will revive.
Verse 2That Slovakia of ourshas been fast asleep so far,but the thunder’s lightningis rousing itto come to. More

PE TEACHER Istvan Kovacs will be used to brushing away any nonsense from footballers – given he deals with rowdy pupils in his day job.The 36-year-old has been included in a strong Romanian delegation for Euro 2020.
Istvan Kovacs shows Igor Shitov a red card during Astana’s Champions League qualifier against Celtic in 2016Credit: RUSSELL CHEYNE
The tournament will provide educator with the biggest exam of his career so far as he makes his debut in a senior international competition.
Kovacs was recently promoted by Uefa to their cohort of ‘elite referees’ providing the Romanian with recognition for his outstanding performances with the whistle.
Appointed as a Fifa referee in 2010, Kovacs has grown in stature and regularly officiates in the Champions League.
Where did his career begin?
Kovacs, a native of Carei, grew up a sports fanatic and turned his attention to officiating from a young age.
After following his dream, he was appointed as a professional referee in his homeland ahead of the 2007/08 season.
In his debut season Kovac officiated 17 Romanian top flight fixtures and within three years he taking charge of Europa League matches.
How long did he ref in the Middle East?
Between 2001 and 2018 Kovacs was invited to referee outside of Romania and officiated league games in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Kovac’s firm officiating style has seen him brandish 149 red cards so far in his 14-year professional career.

This season, he refereed Manchester United’s Europa League quarter final second leg win against Granada and Celtic’s 4-1 group stage mauling at the hands of Sparta Prague.
What games is he taking charges of at Euro 2020?
This has not yet been confirmed but he is expected to officiate in the group stages of the tournament. More

EXCITEMENT is palpable as Euro 2020 gets underway a year behind schedule.The tournament was postponed due to Covid last summer but has retained its original name despite being played in 2021.
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Euro 2020 has retained its original nameCredit: Reuters
Why is Euro 2020 called Euro 2020?
The official name of the competition is the 2020 Uefa European Football Championship.
However, this is typically shortened to Euro 2020 for marketing purposes.
Uefa stated that this was to maintain the original vision for the tournament – to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Football Championship.
As part of this vision, the competition is being played in eleven European cities rather than being confined to one host nation.
A Uefa statement issued in April 2020 read: “Following the postponement of Uefa Euro 2020 to the summer of 2021, and after a thorough internal review as well as several discussions with partners, the Uefa Executive Committee has decided that the tournament will still be known as Uefa Euro 2020.
“This decision allows Uefa to keep the original vision of the tournament, which was set to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Football Championship (1960–2020).

“It will furthermore serve as a reminder of how the whole football family came together to respond to the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the difficult times that Europe, and the world, had to go through in 2020.
“This choice is in line with UEFA’s commitment to make UEFA EURO 2020 sustainable and not to generate additional amounts of waste.
“A lot of branded material had already been produced by the time of the tournament’s postponement. A name change for the event would have meant the destruction and reproduction of such items.” More