Euro 2020/1, Day 5: Hungary vs. Portugal; France vs. Germany

Only two games scheduled for the fifth day of Euro 2020, but they promise to generate more than enough excitement and entertainment and drama. Famous last words.

First up, we have Hungary taking on Portugal in a rematch of a wild 3-3 draw from Euro 2016 that saw Hungary move into the knockout rounds of their first major international competition in three decades. Hungary took the lead three times in that game, only to be pegged back three times by Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace — who’s once again here because he’s possibly immortal. The Hungarians would get beat summarily in the Round of 16 by Belgium, but at least we didn’t have to wait until 30 years to qualify for the next tournament this time.

Unfortunately, the two best Hungarian players, Dominik Szoboszlai, currently on RB Leipzig, and Zsolt Kalmár, once of RB Leipzig, now of yours truly’s hometown team, are both out through injury. Two other Leipzig players, Péter Gulácsi in goal and Willi Orbán in defense will have their work cut out for them! This is a fairly experienced team otherwise, so hopefully some veteran wiles will find their way to the surface in this deathiest of Groups of Death.

HUNGARY vs. PORTUGAL

Date / Time: Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 17.00 BST; 12pm EDT
Venue: Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary
Referee: Cüneyt Çakir (TUR)
On TV: ITV 1 (UK); ESPN (USA); elsewhere
Streaming online: ITV Hub (UK); ESPN+, PrendeTV (USA)

And then we have perhaps the most highly anticipated group stage match, as France take on Germany in the other Group F contest.

Up to six Chelsea players could feature in this one (N’Golo Kanté, Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma vs. Antonio Rüdiger, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner), though it’s unlikely that all six will start or even play (Zouma probably the least likely). France are surely one of the favorites, lest they self-destruct internally, while Germany are hoping to rediscover their successes of a decade ago and return to the uppermost echelons of international football.

FRANCE vs. GERMANY

Date / Time: Monday, June 15, 2021, 20.00 BST; 13pm EDT
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (SPA)
On TV: ITV 1 (UK); ESPN, Univision, TUDN (USA); elsewhere
Streaming online: ITV Hub (UK); ESPN+, Univision Now (USA)