It is now under 100 days before the Euro 2020 kicks off across Europe. It is the first time in the history of the Euros that the tournament will be hosted by several cities across the continent. As the date draws closer, we take a look at the Euro 2020 in numbers, and the significant numbers behind the tournament set to take place between June 12 and July 12.
Number of competing teams – 24
A total of 24 teams have been drawn into six groups for the Euro 2020.
Group A – Turkey, Italy, Wales, and Switzerland
Group B – Denmark, Finland, Belgium, and Russia
Group C – Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, and play-off winner D
Group D – England, Croatia, play-off winner C, and Czech Republic
Group E – Spain, Sweden, Poland, and play-off winner B
Group F – Play-off winner A, Portugal, France, and Germany
Host cities – 12
Previous editions of the Euros have been hosted in one or two countries. These championships will be the first to be hosted across the continent. The decision to have the tournament held across the continent was reached by UEFA to mark the 60th anniversary since the first tournament. Matches will be held in Bilbao, Baku, Budapest, Amsterdam, Dublin, Copenhagen, Munich, Glasgow, Bucharest, St. Petersburg, Rome, and London.
7 matches in Wembley
The City of Brussels was supposed to host some of the Euro 2020 matches, but delays in the construction of the Eurostadium meant that Wembley would host seven matches. Three group stage matches, one round-of-16 match, 2 semifinal matches, and the finals are set for the Wembley Stadium in London.
4 slots yet to be confirmed
The new Euro qualification system means there are still four finalists awaiting confirmation. 16 teams that did not make it through their respective European Championship qualifiers have been split into four groups, with matches expected to be played at the end of March.
Most wins in the Euros – 3
Spain and Germany have won the continental championship three times apiece. Spain won it in 1964, 2008, and 2012, with Germany winning it in 1972, 1976, (both as West Germany) and 1996. France has won it twice. Other nations to win it are the Netherlands, Italy. Greece, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Portugal, and The Soviet Union who have all won it once.
Favorites
After Portugal won the inaugural European Nations League which it hosted, it has seen its profile rise within a short period. They beat Netherlands in the finals. World Champions have on many occasions failed to replicate their World up winning form in the Euros, but they are strongly among the favorites for the 2020 tournament. Netherlands conspicuously missed out on the last edition, but Coach Ronald Koeman has assembled an entertaining squad that will shake the 2020 Euros.
Italy are on the ascendancy, and will also be seen as pre-tournament favorites especially if they can continue their winning run that saw them qualify for the Euros with 100 percent record. Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Czech Republic are other favorites that bookies will be putting their money on.
