June 2021 Predictions: Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021

Euro2020 New 1
Euro2020 New 1

The European domestic football season draws to an end on Saturday when Manchester City and Chelsea face each other in the Champions League final.

Less than two weeks later and Euro 2020 begins. Two days later, the 2021 Copa America kicks off in South America.

Here’s a look at the two tournaments:

Euro 2020

Portugal are the defending champions and are rightfully among the favourites to repeat with a squad that includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.

Fernando Santos guided the nation to victory five years ago with a 1-0 win over France in extra-time.

They had made a slow start to the tournament and only progressed to the knockout stages by virtue of third-place teams progressing from the group stage for the first time.

Defensively Portugal are solid too, with Rui Patricio in goal protected by the likes of Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.

A look at the Euro schedule and the defending champions kick off their tournament against Hungary on Tuesday 15 June.

England have been made the bookmakers’ favourites after reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the Nations League finals and qualifying convincingly.

Gareth Southgate’s side have plenty of exciting options in attack with the likes of Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden. However, the Three Lions have real issues in defence, particularly in goal.

Many expect world champions France to go all the way this summer. Didier Deschamps has won this competition as a player and arguably has the best squad of players to pick from.

Kylian Mbappe is one of the best players in the world today and can be supported by the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kingsley Coman. N’Golo Kante is an excellent ball-winner in the middle of the park, while Paul Pogba is excellent for his country.

2021 Copa America

Hosts Argentina kick off this summer’s Copa America when they face Chile on Sunday 13 June. Lionel Scaloni’s side are the second favourites with the bookmakers, with their odds only narrowly longer than holders Brazil.

With the group stage split into North and South this year, the two favourites are expected to top their groups.

Finishing in the top two will be sufficient to avoid each other en route to the final as per the Copa America schedule.

Lionel Messi could be playing in his final Copa America, with the next tournament not scheduled until 2024 in Ecuador.

Arguably the greatest player of all time, Messi has never won this competition while Argentina last won it in 1993.

The Barcelona star could be joined by the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes. Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia make up the South Zone group.

Brazil were 3-1 winners over Peru in the final two years ago, and this year’s side could include the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva, Vinicius Junior and Alisson.

Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela are the other nations in the North Zone group.

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