Euro 2020 preview, matches, news, players: 5 things you need to know about the tournament

The Euros, postponed last year because of the pandemic, will dominate soccer this summer. Here’s what you need to know about the tournament beginning July 11.

The European Championship, second only to the World Cup in prestige when it comes to soccer tournaments involving national teams, kicks off Friday in Rome when Italy takes on Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico.

The 24-team tournament, postponed last summer because of the pandemic, will conclude on July 11 with the championship match in London’s Wembley Stadium.

France, the defending World Cup champions, Belgium, England and Italy are among the favorites while defending European champions Portugal and the Netherlands also have a shot at the title.

The Euros will be played in 11 cities — Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome, Seville and St. Petersburg — across the continent and will feature spectators, the first major international tournament to have them since the pandemic struck in March 2020.

With just days to go before the start of the Euros, here are five things you need to know.

1. Paying the penalty

If two teams playing each other in their last group game are tied on points and play to a draw, their position in the group will be determined by a penalty shootout. Goal differential has typically been used in the past as the first tie-breaker.

The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group (plus four third-place teams with the best records) advance to the 16-team knockout stage.

From that point on, shootouts will be used after a 30-minute overtime. If the teams are still tied, then a shootout will be used to determine a winner.

2. Use of extra subs

To mitigate the risks of teams facing a shortage of players due to positive COVID-19 tests, teams can take 26 players to the tournament, three more than is usually afforded teams.

Teams will also be allowed to use up to five substitutes, with a sixth substitute allowed exclusively during extra time. FIFA tournaments typically allow for three subs for each game. At the 2018 World Cup, FIFA allowed teams to use a fourth sub in overtime games.

3. The name game

The Euros may be taking place in 2021, but the tournament’s official name, Euro 2020, is what UEFA is using to promote the tournament. It’s the dilemma that many sporting events, like the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, that were postponed last year because of the pandemic now face in 2021.

Technically, UEFA calls the competition the “2018-20 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament.” If you’re stuck for what to call it, just refer to it as the Euros.

4. Watch for dark horses

The Euros, more than any soccer tournament, has seen some surprise winners in the past. Denmark, a late replacement for Yugoslavia, won the ’92 Euros. It is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in world soccer. Ditto for Greece, who shocked Portugal in the 2004 final to capture the title. This edition has a few outsiders who can make a splash. Leading the pack of dark horses are Wales and Slovakia. Finland and North Macedonia, who qualified for the finals for the first time, should also not be underestimated.

5. Some missing pieces

The Euros will feature the best of the European game (like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, but not everyone will be there. Norway’s absence means we won’t see striker Erling Haaland in action.

Haaland isn’t the only star we won’t see. Also missing will be Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has a knee injury, and veteran Spain defender Sergio Ramos, who was left off Spain’s roster because of fitness concerns.

A year after COVID-19 brought sports to a stop, the Euros will give fans a chance to watch some of the greatest national teams compete for one of the biggest trophies in soccer.