The European Championship 2021 or Euro 2020 as it is popularly known turned out to be a historic moment for international football. The tournament was planned to take place in the year 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the covid-19. It developed into a much-awaited and memorable tournament. It was held in 11 cities across Europe between 11th June to 11th July 2021, Euro 2020 offered a month-long football action, thrillers, and great show stoppers. In this extensive review, JustSports24 focuses on the best aspects of the European Championship 2021, including its memorable implications and great achievements.
Tournament Format and Group Stage Excitement: Wait Why? A Game Against Ukraine in the Round of 16
The Euro 2020 was remarkable about the format as it was held in 11 countries and actual matches were played in 11 cities. This is the first time in the history of the Cup that matches took place in different countries, in this case – across the continent of Europe. 24 teams in total participated in the Tournament and were divided into groups of six and four teams each. From there the top two teams from each group including the four best third-placed ones moved on to the knockout rounds.
Admittedly, years go by, but one’s memory can still hold certain events that are surprising, and as a consequence, out of the ordinary. Italy overcame st Turkey 3-0, in the opening match, which gave the team a solid boost … from the very first match of the tournament. Led by Italian winning form, they also emerged as one of the championship favorites in this sports contest.
Another incident that generated considerable interest from the fans from the group stage was the health issue of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen who went into cardiac arrest on the pitch during the first match against Finland. However, this episode was not only sympathetic, as the football fan was, thanks to the health care staff, able to emerge as a hero as well.
Emerging Stars, European Championship 2021
European Championship 2021 will be remembered for many remarkable players who contributed immeasurably to the results of their respective teams. Gianluigi Donnarumma was without a doubt one of the most important players of the tournament for the Italian squad. The young goalkeeper throughout the tournament made vital saves and played an aggressive role in numerous encounters that led to Italy clinching the championship and earning the tournament’s MVP title.
Kane was undoubtedly the most efficient striker of the tournament winning himself the golden boot after netting four goals. Aside from Kane’s striking, his contributions through scoring crucial goals and leading the team were critical factors in England making it to the finals.
During the European Championship 2021, a young Spaniard, Pedri, captured the world’s attention as one of the best young players of the tournament. He was only 18 years old, but in these finals, Pedri showed great playing skills and composure, becoming one of the youngest stars to make a big difference at a major tournament. His displays in midfield even were of key importance to the Spanish run to the last four.
The Knockout Stages: European Championship 2021
European Championship 2021 knockout phases are best defined with dramatic matches and extreme action. Round of 16 was also full of entertaining matches, with dog fights and upsets all around. The best of these was Switzerland’s 3-1 win over France. A penalty shootout saw the Swiss team advancing 3-1 with goalie Yann Sommer’s clutch saves making the quarter-final possible.
The quarter-finals were just as absorbing with Italy and England coming out as winners. Italy edged passed Belgium with a 2-1 victory which was not a walk in the park, while Ukraine was outclassed by their English counterpart in a 4-0 rout. There were also two more semi-final matches with Hungary and Spain qualifying from their penultimate attempts. Spain progressed on penalty kicks after drawing 3-3 against Switzerland whilst Denmark edged the Czech Republic 2-1.
The semi-finals were just as exciting as the quarters, for Italy managed to eliminate Spain after penalties by a score of four to two after a one-all draw while England also managed a comeback defeating Denmark after extra time by a score of two to one. This created an exciting final poised to be played between the Italians and the England side.
Final: Italy v England, European Championship 2021
This final of the European Championship 2021 was played on 11 July 2021 at Wembley Stadium in London. The match between the home team, England and Italy created a lot of expectations with both sides desperate for the title. In front of their fans, England shocked the Italians as they took a lead with Luke Shaw’s strike 2 minutes into the match only to be leveled by Italy in the 67th-minute courtesy of Bonucci.
The scoreline remained deadlocked at 1 goal apiece even after the additional periods were over thereby moving the final to the penalty lottery. Italy were the winners as they scored 3 from the 5 kicks while their opponents managed only 2 out of the 2. There was Gianluigi Donnarumma’s contribution to the efforts when he stopped the attempts of Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka and made sure that Italy defended their second two-star enemy and the European Championship.
Legacy and Impact of European Championship 2021
Euro 2020 has remained in memory and particularly impacted the world of football. The idea of making the event multinational, spanning across Europe was both brave and inventive since it showed that some nations can host a major sporting event at the same time. The triumph of Italy interspersed with the rising stardom of players such as Pedri showed the changing face of international football.
Last but not least, the tournament also showcased that the footballing fraternity could stand the test of the COVID-19 pandemic and still come back fighting. Regardless of the odds, the European Championship 2021 offered a great tournament which despite the attempt to suppress fan interaction managed to delight fans around the world.
Conclusion
The history of the European Championship 2021, highlighting the unusual sides of its long-standing history is bound to be recalled. Twas from Italy’s first-ever win to young players stepping into stardom and the entire tournament, Euro 2020 came with almost everything exciting for football lovers. At JustSports24, even as we remember the achievements and effects of Euro 2020 on football, we are also looking forward to what lies ahead in future tournaments where football will conquer the world.
