Euro 2020: Everything you need to know about next summer's tournament

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments253

Raheem Sterling, Ryan Christie, Gareth Bale
England, Scotland and Wales will all play at Euro 2020

The Uefa Euro 2020 line-up is finally complete.

Some eight months later than expected - because of the coronavirus pandemic - the final four places for next summer's tournament have been decided.

Scotland have joined England and Wales in qualifying, thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout win against Serbia in their qualifying play-off final on Thursday.

The tournament, originally scheduled to take place from 12 June to 12 July this summer, will now run from 11 June to 11 July 2021.

It will consist of 24 teams and 51 matches in 12 host cities across Europe, although it remains unknown whether fans will be allowed at the tournament, because of ongoing global heath crisis.

Regardless, the tournament will be live across the BBC - on television, radio and online.

Who is in which group?

  • Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales
  • Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland
  • Group C: Ukraine, Netherlands, Austria, North Macedonia
  • Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland
  • Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia
  • Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, Hungary

Where and when will Scotland play?

Scotland
Scotland will play in a major men's tournament for the first time since 1998

Steve Clarke's Scotland have ended a 23-year wait for men's major tournament football after beating Serbia in their play-off final in Belgrade.

That wait comes to an end against the Czech Republic in Glasgow on 14 June, with a trip to face England at Wembley following on 18 June and a final group game at Hampden Park against Croatia four days later.

  • Monday 14 June: Scotland v Czech Republic (Hampden Park)
  • Friday 18 June: England v Scotland (Wembley)
  • Tuesday 22 June: Croatia v Scotland (Hampden Park)

If they win their group, their last-16 tie would be in Dublin against the runners-up in a hugely competitive-looking Group F - made up of Germany, France, Portugal and Hungary - with a potential quarter-final to follow in Rome.

Should they finish second, it would be a trip to Copenhagen against the runners-up from Group E, which features Spain, before a quarter-final in St Petersburg. There are other possibilities if they are one of the best third-place finishers.

Where and when will England play?

England national team
England were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland in the round of 16

England will benefit from hosting all three of their group games at Wembley.

Their tournament begins against Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, which was won by Zlatko Dalic's side.

  • Sunday 13 June: England v Croatia (Wembley)
  • Friday 18 June: England v Scotland (Wembley)
  • Tuesday 22 June: Czech Republic v England (Wembley)

England's scenario is the same as Scotland's above - winning the group would bring a last-16 tie in Dublin against the runners-up in Group F - one of Germany, France, Portugal and Hungary - with a potential quarter-final in Rome.

Finishing second would take England to Copenhagen against the runners-up from Group E - one of Spain, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia - before a quarter-final in St Petersburg. There are other possibilities if they are one of the best third-place finishers.

Where and when will Wales play?

Wales
Wales' players celebrated their superb run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 with an open top bus parade

Wales, semi-finalists in 2016, are in Group A alongside 1968 winners Italy, who won all 10 of their qualification matches and conceded just four goals.

They are joined by Switzerland, winners of their qualification group, and a Turkey side that earned a win and a draw against world champions France.

Italy will play their three group games at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, with the other matches taking place at Baku's Olympic Stadium, in Azerbaijan.

  • Saturday 12 June: Wales v Switzerland (Baku)
  • Wednesday 16 June: Turkey v Wales (Baku)
  • Sunday 20 June: Italy v Wales (Rome)

The most difficult group ever?

World champions France, European champions Portugal and the previous World Cup winners Germany are all together with play-off winners Hungary in Group F.

This is only the second major tournament where the world champions and the European champions will have met in the group stage - after Euro 1992, when the Netherlands beat Germany.

Germany, who won the 2014 World Cup, will host their three group games in Munich, with the other matches in Budapest.

"This is a group of death," said Germany boss Joachim Low.

Host cities/stadiums

1. Glasgow (Hampden Park, capacity 51,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

2. Dublin (Dublin Arena, 51,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

3. London (Wembley, 90,000). Final and both semi-finals, one last-16 game, three group games.

4. Bilbao (San Mames, 53,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

5. Amsterdam (Johan Cruyff Arena, 54,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

6. Copenhagen (Parken Stadium, 38,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

7. Munich (Football Arena Munich, 70,000). Three group games, one quarter-final.

8. Rome (Stadio Olimpico, 68,000). Three group games, one quarter-final.

9. Budapest (Puskas Arena, 68,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

10. St Petersburg (Krestovsky Stadium, 61,000). Three group games, one quarter-final.

11. Bucharest (Arena Nationala, 54,000). Three group games, one last-16 game.

12. Baku (Olympic Stadium, 69,000). Three group games, one quarter-final.

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253 comments

  • This Englishman is really pleased for Scotland. Been a tough year for everyone and it’s good for Scottish football fans to have something to look forward to. And we all love the friendly rivalry really, don’t we?

  • The amount of teams is wrong... Should only be the top 2 from each group going though! Either round it up to 32 or down to 16! Well done Scotland! And well done to North Macedonia and Finland for their first appearances! Feel for Hungary... Brutal group! ✌️

    • DaddyCool replied:
      I think when more than half of the teams in a group progress to the next round, it encourages negative football as a 0-0 becomes a lot more valuable - we saw this at Euro 2016. If we're to have 24 teams in the tournament (Europe probably doesn't have enough for 32 good teams IMO) then only 8 should progress from the groups, making teams play for the win, not the draw.

  • Already it looks like finishing second in the group leads to an easier draw. Just like 2018.

    • matt1815 replied:
      Sort of a win-win for England (provided they beat Scotland and Czech Rep). Beat Croatia at Wembley and we'll be over the moon. Lose and our path to the final is a lot easier

  • Congratulations to Scotland. Is a shame the Ulster men didn’t manage to get over the line as we would’ve had the Irish in there too.

    Let’s hope at least part fans are allowed in to watch by then.

  • Well done Scotland. Massively unfortunate not to win the game in normal time as were comfortably the better side. Looked for all the world like Serbia would win it in extra time but great job to hold on and stay calm for the penalties. Great to see the Scots back at a major tournament and hopefully both England & Scotland can progress from a group where second place looks like the better option.

  • When I read the fixture list for Scotland I had one thought:

    1996 and Gazza. The games against Scotland and Holland in that tournament were what dreams were made of. Great days. I was 19 and not a care in the world.

  • Well played Scotland. Look forward with competing with you in the finals. Great stuff boys !

    • TheNightmanCometh replied:
      Why would anyone downvote this?

  • Absolutely no excuse for us not to win that group yet in the bigger picture we're better off finishing 2nd.

    I'll be very surprised if the winner isn't in Group F though, crazy that the past 3 major tournament winners are all in 1 group.

    • wembley1977 replied:
      Steady - think Croatia will be a tough game for us although home advantage might work in our favour at Hampden.

  • My interest in this competition will depend somewhat on the TV coverage. Fair to say that unless the live matches are on free to air TV then I will rapidly lose interest.
    Club football is more important to me so the International arena needs make itself available beyond just late night highlights and match reports in the News.

    • MarktheHorn replied:
      It’s all on the BBC and ITV as usual .

  • Amazed if you win Group D you play the runners up of Group F, one of either: Germany, France, Portugal and H'gary but if you finish Runners up of Group D, you play the runners up of Group E one of either: Spain, POL, SWE and Slovakia. I know you have to beat the best to win the thing but it doesn't take a genius to realise coming second in Group D would be more beneficial in the run in. Strange!

    • pato replied:
      Bearing in mind Spain finish top of their respective group!

  • Might as well finish second in that group then!

  • C'mon Scotland, Wales and England!! Make us all believe again!! Yeah!

  • Well done Scotland! I watched your game last night rather than our friendly. Couldn’t believe it when they scored so late on.

    I cheered when Marshall saved the penalty. Looking forward to our game at Wembley!

    It’s a shame NI didn’t make it through too.

  • Am going to take a punt here and say that England will win this tournament. Yes it’s England and they always disappoint, but many in the squad have solid experience from the WC and with the unfortunate one-year postponement, there may be a projection of ‘nothing to lose’ within the team and media, which will only benefit the players.

    • pato replied:
      I honestly love your optimism but with Southgate in charge i can't see it! My final is England vs Scotland on Friday 18th June @ Wembley....Praying and hoping it's a scorcher of a day and the pubs are packed out!!

  • Good Luck to all those who have qualified, I still think its wrong to be hosting this across multiple countries though given the situation with Covid 19.

    I wish they would stop messing with the format and go back to the previous format, next they'll be inviting Australia to take part.

  • Hungary must be wondering what they've done wrong in a previous life. Germany France and Portugal!

    From an English perspective glad to see Croatia in our group. Here's hoping we somehow knock them out.

    • AFCDale replied:
      I'll maintain until the end of time that we'd have beat them in Russia if Kane hadn't fluffed that chance to put us 2-0 up.

  • Group F is just hideous, staggering to think that there's a real chance the Germans could be out in the group stages 2 tournaments in a row!

    Wales can get out of their group - Italy are not that good anymore, I actually expect the Swiss, who are always solid, to win that one.

    As for us? Croatia's team are really old now, but they are still going through - I wouldn't mind 2nd given the draw!

    • spurrific replied:
      U R having a laugh Italy are superior to england 4or5 top keepers,7or8 top midfilders and good defenders and forward line

  • Massive congratulations Scotland. Better team won in the end. Looking forward to the Euros.

  • I'm not sure what my eyes believe more, Scotland winning last night or BBC/EBC not putting England first on a 4 nations article. Also, gutted it wasn't a joint celebration with Northern Ireland last night.

  • Scotland fan here - so proud of the boys last night! Team is getting stronger and stronger and we should have no fear of the Group. We have beaten Czech last 3 games and also beat Croatia 2 in last games. England should be a cracker. Hope both British teams get through the group. Bring it on!

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