Mbappe and Griezmann want to celebrate with France at the EM
With the opening on Friday in Rome, the European Football Championship is breaking new ground in several ways, but the favorites are well known. The first title contender is world champion France, and very good chances are also given to world number one Belgium and England. There are also defending champions Portugal, Spain, Germany and Italy. Teams like Austria's group opponents Netherlands, Denmark or vice-world champions Croatia are given at least outsider opportunities.
The final will take place on July 11th at Wembley Stadium in London. The two semi-finals and five other games will also take place there. The 16th European Championship finals will be held in eleven different countries – a novelty in the more than 60-year history of the EURO.
Spectator restrictions are also new. Due to the corona, a full stadium is only planned in Budapest. The utilization of the other arenas varies depending on local requirements, but with the exception of St. Petersburg and Baku will initially be well below 50 percent. Nevertheless, the tournament is a step back towards normality – fans from the 24 participating countries are also allowed to travel.
The pandemic made it necessary to postpone the EM by one year last spring. Since then, nothing has changed significantly in terms of the distribution of opportunities. World champion France is considered a hot contender for Europe's throne because of its star strikers Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and returnee Karim Benzema, but also because of its defensive strength. As early as 2000, the French had followed the World Cup crown with the European Championship.
World Cup third Belgium is seen as one of the big challengers. England is also one of the top teams. The 1966 world champion has a highly talented, young, but also somewhat fickle team. Portugal, on the other hand, can fall back on a seasoned team. The offensive department, to which Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Andre Silva belong in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo, is possibly the best of all EM participants next to that of France.
France and Portugal already meet in the group stage. Pool F, the top-class of all six groups, is completed by Germany and Hungary. Because the four best thirds in the group also make it to the round of 16, all three co-favorites could rise. The first big hit of the tournament between Germany and France will take place next Tuesday (June 15) in Munich. Before that, England and Croatia will duel on Sunday in London.
In addition to the English and Germans with the venues in London and Munich, Italy (with Rome), Denmark (Copenhagen), Russia (St. Petersburg), Scotland (Glasgow), Spain (Seville), Hungary (Budapest) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam) enjoy ) something like a home advantage in the group stage. The opening game will be played on Friday (9 p.m. / live ORF 1) Italy and Turkey.
Austria joins the tournament in Bucharest on Sunday (6 p.m. / live ORF 1). The start against North Macedonia is already a key game in the fight for the round of 16. The declared ÖFB goal is to reach the knockout phase for the third time at the European Championship. The draw meant well with Franco Foda's team. After the North Macedonians, Group C will play against the Netherlands in Amsterdam (June 17) and again in Bucharest against the Ukraine (June 21).
The ÖFB team qualified for the continental finals for the second time since 2016. In 2008 you were there as a co-host. The previous EM balance sheet could be improved: In six games there were four defeats and two draws. There are only two goals scored. The red-white-red team has not yet achieved a victory in their two EM outs in the group stage. That should change in 2021 – like so many things.
