Issue # 1.0.1 "The 2021 HWCI Euro 2020 Pool... or Something Like That" (5/29)

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Saturday, May 29, 2021 

EURO 2020 REBOOTS IN 2021 IN 11 CITIES

After a one year delay, our 3rd Euro pool kicks off with a deadline June 11th

SANTA BARBARA, CA (smt)- After the pandemic postponed Euro 2020, UEFA's celebration across Europe kicks off June 11th in 2021 although the 24-team tournament will still be called Euro 2020.  Eleven cities (down from original 13) in 11 countries will host with 9 teams getting to host at least two group matches.  Thanks the UEFA Nations League, C4-North Macedonia (MKD) won a place in the tournament, its first (along with Finland).  Hosts were paired (if both qualified) in each group then drawn for order (1,2,3,4) so you'll see, for example, #37 Hungary leading Group F as F1.   Will playing at home, with fans mostly from their country (due to some inter-Europe travel restrictions), help elevate teams?  There is no overwhelming favorite so is this England's year (with a potential to play 6 of 7 matches in Wembley Stadium)?

B3-Belgium is the #1 team in the world while F3-France (#2), D1-England (#4), F2-Portugal (#5) (defending champs), E1-Spain (#6), A2-Italy (#7), and B1-Denmark (#10) are also in the top 10.  As you can infer, Group F is the group of death with France, Portugal, and Germany (have fallen to #12!).  Since there are just six groups, four of the six 3rd place teams will advance to the Knockout Stage so all three could make it but maybe #37 Hungary can surprise someone in that group.

So what has changed in our pool? 

UK Wants it All

Well, the Euros are happening and UEFA still plans to have it across 12 cities in Europe.  But potentially, England (or the UK with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the mix) could be the sole host of the tournament when it kicks off June 11.  UEFA said thanks, but no thanks, but depending how new COVID-19 variants progress, things could change.  England was already hosting the "final four" anyway.

Thanks to the UEFA Nations League, we will get to a smaller nation in the tournament as North Macedonia qualified via the Path D playoff.  Finland will also be making their Euro debut.

Our 3rd HWCI EURO Pool (and 12th Soccer pool) will be this summer!

Now EURO 2021

Due to extreme precautions against the spread of the coronovirus disease (COVID-19) and the uncertainty of when (or if) it could be effectively contained or mitigated, Uefa announced it is postponing EURO 2020 (which was scheduled to kick off June 12) until 2021.  That means our 3rd HWCI Uefa EURO pool will have to wait until next year as well.  It is hard enough to plan this big of an event on its own, even harder doing so always looking over your shoulder wondering if the event would even happen so a good decision.  This not only presents a clean break from 2020 but it also would allow all the domestic club European leagues to complete their seasons when safe and not worry about butting heads against EURO 2020 or worry about international windows.

Twenty teams had already qualified with four more to be decided by qualification play-offs (based on finish in Nations League 2018-2019) which was to played in March before COVID-19 popped up.  This was also going to be the first EUROs played across all of Europe (in celebration of Uefa's 60th anniversary) rather than a host nation (or two).  The new dates are June 11-July 11, 2021.

Also, Copa America was postponed until 2021 as well.  Luckily, 2021 is the year we had no soccer pool so EURO 2021 will fit nicely in there.  We have the HWCI World Cup pool in 2022, HWCI Women's World Cup pool in 2023, and EUROs again in 2024.  With this postponement, it would allow me a stress-free way in the summer to reflect on our past 10 soccer pools (6 Men's World Cups, 2 Women's World Cups, 2 EUROs) so look for periodic blog updates here.  Stay safe!