33 days to the European Football championships: What will be different?

Welcome to my new blogging series regarding the European Football championships. This series will provide you with as many details regarding this event.

One year later than expected, we will finally get to enjoy the European Football championships. I am excited, but it seems still oddly quiet in mainstream media about it. That could have something to do with the fact that the national competitions are still running.

I still felt the urge to start today, as I also want to highlight the teams (which could be different as you may read below but let`s hope that will not be the case).

But let`s start with the rules first!

What will be different from past championships? Here are 5 major changes, and yes most of them have to do with covid.

1- The European Championships will not be played in one (or two) countries(s).

Usually, one country gets the credits to organize this tournament, but a few years ago they decided to do it differently with the 16th edition. The tournament will be played in different cities:

Amsterdam - Netherlands
Bakoe - Azerbeidzjan
Budapest- Hungary
Glasgow - Scotland
Copenhagen - Denmark
Londen - England
Munchen - Germany
Rome - Italy
Sevilla - Spain*
Saint- Petersburg- Russia

*= This was Bilbao first, but got changed.

2 - Unlimited Goalkeepers

No Goalkeeper from one of the participating countries will really have a vacation this year, because every country has the right to call upon other goalkeepers if one or more of the usual 3 get`s covid or needs to be isolated.

3- Referees can referee matches from their own country

There will be 1 substitute referee from the country itself for every match. So if Spain would play England in London and the referee would be needed to be replaced, the game would be refereed by an English referee. Spicy!

4- Stadiums filled for 20%-33%

This one should not come as a surprise, because of the covid regulations only a fraction of the tickets will be sold. Funny sub-fact: This is the first time where big families have an advantage as they can sit next to each other and are more attractive to fill the stadium for visual purposes.

5- Can not meet the 13 player field-player rule within 48hours? Too bad you lost 0-3

This is the most tricky one of them all. The teams will need to travel in 4 or more parts to assure that that in the worst case they have 13 field players available because if they can not meet this rule within 48 hours after a covid outbreak the match will be forfeited 3-0.

I really hope that we will not see 3 or 5 happening, but are looking forward to this championship. I have not been this excited for a European or World Championship in 7 years!

I plan to post at least 1 or more articles every 48 hours, regarding Euro 2021 so see you in the next one!

Also please let me know which team(s) you are rooting for in the comments! ( I will reveal mine in the next one)