There’s a break from the usual run of domestic and European fixtures this week in the world of football as instead we turn our attention, for the first time in 2019, to the International game and in particular on teams hoping to land one of the Euro 2020 finals spots available.
This special tournament, the brainchild of former UEFA Chief Michel Platini, will celebrate 60 years of the European Championships with a new and expanded tournament, with 24 teams competing this time around, up from 16 in 2016. Furthermore, teams will also be able to qualify via the new Nations League Playoffs (to be held in March 2020), if they fail to make it through Euro 2020 qualifying in the standard way.
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If you fancy a flutter on this different looking Euro 2020 tournament, then bet365 is the place to head. There is plenty of betting available now on all the games across Matchday 1 (taking place Thursday to Saturday this week) and Matchday 2 betting (Sunday to Tuesday) will also become available over the forthcoming days as matches are played. Sign up today with the latest bet365 New Player Offer and you can benefit from up to £100 in bet credits too.
Why Euro 2020 Is Different
Unlike the previous European Football Championships which have been held in one, or possibly two host nations, the Euro 2020 tournament is different as it will not only feature 24 teams (up from 16) but will also be held, for the first time, in 12 host cities across different European countries.
This event is mooted to be a ‘one-off’ event to celebrate 60 years of the competition. Wembley Stadium in London is designated as the venue for both semifinals and the final of the tournament which will take place between June 12 and July 12 2020.
The 12 venues where the finals games will take place are as follows:
- Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
- Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
- Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary
- Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
- Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Holland
- Arriva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
- Arena Nationala, Bucharest, Romania
- Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- San Mames, Bilbao, Spain
How Teams Qualify for Euro 2020
No team will earn an automatic spot at Euro 2020, not even the holders Portugal. Instead all 55 UEFA National Teams will compete in the qualifiers. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the finals which will provide us with 20 of the 24 qualifiers.
In March 2020, the winners of the four individual groups of the UEFA Nations League, if they have not qualified already via the main qualifying campaign, will compete in the playoffs. There will be playoffs involving four teams from each Nations League group to decide the final four places at the Championship in the summer.
Euro 2020 Qualifying Groups
The first five groups in Euro 2020 qualifying comprise of five teams in each group. The second five groups comprise of six teams in each group. Each team plays the other teams in their group home and away between March 2020 and November 2020 to decide who qualifies for the tournament the following summer.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E |
| Bulgaria | Lithuania | Belarus | Denmark | Azerbaijan |
| Czech Rep | Luxembourg | Estonia | Georgia | Croatia |
| England | Portugal | Germany | R.o.Ireland | Hungary |
| Montenegro | Ukraine | Holland | Switzerland | Slovakia |
| Kosovo | Serbia | N.Ireland | Gibraltar | Wales |
| Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J |
| Faroe Isl. | Austria | Albania | Belgium | Armenia |
| Malta | Israel | Andorra | Cyprus | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Norway | Latvia | France | Kazakhstan | Finland |
| Romania | Macedonia | Iceland | Russia | Greece |
| Spain | Poland | Moldova | San Marino | Italy |
| Sweden | Slovenia | Turkey | Scotland | Liechtenstein |
Euro 2020 Fixtures Matchday 1
*All odds shown are correct with bet365 as of 12pm on Monday 18th March 2019
Thursday 21st March Fixtures
Scotland face a tricky but winnable trip to Kazakhstan as they are the first Euro 2020 qualifier to kick off this week. Northern Ireland will want to get off to a good start at home to Estonia later on in the evening and in amongst the matches for Thursday are a couple of intriguing games, notably in Group I where Belgium take on Russia and also in Group G where Austrla face Poland in what could be a crucial battle in that group. Wales fans will also have one eye on the Slovakia v Hungary tie in Group E which could have a big impact on Wales chances of qualifying.
Friday 22nd March Fixtures
There’s fewer games on Friday but there’s still some cracking ones to enjoy including England getting their campaign underway at Wembley with a home game against the Czech Republic. Holders Portugal face a tricky test as they take on the talented Ukraine in Lisbon, while France will hope to get a solid win under their belt away to Moldova. Albania v Turkey and Bulgaria v Montenegro could also be crucial games for teams in their respective groups.
Saturday 23rd March Fixtures
The Republic of Ireland should have a relatively comfortable start away to Gibraltar in their opening game in qualifying, while Nations League semi-finalists Switzerland face a tricky trip to Georgia. The two big games of the night however see Sweden face Romania in what could be a vital Group F clash, while in the same group, Spain, who will likely start as favourites to win the tournament, begin their campaign with a home game against Norway.
Remember, Matchday 2 games will take place from Sunday 24th to Tuesday 26th March immediately following these games and betting on these games will become available on bet365 Sport over the next few days as the first Matchday fixtures are completed. These games will feature a number of teams, including Wales and Germany, who are yet to get their qualifying campaign underway.
Our Euro 2020 Matchday 1 Accumulator
We’ve decided to back a little accumulator on each of the three days of action on Matchday 1 and the accumulators we have put together for each days are as follows:
Thursday 21st March
- Kazakhstan v Scotland – Away Win
- Austria v Poland – Home Win
- Belgium v Russia – Home Win
- Northern Ireland v Estonia – Home Win
- Slovakia v Hungary – Home Win
Currently at bet365 a £10 stake on this fivefold accumulator would return £119.70 in winnings, plus of course you would get your stake money back.
Friday 22nd March
- Bulgaria v Montenegro – Home Win
- Albania v Turkey – Away Win
- England v Czech Republic – Home Win
- Moldova v France – Away Win
- Portugal v Ukraine – Home Win
A £10 bet with bet365 Sport would return you £87 in winnings with this fivefold accumulator and you would also get your stake back too.
Saturday 23rd March
- Georgia v Switzerland – Away Win
- Malta v Faroe Islands – Draw
- Sweden v Romania – Draw
- Italy v Finland – Home Win
- Spain v Norway – Home Win
Place a £10 bet on this fivefold on Saturday and you could win £267.30 at the current odds with bet365 Sport, plus you’d also get your tenner back too.
