UEFA Euro
EURO 2020 / EURO 2021
Everything you need to know about the UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship, informally known as the Euros, is a quadrennial football competition for men’s national teams. Organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1960, this massive event has determined the continental champion of Europe. The Euro 2020 championship was postponed by an entire year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2021, so let’s have a look at what’s in store for you in the biggest football event of the year!
Keep tabs on the LV BET Sportsblog to stay informed on the latest Euro 2021 news, groups, fixtures and match favourites.
History of the European Football Championship
The first UEFA European Championship, named the European Nations’ Cup, took place in 1958, France. This knockout competition was held between 17 European teams, each side playing home-and-away fixtures until the semi-finals. The participating nations were Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, USSR and Yugoslavia.
It was evident from the very start that the Soviets had their eyes on the inaugural European Nations’ Cup, when the team triumphed over Hungary in the first round. At a time when Spain’s team were at their brilliant best and were one of the favourites to lift the Cup, political turbulence gave rise to diplomatic tensions on the pitch. Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union, and proposals to play the tie on neutral ground were rejected. This led to Spain’s unfortunate disqualification from the tournament, and the Soviet Union were given a bye straight into the semi-finals, played alongside France, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
The Soviets quickly disposed of the Czechs in the semi-finals, beating them 3-0 in Marseille, while the Yugoslavs emerged victorious against France 5-4. Shortly after, Czechoslovakia gave France another taste of defeat in a 2-0 match for third place.
After an adrenaline-pumping 90 minutes in the finals, USSR and Yugoslavia stood at 1-1. With seven minutes left in extra time, Viktor Ponedelnik scored the second goal and secured the win for the USSR. In the 1964 championship, Spain went on to defeat the title-holders 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Since then, the UEFA Football Championship tournaments have been won by 10 national teams: Germany and Spain with three titles each, France with two and the Soviet Union, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Denmark, Greece and Portugal with one title behind their belts. Spain is the only team out of the participating nations to have won two consecutive titles in UEFA Euro history, lifting the coveted trophy in 2008 and 2012.
Euro 2020 Postponed To 2021
As all sports events came to a grinding halt in 2020, it was decided that the UEFA Euro 2020 championship will be postponed until 2021. Since 1960, the tournament has always been played every four years; the Euro 2020/2021 event marks the first time that the UEFA championship is played five years after the previous competition.
Who Is Hosting Euro 2021?
The 2021 UEFA Euro Championship begins on 11 June and will be held in 11 hosting cities: Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Seville, Budapest, Copenhagen, Saint Petersburg, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and St. Petersburg. As travelling restrictions may prove to be problematic, it is speculated that there may be changes to the 2021 European Championship prior to the event’s commencement.
Euro 2021 Venues
The fixtures will take place in 11 massive stadiums across Europe:
Amsterdam: Johan Cruyff Arena
Baku: Olympic Stadium
Bucharest: Arena Națională
Seville: Estadio La Cartuja
Budapest: Puskás Aréna
Copenhagen: Parken Stadium
Saint Petersburg: Krestovsky Stadium
Glasgow: Hampden Park
London: Wembley Stadium
Munich: Allianz Arena
Rome: Stadio Olimpico
St. Petersburg: Krestovsky Stadium
UEFA Euro 2021 Groups And Format
If you’re wondering which teams are in Euro 2021, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll have a chance to see your favourites on the pitch. This year, 24 qualifying teams stake their claim at the title in six groups of four. Teams will gain three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Group winners, runners-up and the best four third-place teams advance to the Round of 16. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, the match will go to extra-time (30 minutes); if a winner still cannot be determined, there will be a penalty shootout. The final of the 2020/2021 European Championship is scheduled to take place on 11 July at Wembley Stadium in London. The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system will be used during the competition to minimise human error and help referees make correct decisions.
Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales and Switzerland.
Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium and Russia.
Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia.
Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic.
Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland and Slovakia.
Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France and Germany.
Best Euro 2021 Teams
Germany stands as the most decorated Euro team, winning three championships and coming in second three times. Spain also boasts three European Championship titles, and the French are hot on their heels with two championship wins. When it comes to football events like the 2021 Euros, even the underdogs have a fighting chance. Portugal’s team — who has never won a championship — qualified despite finishing third in their group and defeated the hosts in the 1-0 final against France in 2016.
Stop by our blog before you fill your betslip — we’ll make sure to keep you well-informed about each team’s performance with comprehensive betting previews, expert insights and the latest odds.
Where To Watch Euro 2020 / 2021 Fixtures
The 2021 Euros can be watched across multiple platforms. In the UK, BBC One and ITV have the broadcasting rights for the 2021 UEFA European Football Championship. In the US, you can enjoy the action on ABC, ESPN and ESPN 2. Various online streaming platforms, like the UEFA.tv network and YouTube TV, also offer access to previews, match highlights and live coverage.
Euro 2020 / Euro 2021 Sports Betting
At LV BET, you will find comprehensive betting markets on the biggest sports events of the year, including the 2021 UEFA European Football Championship. You can wager on match winner, the exact result or other outcomes, like top scorer and a specific player to receive a red card. The variety of markets and competitive odds at LV BET are second to none, so be sure to check in and fill your betslip before the first fixture!
The upcoming European Football Championship is a great time to take advantage of Sportsbook bonuses and promotions at LV BET. At our Sportsbook, we live and breathe football — you’ll be sure to find rewarding bonuses, odds boosts and a fantastic Sports Welcome Offer. Bonus availability may vary by jurisdiction; keep tabs on the ‘Promotions’ page to see which Sportsbook offers you are eligible for.
How To Bet On Euro 2020 / 2021
If you’re interested in betting on the 2021 Euros, know that 2021 is a year of many firsts for this championship. It is the first time that this large-scale event has been postponed; the first time the tournament is truly Pan-European; and the first time that VAR will to assist referees when faced with tough calls. The ongoing pandemic makes it difficult to assess how these changes impacted each team’s preparation and training; we can’t pinpoint favourites to seize the title from the defending champions, but France, Italy, England, Belgium and Spain are certainly worth mentioning.
When you’re ready to make your first Euro 2021 bet, head to the LV BET Sportsbook. When there, filter by ‘UEFA European Football Championship’ and browse through the open markets. You can place a variety of bets, including Match Result, Total Goals, Both Teams To Score, Goals Handicap and many others. Make your selections and fill the betslip as you see fit; you can even combine multiple outcomes in an accumulator bet. Combination bets are difficult to hit, but the winnings can be substantially higher.
Live Euro 2020 / 2021 Betting
At LV BET, punters can dive right into the thick of action and benefit from live betting markets on the 2021 Euros. These special markets are adjusted on the fly and will be available right after kick-off. To make the most of your bets without skipping a single second of the action, download the LV BET Sportsbook mobile app, with which you can enjoy the same fantastic betting experience with live Match Tracking, in-play bets and prematch markets — right in your pocket!
LV BET Sportblog
If you want to stay up to date on the best teams and players in the looming competition, check out the ‘International Football’ section at our LV BET Sportsblog. You’ll find articles that take a closer look at UEFA Euros’ history, Euro venues, qualifying teams and special betting previews.
