Irregular EURO? England has the biggest advantage, Czech Republic has the fifth worst conditions

This year’s EURO offers a great spectacle, but everything is spoiled by the scattered organisation across Europe. The tournament loses its regularity due to travel, because while some fly thousands of kilometres, others don’t even have to leave their hotels.

Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome, St Petersburg, Seville. These 11 cities welcomed the 2020 European Championships.

If all the teams had travelled the same, no one would have said a word. However, if one team flies all over Europe, or beyond (Baku), and the longest journey for the other team is from the hotel to the stadium, it doesn’t take much fairness.

Switzerland is the worst of the eight finalists. It has already flown 7,245 miles and despite this disadvantage has managed to get past the world champions into the quarter-finals. Next, the Wales team spent the most time on the plane (5,382 miles), followed by the Swedes (5,362 miles) and the Belgians (4,824 miles).

The Czech national team has the fifth worst conditions. It has already flown 4,646 miles for its three group matches and the eight-final, and it still has a long trip to Baku ahead of it.

England, on the other hand, is in the best position. She has not had to leave her hotel yet, as she has played all her matches, including the eight-final, at home in Wembley. So there is a big zero in its miles flown column.

She will move to Rome for the quarter-final against Ukraine, and if she advances, Albion would be at home again in the semi-final at Wembley. And if Gareth Southgate’s charges make it through that game too, guess where the final is played. Wembley again.

If travelling doesn’t seem like a big obstacle to anyone, believe me, it really is. For example, a flight from Prague to London takes around 2 hours, plus transport to and from the airport, waiting for the flight to depart, together it can take around 4 hours.

While the team from the Czech Republic spends the whole morning on the road, the English manage a two-hour training session and a two-hour recovery. And in top-flight football, which is decided by details, it can be damn noticeable. Particularly in knockout matches, should it go to extra time, for example, Albion may have more strength.

So the whole system of this year’s Euros is very nonsensical and totally irregular. If England were to reach the final, it would only cost them one trip to Rome and back. The other teams have already travelled almost the whole of Europe.

Source: Twitter | Johnny Madden