Why you should watch Euro 2020

The postponed UEFA EURO 2020 due to the  COVID-19 pandemic is finally here.The post Ghana explains the reasons why every football fan should watch the tournament. 

Organisation

When we talk of proper organisation in sports, UEFA, if not are the best, they are second. The first time a major international competition is hosted across a whole continent.11 beautiful and historical cities: Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Baku(Azerbaijan), Copenhagen(Denmark), Glassgow(Scotland), London(England), Sevilla(Spain), Budapest(Hungary), Bucharest(Romania), Saint Petersburg(Russia), Rome(Italy), Munich(Germany). These are beautiful places that every hodophile will be much excited to visit. 

Top Players

The 5-time Balon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the Portuguese to defend the title and equal Spain’s record as the only team to successfully defend the title. Current best UEFA player of the year and undoubtedly the best striker in the world: Lewandowski will also spearhead Poland. Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Kylian Mbappe, Kelvin De Bryune, Sergio Busquets, N’golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Gianluigi Donnaruma will all look forward to light up the tournament. 

Young Players to Watch

There are a host of talented young players that are playing better for their clubs. When these young players Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, Jeremy Doku, Ryan Gravenberch, Pedro Gonzalez Lopez known as Pedri, Jamaal Musiela are given the chance, expect nothing but the best.

Managers

How well do u remember Senol Gunes? In 2002, he surprisingly took Turkey to 3rd place finish in the Japan-Korea world Cup. Winners of the last 2 world cups are there. Joachim Low won in Brazil and Didier Deschamps also won in Russia. Fernando Santos is the defending Champion of this competition. Luis Enrique won treble with Barcelona in 2014-2015 season and he’s leading Spain. The 2004 Balon D’or winner Andriy Shevchenko is managing Ukraine. The world number 1 ranked national team is Belgium and Roberto Martinez is leading them. Roberto Mancini won Manchester City their first League title in decades and will try to win the Azzuri’s their first ever Euro title since 1968. All the semi-finalist of the Russia 2018 World Cup managers are featuring. Dalic and Southgate of Croatia and England respectively will try to at least emulate what they did in Russia. 

African Interest

One major reason why we should be excited and watch the Euros is Africa’s huge interest. The Euros is featuring more than 50 players of African descent: it’s either their parents are from Africa, one of the parents is an African or the person was born here and raised in Europe. Certainly, France’s 23-man squad have 11 African descendants. Belgium has 8 with most of them with Congolese background. Switzerland with 8, Portugal 5, England 4, Germany 4, Austria 3, Netherlands 3, Wales 2, Denmark 2, Sweden 2, Spain1. Nothing feels better than seeing someone with the name “Ampadu” or “Odoi” playing football on the television as a Ghanaian.

Classic Games

UEFA Euro is one competition that has produced so many classic games, shocks and incredible comebacks. For instance, when Portugal bounced back from 2 goals down against England and won by 3-2 in Euro 2000. Zidane broke the English heart in Euro 2004 with a majestic free kick and a penalty in injury time after trailing to Lampard’s header from Beckham’s free kick. Denmark won the tournament in 92 without even qualifying. Greece won in Portugal in 2004 after defeating the host on two occasions in the opening and the final game against all odds. The popular Panenka penalty was first tried and scored by Antonin Panenka during the 1976 Euros when Czechoslovakia defeated West Germany 5-4 on penalties. The result after extra time was 2-2. Nertherlands shockingly missed two penalties in Euro 2000 semi-finals against 10-men Italy in regulation time and also missed three in the shoot-out. It’s dubbed ‘The Toldo Heroics’ and ‘The Amsterdam disaster’. 

As an avid fan of football,you have every reason to be excited about this Euros. 

by: Amakye Ansah

E-mail: nanaamakyeansaholiver@gmail.com