The Euro 2020 kicked off on Friday 11th June,2021 with a single match between Italy and Turkey. The 2006 World Cup Champions, Italy beat Turkey 3:0 at home in Rome.
Merih Demiral who plays club football for Juventus scored in his own net in the 56th minute to hand Italy the lead. Lazio forward Ciro Immobile doubled the lead six minutes past hour mark before Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne sealed the win for the 1968 Champions in the 79th minute.
Originally scheduled to take place from 12 June to 12 July 2020, the tournament was then postponed to run from 11th June to 11th July 2021
due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
The Pearl Post takes a look into the favorites for Euro 2020 tournament.
PORTUGAL:
It should not take one by surprise if Ronaldo’s side make it three European championships in a row. The team coached by Fernando Santos is a rejuvinated one and surprisingly won the last tournament in 2016 and also went on to win the inaugural UEFA Nations League two years later.
Portugal are favorites for Euro 2020 as it still presents them with another opportunity for an international trophy to the on form youths.
The likes of Joao Cancello, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandez Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and ultimately Christiano Ronaldo will torment opponents. However, the issue is if other nations can just leave them dominate Europe like that.
ENGLAND.
To most of the people’s surprise, England is a one big side that hasn’t won this competition. If there is a chance for them to get one, it should be this time round.
From the goalkeeping area to the mid-field and in the attack, England posseses one of the best players currently.
Dean Henderson has been great turning into a first choice goalkeeper at Manchester United at the expense of De Gea explains that.
Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw will give you headache to pick who to start at the left back and the same applies to the right back where there’s Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, and Reece James.
Trippier was influential as Atletical Madrid took their first La Liga title in more than five years ago, Walker guided Manchester City to Premier League and EFL titles whereas James was on fire as Chelsea took a Champions league title.
Mason Mount and Declian Rice have been impressive this season for Chelsea and Westham respectively.
Phil Foden Jack Grealish, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Jadon Sancho will be dangerous in the attack whilst Captain Harry Kane who amased 37 Premier League goal involvements will be a real threat.
The only thing tormenting the ‘Three Lions’ is lack of a winning mentality that has also seen their previous good teams fail.
FRANCE:
They are two time champions of this tournament winning it in 1984 and 2000 before losing to Portugal in the finals in 2016.
They boast of goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris, a midfield with N’Golo Kante who’s tipped for a Ballon d’Or, Adrien Rabiot and Paul Pogba.
On the attacking, they’ll be led by Mpappe, the goal machine struck more than 35 goals last season and is also tipped for this year’s a Ballon d’Or.
Accompanied by their winning mentality, they greatly stand a chance to win this year’s tournament and become joint record tournament winners (3) with Spain.
BELGIUM:
Coached by Robert Martinez, this is one of the only two chances left for Belgium to win a major international trophy with this wonderful playing squad.
The squad that includes Thibaut Courtois, Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, Carrasco Ferreira, Thorgan Hazard and his elder brother Edin Hazard is thought to do all it takes so that this regime doesn’t go unnoticed.
With Lukaku and Dries Mertens on form, Belgium has only this tournament and next year’s World Cup to win a major International title as all of their good players have entered their 30s.