The 2020 European football championship will have no fixed host nation with UEFA electing to share matches throughout the continent, in what is a first for a major sporting tournament.
The decision was announced last Thursday and means the 51 games of the tournament will be spread throughout 13 ‘host cities’ in Europe.
When Michel Platini initially discussed the proposal on the eve of the Euro 2012 final in Kyiv back in July, the radical idea received a mixed response and it was seemed only a half-chance to go ahead.
After receiving what he claimed was an overwhelmingly positive response from both the national associations and the fans, Platini said on Friday:
“We have talked to the fans. They were against it originally but we told them we are going to help them and suddenly they had a much more positive attitude.
“Certainly it will be easier for the English to go to Wales and Scotland to watch a match instead of having to travel the world,” he told reporters in Switzerland.
Anybody who had experienced UEFA’s ad-hoc ticketing system for this year’s tournament would probably bristle at the idea of Platini telling them UEFA would “help them”, but Platini is at least partially right when he refers to the ease of travel throughout Europe, something that will only improve in the next eight years.
The whole “for the fans” idea isn’t a new one but it hasn’t stopped UEFA roll it out repeatedly in the announcement and the statements following it.
But is it truly for the fans?
Part of the beauty of travelling to a major football – or any sport, for the matter – tournament is the opportunity to experience a country and culture that you might not otherwise get.
I was fortunate enough to travel to Poland and Ukraine earlier this year being able to spend time in a city like Gdansk or Lviv was just as valuable as being able to see Italy versus Spain or Germany versus Denmark.
Given that stadiums will be part of the selection criteria it is likely that we will see strong bids from London, Munich, Milan and Madrid as well other major Western European centres.
And sure, the likes of the Allianz Arena and San Siro are football’s greatest amphitheatres in some of Europe’s greatest cities, but many football fans already know this.
It might appear presumptuous to expect the majority of the 12 cities to be traditional football capitals but let’s be honest we’re not going to see the regional centres like Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadion be awarded games over the likes of the Bernabeu.
Unlike the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, there’s no doubt the tournament will be successful, and it will be interesting to see if other sporting bodies like the IOC and FIFA look at a similar tournament format in Olympics and World Cups to come.
But is this really a case of bringing the tournament to the fans, or is this a case of bringing the tournament to fans in cities already accustomed to seeing the world’s finest on a weekly basis?
I might be cynical but to me it just looks like UEFA handing its premier international football event to the footballing superpowers that might not really need it.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
While that's always a possibility, I think it's unlikely that UEFA or the FA would be happy with the idea- Twickenham is regarded as the real home of English rugby union, and as far as I know no major football match has ever been played at the Stadium. Despite being England's second-largest stadium, it was never part of the FA's proposal for the 2018 World Cup. A good back-up though if the Olympic Stadium's capacity reduction makes it unsuitable for a Euro semi-final.
Johnno
Guest
And twickenham too can host football if need be too.
Johnno
Guest
Cappucccino good point you make, I agree with you now keep it in one city, I didn't think of it like that. In reality football was the only sport at Sydney 2000, and other Olympic games that have spread. And an Olympic stadium will have to be built anyway. Makes sense to centralize it and it makes more money out of hospitality and tourism industry too.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Johnno, most Olympic games spread their football events round the country, because it is the only sport that needs multiple venues that a single city can't provide. But apart from football, I think Olympics should remain a single city-based affair. The "buzz" and interest around an Olympics in the host city are very much about the novelty and "once in a lifetime" experience- an experience which would be diluted if spread across a nation instead of being focused on a major city.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Probable scenario will be a total of thirteen cities. Each of the six groups would be allocated two reasonably close together cities (like Lisbon and Madrid, Athens and Istanbul, Munich and Paris etc.) making for twelve cities. These twleve cities would each host one round of sixteen or quarter-final match (eight R16 matches, four QF matches). Then the thirteenth city (most likely London with Emirates, Olympic Stadium and Wembley) would host the semi-finals and final itself.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
The FA is already looking at a serious bid for Wembley to host the final. Wembley hosted the UCL final in 2011 and will host again in 2013, and Platini has also hinted an inclination for Wembley. UEFA have also made it clear that the city hosting the final will likely also host the semi-finals. The most likely scenario will be the semi-finals being played at the Emirates Stadium and the Olympic Stadium, and the final at Wembley.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The amount of graft involved in the recent Poland/Ukraine stadium construction was probably also a concern. http://www.eubusiness.com/_zmi/plone/news-eu/construction-probe.fum http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/20/euro-2012-corruption-allegations-ukraine
MV Dave
Guest
My initial reaction is that l like it...perhaps groups could be allocated to a country, with the knock out games then going to the biggest and best stadiums. What a round of 16 with the 8 games being held at Wembley, Paris, Berlin/ Munich, Milan, Moscow, Athens, Madrid and Lisbon.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Travel really shouldn't be a downside. Europe is roughly the size of Australia- Sydney to Perth being a longer journey than London to Moscow.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Chad - am unconvinced of its overall fan appeal, even given the fact that Europe has shrunk in travel access terms. It is worth noting that in its earlier editions the European Cup was played on a home-and-away basis (still within groups), country to country travel over a period of a couple of years, then a final round (semis and final) in a particular country. So in many ways it's a throwback, a retro idea. And yes, as has been said, I believe England has already bid to host both semis and the final (to be at Wembley).
TC
Guest
I imagine it will probably get circulated amongst the better known (and bigger) stadiums. TC
Colin N
Guest
If true, no surprise, it will bring in the most money I would have thought.
Johnno
Guest
Platini has already signalled out Wembley as the host.
Jason Cave
Guest
Having Euro 2020 all over the continent is a good idea, except there is one problem-which stadium gets to host the Euro 2020 Final? Should it be Camp Nou in Barcelona, Olympiastadion in Munich, San Siro stadium in Milan, or The New Wembley Stadium in London?
Johnno
Guest
lol Towser, know one maybe i will make one up i don't know lol. Just giving a euro guide i think i have watched too many travel shows on tv that's where my ideas come from. And late night , euorpean art movies on SBS Towser lol.
Towser
Guest
Johnno Which travel agent do you work for?
Johnno
Guest
I'm warming to this idea now it has appeal kinda like united Europe as 1, like 1 big euro vision or 1 big telethon , and all the live sites all over Europe it has potential. I get what Mantis says about all the fans from all over Europe in 1 major city. But in a ways also spreading it out may also reduce off field crowd violence , where a fortune has to be spent on riot police, on top of building white elephant stadiums that will not be used enough. This Platini way , is really your Euro train pass, for the summer, . You could play in spain , spend a few days in Ibitha partying, then go to Turkey and croatia and soak up the free spirit beaches and fun, and go to the STH of France to with all the fun and colour of a French summer and hang with the Paris set and Cannes, do a bit of time in Germany in Berlin and Rome, or the fashion strips of Milan, and watch the grand final have a massive weekend in London and watch the grand final, and check out buckhingham palace and dream of having tea and scones with the Queen your postcard special, heck you might even bump into Wills, or Harry or Kate or Pippa you never know your luck in London town where the final is going to be held at Wembley. And Platini did say the semi finals and grand finals, will all be played in the same country, and city, so I say experiment give it a go, and if it doesn't work scrap it. But it will certainly cut building new stadium costs.
Towser
Guest
The atmosphere will be created by visiting fans regardless of where matches are held.Atmosphere will not be affected at all. Was at Disneyland Paris this year when the Euros were on. When Spain played France I thought I was at the match. Spanish & French fans everywhere chanting & waving scarfs leading up to the match which was on a big screen. Although divided by centuries of animosity & varying culture,my impression of Europe nowadays is that travelling to another country is second nature.
Towser
Guest
Johnno Regarding player welfare. Nowadays players in Europe are used to back & forth travel across the continent because of the various European tournaments which are held midweek. Domestic game at the weekend, off to another country midweek for a European club clash,back to domestic football next weekend & its not just the big clubs as most European countries big & small are involved.
Mantis
Roar Guru
The only downside I see is the lack of atmosphere that host city(ies) provide. I have never been to a world cup or euros, but have friends and family who have, and the thing they all talk about is the atmosphere in the main city, or cities; all the fans from different countries all together having a great time. I've had mates who couldn't get tickets to any of the world cup games in Germany but went anyway just to be in Germany whilst it was on. It will be interesting to see how this is affected with the Euros being staged over 13 countries instead of 1