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The Story of Euro 2020 (Euro 2021)

IT ALL SHOULD'VE STARTED SO LONG AGO. "So long ago" is how we all feel about the start of the unwanted global phenomenon, SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus/Covid 19, it goes by a few names). Arbitrary as it is, you must wonder how different the story may have been had Euro 2020 taken place in the summer it was supposed to. A large number of higher profile players missed out this summer, when they would've surely made the tournament last year.

Virgil van Dijk, Ansu Fati, Joe Gomez, Harvey Barnes, Marc-Andre ter Stegan all missed out. Virgil van Dijk was probably the most high profile absentee for the Netherlands, who actually advanced rather easily from their group. Other players entered the tournament on the back of some troubling injuries, most notably Kevin de Bruyne. Missing the opening game and a half for Belgium. Although they weren't too troubled by their group either. Hmmmm.

On the flip side, one also has to wonder if Bukayo Saka, Pedri, Mikkel Damsgaard - all young player that flourished in the tournament - wouldv'e made their respective squads had it taken place a year ago. Anyways, we anticipated that this may be a special tournament. In no small part down to the inclusion of football fans, many of whom we hadn't seen for over a year.

GROUP A

The football kicked off in Rome on a Friday Evening, lovely stuff. Italy, going into the Euro's unbeaten in 27 games, faced many people's dark horses Turkey. The Italian national anthem roared across the Olympic Stadium, becoming symbolic of the attitude the Italians had throughout the tournament. The game finished 3-0 to Italy, and Turkey's dark horse label was swiftly removed.

On the following Saturday, Wales drew 1-1 with Switzerland in Group A's second game. Italy would continue their form against Switzerland with another 3-0 win, taking their unbeaten run to 27 games. More importantly guaranteeing qualification from the group. Wales would need to take advantage of Switzerland's loss with a performance against Turkey, many people's dark horses. A Gareth Bale inspired performance lead Wales to a 2-0 victory, condemning Turkey to a second defeat and thus plunging them into an almost certain exit.

The group was wrapped up by Italy with a 1-0 win against Wales, more impressive due to the overhaul to the starting XI, which saw Marco Veratti make his first appearance of the tournament.

GROUP B

The following game was mared by the horrible incident involving Christian Eriksen. Denmark, playing in front of their own fans in Copenhagen, played Finland in Group B's opening game. Late in the first half, a reletively quiet first half, Eriksen recieves a throw-in, deep inside the Finland half. He struggles to control the ball, and collapses to the floor. What follows was perhaps the most brutal and inpirational thing you will ever see on a football pitch. Paramedics and physios work relentlessly to save Eriksen's life, all the while his teammates and friends huddle around him. As I write this, I get emotional once more. You cannot emphasise how powerful this moment was, not even with a photo.

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult this was on his colleagues, and the fact that an hour or so after his life was saved and they left the pitch - they then carried on the game still blows my mind. I don't know if Uefa have played a dirty hand against them or if it was Eriksen's wishes for them to continue, but Finland ran out 1-0 winners and you have to feel that the events earlier in the game played a huge part. The other game in this group finished Belgium 3-0 Russia.

Sunday's fixtures saw Group D start, England beating Croatia 1-0 at Wembley, Raheem Sterling kicking off his impressive tournament in style. The other 2 games were from Group C, where Austria won rather comfortably against North Macedonia 3-1. The evening fixture saw Netherlands host Ukraine at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. It followed a rather predictable pattern, with the Dutch taking control of the game and seemingly running away with a 2-0 lead early in the second half. But Ukraine rallied with two quick goals. The game was going to end 2-2 until Denzel Dumfries popped up with time nearly up to secure a 3-2 victory.

Group D's other game saw Patrick Schick score one of the greatest goals I have ever seen as the Czech Republic beat Scotland 2-0 at Hampden Park.

Spain were huge favourites in their group, which also saw Sweden, Poland and Slovakia. But they started poorly, barely making a dent as they scraped a 0-0 with Sweden. Group E's other game ended Slovakia 2-1 Poland.

Group F, aka The Group of Death. Poor old Hungary had been drawn in a group with the previous winners of the last three major tournaments. France, Germany and Portugal were a shoe in for qualifications, surely...

France played out a rather enjoyable 1-0 win over Germany in Munich, a game which saw them also have two goals ruled out for offside. Portugal were held by Hungary for 87 minutes in the other game, before they flipped the game completely on its head and won 3-0.