Why is Euro 2020 keeping its original name in 2021?
Harry Kane is captaining England into the Euros (PA)  UEFA Euro 2020 finally kicks off on Friday, bringing together the top international sides in European football for a tournament unlike any other. For the first time in the competitions history, there is no host nation, with matches instead taking place across 11 countries en route to the final at Wembley on 11 July, a romantic choice first unveiled by Michel Platini as long ago as 2012. The festivities begin in Rome on Friday night as Italy take on Turkey, the first of 51 matches staged across the next month involving 24 teams. But perhaps the strangest aspect of this summers Euros  outside of its Andy Burnham-esque mascot Skillzy  is the fact that it is still being branded Euro 2020 despite the 60th anniversary edition of the tournament having to be postponed for 12 months because of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last spring. Explaining the decision to retain the original name  a matter of some internal debate  UEFA said in a statement that doing so allows organisers to keep the original vision of the tournament, which was set to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Football Championship. It will furthermore serve as a reminder of how the whole football family came together to respond to the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, and of the difficult times that Europe, and the world, had to go through in 2020.  There was also a more practical reason for the decision: merchandise. This choice is in line with UEFAs commitment to make UEFA Euro 2020 sustainable and not to generate additional amounts of waste. A lot of branded material had already been produced by the time of the tournaments postponement. A name change for the event would have meant the destruction and reproduction of such items.  So there you have it. Other key questions remain to be answered. Story continues  Only time will tell. Read More  This is England, a united team playing for a divided country  Euro 2020 schedule: All dates, fixtures and everything you need to know  England songs at Euro 2020: The unlikely resurgence of Atomic Kitten