SOCCER UEFA EURO ARTICLES

Is it actually coming home? For the first time since England won its lone World Cup in 1966, the Three Lions will be involved in an international final. They have benefited from being able to play five of their six matches at Wembley, and they will get to have the home crowd at their backs once again on Sunday. Italy is the toughest test that England has faced yet though. The Azzurri have not lost an international match since September 2018.... 

The most played match at major international tournaments will decide the first spot in the European Championship finals on Sunday. Italy and Spain are familiar foes at this point, and they met in the Round of 16 at the 2016 Euros. The Azzurri beat La Roja 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals in that match, and they are slight favorites to best Spain once again. However, Spain is tied with Germany as the most successful team in the history of this competition with three titles, a... 

Narratives will clash in the second semifinal match of EURO 2020. Denmark has been championed as a team of destiny ever since they miraculously made it out of the Group Stage following Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the pitch. The Danes have their countrymen thinking they are going to relive their incredibly 1992 run although their star player won’t be with them. Meanwhile, England’s fans are jubilant after what Gareth Southgate has gotten out of this squad. The Three Lions will have the benefi... 

Usually, England fans are cautiously optimistic while silently preparing for the worst from their team on the international stage. However, Gareth Southgate has millions on the island excited about the Three Lions’ finally winning a European Championship. England has a dream run now that they have dispatched Germany as they will face Ukraine in the quarterfinals and potentially the winner of Denmark and Czech Republic in London for the semifinals. That has led to spontaneous “It’s coming home!” ... 

There’s no question that Denmark is the sentimental favorite at this year’s European Championships. Christian Eriksen was the country’s best player and talisman, and his near-death experience in the country’s first match of the Euros stunned millions. His recovery has been cheered on by every soccer fan around the world, and it has proved to be an inspiration to us all. Denmark has outperformed all expectations with Eriksen out, and they will look to make the semifinals of the Euros for the firs... 

The most contentious quarterfinal match at EURO 2020 figures to be the clash between Italy and Belgium. These countries were among the favorites ahead of the competition, and they both have their eyes set on the grand prize. Italy and Belgium both played very well in the Group Stage and survived scares in the Round of 16. The winner of this match will likely be favored over either Spain or Switzerland in the semifinals and stand a great chance of making it to the finals.... 

Switzerland is still buzzing after the national team scored one of the country’s greatest triumphs in a major football tournament. The Swiss stunned France in the Round of 16 on Monday, and Switzerland will now make its first ever appearance in the quarterfinals of the European Championship. Unfortunately for Switzerland, things will not get any easier as they will take on Spain this Friday. The winner of this match will face the winner of Friday’s other quarterfinal between Italy and Belgium fo... 

One of the most anticipated Round of 16 matches at EURO 2020 will see Belgium take on Portugal for a spot in the quarterfinals. These are two of the best teams in the world, yet they will meet at this stage after the Portuguese finished third in the Group of Death. It’s a brutal draw for a Belgium team whose Golden Generation is looking to win the country its first major championship, and Portugal can’t be happy that their path towards defending their title runs through Belgium and likely Italy ... 

The defending World Cup champions survived the Group of Death, but it wasn’t easy. France won just one of their three matches, and both Hungary and Portugal proved to be game opponents. That gives Switzerland reason for optimism prior to their meeting in the Round of 16 on Monday. The Swiss routed Turkey 3-1 to make it to the Round of 16, but this country will have a hard time advancing any further. This is just the second time that Switzerland made it out of the Group Stage at the Euros, and th... 

The last Round of 16 match at Euro 2020 is expected to be one of the lowest scoring matches in the knockout rounds. Sweden leaned heavily on their defense to claim the top spot in Group E ahead of Spain, holding both Spain and Slovakia scoreless in their first two matches. They will take on a Ukraine team that was fortunate to make the knockout rounds after losing to the Netherlands and Austria.... 

No team has been more impressive than Italy through the Group Stage of EURO 2020. The Azzurri are one of two teams that has yet to allow a goal at the tournament, and their +7 goal differential is currently tops among all teams. They had little trouble dispatching of Turkey, Switzerland, and Wales in Group A, and they are heavy favorites to advance to the quarterfinals. Austria is currently standing in Italy’s way, but the Austrians aren’t expected to be much of a challenge. This is the... 

There is plenty of intrigue heading into the last day of play in Group F. Hungary’s draw to France means that all four teams can conceivably qualify for the knockout rounds. Only one point separates the three heavyweights in the group, so France, Germany, and Portugal could all still win Group F. France currently has a one-point edge over the other two teams, and Les Bleus know the importance of finishing atop this group. The winner of Group F will play a third-place team from either Gr... 

The winner of Group A will be determined this Sunday when Italy and Wales square off in both countries’ final Group Stage game. Italy currently leads the group with six points, while Wales has four points after knocking off Turkey in their last match. The Azzurri have already assured themselves of a place in the knockout rounds, and Wales has likely done enough considering they have a five-goal advantage on Switzerland. ... 

Poland must get a result out of its game with Spain on Saturday. The Poles could have absorbed a loss if they would have taken care of business against Slovakia in their first match on Monday. However, Poland fell 2-1 to Slovakia and watched Sweden hold Spain to a scoreless draw. That puts Poland at the bottom of Group E with zero points headed into their showdown with the favorites to win the group.... 

The longest running rivalry in international football will see its latest iteration played on Friday when England hosts Scotland in Group D play during EURO 2020. The Three Lions are riding high after they earned a modicum of revenge with their 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday, while Scotland’s first international tournament in 23 years got off to a rocky start with a 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic. A loss for the Scots would be devastating, but they are prohibitive underdogs against England.... 

Either Austria or the Netherlands can guarantee a spot in the knockout rounds with a win when they meet on Thursday. Both teams won their opening match, distancing themselves from Ukraine and North Macedonia in Group C. Each team has a great chance of advancing at this point with 16 of the 24 teams in the Group Stage making it to the next round, but one of those teams can punch its ticket with a victory. The Netherlands are a sizable favorite since they are playing at home, and they are consider... 

Italy got off to a great start last Friday. The Azzurri hammered Turkey 3-0 to grab sole possession of first place in Group A. They had their chances in the first half and couldn’t break through, but they were able to pour it on in the second half with three goals in the span of 26 minutes. A win over Switzerland on Wednesday might be enough for Italy to win the group if Wales and Turkey draw earlier in the day.... 

There is cause for alarm coming into Spain and Sweden’s opening match in Group E. Spain’s captain Sergio Busquets tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and is now being held in quarantine, while Sweden reportedly has two players of their own that tested positive for COVID. This match may be rescheduled or shuffled as a result of those tests, but both countries are hoping to have limited a potential outbreak.... 

The Group of Death will have the spotlight on June 15. Three of the ten best teams in the world will be in action that day as defending champions Portugal, 2018 World Cup champions France, and perennial juggernaut Germany are all set to take the pitch. The last match of the day will see Germany host France in potentially the most exciting game of the Group Stage given the history between these teams.... 

A rematch of one of the 2018 World Cup semifinal matches will be one of the highlights of the Group Stage at EURO 2020. Croatia nipped England 2-1 thanks to a 109th minute goal from Mario Mandzukic to advance to the World Cup Final three years ago. The Three Lions have had time to sit and stew about the loss that kept them out of a potential showdown with France, and now they can... 

Belgium’s most talented team ever will have their last, best hope to win a major international tournament at EURO 2020. The country’s golden generation are all in their primes or at the tail end of their prime years, so it’s essentially now or never for the small country of less than 12 million people. The Red Devils will begin their quest to win their first European Championship this weekend when they take on Russia in Saint Petersburg.... 

After being delayed for almost one year, EURO 2020 is set to kick off this Friday. We will see the 24 best teams in Europe square off for international glory, and 11 different cities will host matches in this truly international event. Italy will host the first game at the Stadio Olimpico, and the Azzurri are prohibitive favorites against Turkey. Don't miss a moment of E... 

Group F is one of the most difficult groups we have ever seen at the European Championships. France (2018 World Cup), Portugal (2016 Euros), and Germany (2014 World Cup) have won the three most recent international tournaments, but one of those three teams may not make it to the knockout rounds of EURO 2020. Their presence has made it nearly impossible for Hungary to get out, relegating th... 

Spain might be the favorite to win Group E, but La Roja have not fared well in an international competition since they were indisputably the best team in the world. No one could beat Spain from the late 2000s to the early 2010s. They won the 2008 European Championship, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2012 Euros, completing a treble that no other team has done. However, their performan... 

It would be ironic if this were the year England won its first European Championship. England has been at odds with the continent over Brexit, and that will add a layer of intrigue to their run in this competition. The Three Lions boast one of their best teams ever, and they have been installed as one of the favorites on the eve of Euro 2020. England made it to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in their first international competition under Gareth Southgate, so expectations are high coming in...