Euro 2020 has gotten off to an eventful start in the opening group games, living up to expectations for most parts in terms of match results, except for the unfortunate collapse of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest while on the run to collect a throw-in.
The games have been streaming in fast, and the most anticipated match so far in the group stage, is now a few hours away from kick-off. Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena is set to host France and Germany, as the two European football heavyweights will meet in a much-anticipated eye-watering match-up.
France and Germany usually meet in the knockout stages of international tournaments. This year however they are both placed in the same group along with Hungary and Portugal, in what many call the ‘Group of Death’. After having secured the World Cup in 2018, France is tipped by many experts to add the Euro 2020 cup to their trophy cabinet. And though Germany may have had mixed results in the past two years, the current Germany team has however often shown that they excel most when they are pinned down, reminiscent of their 2014 World Cup final performance.
The match is certainly going to be a showpiece for the world. With the betting odds being 180 to Germany, 170 to France, and 210 to a draw according to William Hill of Sportsbook, it appears that the game is expected to be more of a cagey final than a group stage game. However, both sides are packed with tremendous striking power.
France’s main hitman Kylian Mbappé, the most expensive striker at Euro 2021 (approximately 160 million Euros), is keen to put aside dressing room misunderstandings with Olivier Giroud to stamp his mark on the competition. Though Germany and their plethora of attackers with the likes of Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, and veteran Thomas Muller; will surely want to impose their firepower on the French defence.
It is games like these that helps UEFA achieve its revenue targets, with this year’s Euro championship expected to garner about 2.5 billion Euros. But for the countless football fans around the globe, Euro 2020’s incredible excitement has finally arrived!
