Four front-runners ready to light up Euro 2020

IN yet another sign of just how the coronavirus pandemic has turned the sporting world topsy-turvy, this summer's European football championships, which kick off in a fortnight's time on June 12 (Singapore time), is still known as Euro 2020. Instead of a single host nation, 24 teams are competing for glory across 11 cities in 11 countries, as part of the delayed celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of this quadrennial tournament.

In the first of a three-part special on Euro 2020, BT Weekend looks at four nations that are widely regarded as the top favourites to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy after the final at London's Wembley Stadium on July 12.

Belgium

Having occupied the top spot in the Fifa world rankings for over two years, Belgium will feel this is their moment to finally go one step further and win a major trophy for the first time. They are in the same group as Russia, Denmark and Finland.

The team known as the Red Devils (because of their striking red jerseys) came in third at the last World Cup in 2018, and their best achievement at the European championships was finishing second way back in 1980.

There's no question that Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has one of the deepest and most talented squads of the 24 participating nations.

He will be relying on the in-form Romelu Lukaku to bang in the goals as the 28-year-old shone for Italian Serie A champions Inter-Milan last season, with 30 goals in 44 appearances, including 24 strikes in the league. Real Madrid's Eden Hazard is also central to Belgium's success, and the hope is that the team captain can shake off his injury problems that have plagued him for the better part of the last two years and flourish at Euro 2020.

France

The reigning World Cup champions boast one of the most lethal attacks in world football, with Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and the recently recalled Karim Benzema ready to unleash an avalanche of goals.

Coach Didier Deschamps also has an embarrassment of riches in midfield, with the likes of Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Thomas Lemar all capable of running their opponents ragged. Such is the array of talent at Deschamps' disposal that he has at least two world-class options for every position in the team.

Even so, Les Bleus will need to be at their very best in the first round, seeing as how they have been placed in the dreaded Group of Death along with Germany, Portugal and Hungary.

This young and exciting French team is a joy to watch. Many of the current players were in the Euro 2016 team that reached the final on home soil, and two years later they hammered Croatia in Moscow to win the World Cup in style.

If France can somehow navigate their way out of an extremely tough group and reach the knockout stage, they have more than enough firepower and talent in their ranks to go the distance at Euro 2020.

England

Will England ever win a major international trophy to add to their lone World Cup triumph in 1966? The Three Lions have always entered the big tournaments with huge expectations on their shoulders, but ultimately failed to deliver on football's grandest stages.

A youthful England side made it to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, and since then Gareth Southgate's men have played with plenty of verve and energy. and once again their fans are hoping their team can finally realise their true potential.

Harry Kane finished as the English Premier League's top scorer, and he is also among the favourites to win the Euro 2020 Golden Boot award. Southgate can also call upon exciting young prospects such as Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Jack Grealish.

At first glance, England may not be in a Group of Death, but that's not to say any of their three opponents - World Cup 2018 runners-up Croatia, neighbours Scotland, and dark horses Czech Republic - should be taken lightly.

Portugal

The surprise winners of Euro 2016 stunned the football world by winning the trophy even though they didn't have a particularly strong squad five years ago.

This time, national coach Fernando Santos has so many stars at his disposal, among them Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix. Fans will also be keeping a lookout for 22-year-old Pedro Goncalves, who is set to make his debut for his country having helped his team Sporting Lisbon win a first Portuguese league title since 2002.

At 36 years of age, this is also likely to be the final European championships for team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus forward is not showing any significant signs of slowing down just yet, for his 29 goals in Serie A meant he finished as the league's top scorer.

Portugal will hope to take maximum points from their opening match against Hungary, before they square off against the two other powerhouses - Germany and France - in the Group of Death.

• In this column next Saturday, we put the spotlight on four other contenders for Euro 2020 - Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.