EURO countdown (9 days to go) - 24 teams, 11 host countries, five favourites and only one champion

It's been less than a week after the spectacular Champions League finish, and we are up to the most exciting football event of 2021. Albeit its name - UEFA EURO 2020 - could probably lead you on the wrong track, the assembly of 24 best European national teams will take place between 11 June and 11 July.

Yes, a whole month of a top-notch football that will be played in 11 host cities and countries - London (England), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Seville (Spain), Copenhagen (Denmark), Glasgow (Scotland), Munich (Germany), Rome (Italy), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Baku (Azerbaijan). Each city will host three group stage matches and one match in the round of 16 or quarter-finals, except for Saint Petersburg, which will host six group stage matches, and London will host two games in the round of 16 the finals itself.

Of the eleven host countries, seven managed to qualify directly for the tournament, while Hungary and Scotland qualified via the play-offs. Romania were eliminated in the semi-finals of the play-offs, and Azerbaijan were eliminated following the qualifying group stage. The Republic of Ireland, originally selected as a tournament host, were also eliminated in the semi-finals of the play-offs, but were later stripped of their hosting rights.

Gareth Southgate announces his 26-man squad for the EURO

Teams are divided into six groups, four sides in each, with gruop winners and runners-up advancing to the 1/16 finals, alongside the four third-placed slots with best rankings. So let's see how it looks...

Each team receives a participation fee of 1.2 billion KSh, with the winner able to earn a maximum of 4.5 billion KSh. At first sight it's obvious that the Group F will be a hotbed of formidable football with as many as three tournament favorites (Portugal, France, Germany), including the reigning champions (Cristiano Ronaldo's national team). Besides the Portuguese magician, this group will provide us with stars such as Mbappe, Kante, Benzema, Pogba, Kroos, Muller, Bruno Fernandes, etc. A true hall of fame in a single group, indeed.

Other five groups are rather dull in comparison with F, but D with impeccable England, FIFA World Cup runners-up Croatia, and ressurected Scotland seem like a place of possible classics. And there were more than a few in a 60-years-long history of the competition.

The excitement is slowly rising, with all the teams announcing their 26-man squads as late as last night, ten days before the opening match kick-off. The maiden game of the tournament will be played in Rome, where Italy will host Turkey (11 June, 10 PM). Then we'll also hear the official song of the competition, "We Are the People", which features Bono and the Edge from "U2" and was released on 14 May 2021.

The finals, scheduled for 11 July at Wembley stadium in London, should be played in front of 90,000 fans, with covid-19 restrictions in England planed to slacken after 21 June.

The Henri Delaunay Cup, the official UEFA EURO trophy which is presented to the winning team after the final, remains in UEFA's keeping after the ceremony; the victors actually take home a full-size replica (which cannot leave the association's country without UEFA's prior written consent). The winners also receive 40 gold medals - and the runners-up 40 silver medals - to distribute among players and staff. Every side in the final tournament will receive a commemorative dedicated plaque.

Stay with MOZZART SPORT KENYA for all the exciting news regarding the tournament, sides, players, favorites, underdogs, fixtures... The countdown has started! See you at the EURO 2020.

The official squad list for every team in the EURO 2020