Zany Euros can delight the world
Platini’s brainchild could deliver one super tournament
EVEN the original architect of Euro 2020, former UEFA president Michel Platini, accepted it was “perhaps a bit of a zany idea”.
Staging the event in 12 cities spread across the whole of Europe in one month always looked like a logistical challenge – the coronavirus pandemic turned it into a potential nightmare.
Yet, somehow, we find ourselves within touching distance of the opening game in Rome on June 11, and with the prospect of every match being played in front of supporters.
UEFA took the decision to postpone the Euros by 12 months back in March of last year as the pandemic took hold.
Since that postponement, two of the original host cities – Dublin and Bilbao – have been stripped of their games after failing to provide capacity guarantees in April. Dublin’s games have been taken on by existing hosts St Petersburg and Wembley, while Bilbao’s moved to Seville.
Capacity limits range from 25 per cent up to full capacity, which has been promised by Budapest.
The group stage and last-16 matches at Wembley are due to be played in front of 22,500 fans, with an increase up to around 50 per cent capacity (45,000) for the semi-finals and final considered a realistic target by the FA provided there are no major setbacks on the UK’s Covid-19 recovery road map.
Each of the finalists will be allowed an expanded squad of 26 instead of the usual 23 in order to ensure the tournament’s smooth running, and to make five substitutions per match.
Games can be postponed for up to 48 hours to get new players into the squad in the event of Covid infections or quarantine requirements, but matches must go ahead if a squad has at least 13 players, including one keeper, available.
The expansion to 24 teams for Euro 2016 was intended to open the tournament up to new faces, and this time Finland and North Macedonia are making their debuts.
The eyes of the world, not just Europe, will be on these 51 matches in 31 days, the biggest sporting event to be staged since the pandemic struck.
There is the potential for a tournament that is scarred by forfeits, quarantine chaos for fans and teams alike.
But it could just be that Platini’s plan comes off and gives us an unforgettable summer.