Sony Pictures Sports Network unveils UEFA EURO 2020 matches

With UEFA EURO 2020 barely a month away, Sony Pictures Sports Network has unveiled the schedule for the biggest football tournament of 2021 which is gaining momentum. The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2021 live on Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 3 (in Hindi) in India.

Between June 11 and July 11, fans will be able to enjoy 51 matches and soak up the atmosphere in the 11 host cities across Europe. All 24 teams in the final tournament are guaranteed to play at least three games before the best players from the group stage advance to the knockout stage – where things get even more exciting. From there, every match is sudden death: win and the teams reach the next round, lose and go home.

Although the teams have yet to announce their squads, viewers are already anxiously awaiting some of the biggest names from the 24 participating nations like Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Paul Pogba, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Toni Kros, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin Du Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa, Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Matthijs de Ligt.

The first round of matches from June 11 to June 23 will feature exciting fixtures such as England v Croatia, France v Germany, Portugal v Germany, Portugal v France and many more. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will host the opener on June 11, while only two teams will eventually make it to the July 11 final at Wembley Stadium in London. The 11 host cities for the UEFA EURO 2020 final are Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Munich, London, Rome, Seville and Saint Petersburg.

Portugal –
The current holders and the first UEFA Nations League winners have come out of the EURO group stage seven times. Their squad looks tough, but coach Fernando Santos said: “We are going to prepare well for this EURO and look to enter it with incredible conviction, looking to defend the title.”

Jersey colors: red, green

Group stage opponents: France, Germany, Hungary

France –
Any fan of flair, attacking football and Gallic genius will surely look no further than France, the reigning world champion for this competition. History tells us that there have only been four times a team has won five matches at a single EURO – France has achieved this feat on three occasions.

Jersey colors: blue, white, red

Group stage opponents: Germany, Hungary, Portugal

Croatia –
Croatia’s red and white checkered must-have kit makes it the go-to stand for style-conscious fans. The Vatreni will take part in their fifth consecutive EURO – a huge achievement for a nation of less than five million citizens. Losing the 2018 World Cup finalists, they will be on the pitch to make a statement at this year’s UEFA EURO 2020

Jersey colors: red, white

Group stage opponents: Czech Republic, England, Scotland

Belgium –
Top scorers in qualifying with 40 goals in ten matches, Belgium have only one great tournament success in their history – can they add a second one 101 years after claiming gold at the 1920 Olympics? Forward Romelu Lukaku is hopeful that a well-established team can help them, explaining: “If you keep improving and the team play together for a long time, it gets easier.”

Jersey colors: red, yellow

Group stage opponents: Denmark, Finland, Russia

England –
If goals are your thing, then England is your choice. The Three Lions are also taking part in their tenth EURO, which is the most participations a country has accumulated without ever winning the title. With the final scheduled in London, has their time finally come?

Jersey colors: white, blue

Group stage opponents: Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland

Germany –
Competing in their 26th consecutive major tournament, the three winners have come out of the EURO group stage seven times – no team has advanced more times – and have the most wins (26) and the most goals (72).

Jersey colors: white, black

Group stage opponents: France, Hungary, Portugal

Italy –
The Azzurri are unbeaten in the 40 EURO qualifiers, dating back to 2006, so translating that form into silverware is surely the next step for the 2012 finalists.

Jersey colors: white, blue

Group stage opponents: Switzerland, Turkey, Wales

Netherlands –
Failed to make it to the last EURO and the World Cup, this is the Netherlands’ longest absence from the Grand Finals since the mid-1980s – when they marked their comeback by winning EURO 88. If you believe in fate, the Dutch could help you.

Jersey colors: orange, white

Group stage opponents: Austria, North Macedonia, Ukraine

Spain –
The purist’s choice, the tiki-taka kings have lost none of their total football philosophy after winning two of the last three EUROs. Could they claim their fourth EURO triumph?

Jersey colors: red, blue, yellow

Group stage opponents: Poland, Slovakia, Sweden. OLTNEWS