Introduction
The European Championship, commonly known as the UEFA European Championship, is a major international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of UEFA member countries. The tournament is held every four years, and the latest edition – Euro 2020 – was scheduled to be held in 2020. However, one notable absentee from the tournament was England, one of the strongest footballing nations in the world. In this article, we will explore the reasons why England did not participate in Euro 2020.
Non-Qualification
The primary reason why England did not participate in Euro 2020 was that they failed to qualify for the tournament. England was drawn in Group A alongside the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bulgaria. The Three Lions started off strongly by winning their opening fixture against Bulgaria. However, they drew their next two games against Kosovo and the Czech Republic. They then lost their next game against the Czech Republic, which ultimately meant that they finished second in Group A. Only the top two teams from each group qualify for the tournament, and England missed out on the opportunity to participate in Euro 2020.
Results in Qualifying Campaign
England’s performances in their qualifying campaign were not up to their usual high standards. They won six out of their ten games, drew three, and lost one. Their most disappointing result came against the Czech Republic in their fifth game, where they lost 2-1. England had a chance to make amends for the defeat in their next game against Bulgaria. However, the game was overshadowed by incidents of racism towards English players, and the game was temporarily stopped twice as a result.
Injuries to Key Players
England’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2020 were further hampered by injuries to some key players. Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, who had been a pivotal player for the Three Lions in recent years, was ruled out of England’s penultimate qualifying game against Montenegro due to a calf injury. Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, who is one of the best strikers in the world, also suffered an injury during the qualifying campaign and missed a few games as a result. These two players are crucial to England’s chances of success, and their absence was keenly felt.
Conclusion
In conclusion, England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2020 can be attributed to a combination of factors – their results in the qualifying campaign, injuries to key players, and incidents of racism. However, England is a strong footballing nation, and their absence from Euro 2020 should not be seen as a reflection of their abilities. The Three Lions will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back in the next qualifying campaign and book their place in the next edition of the tournament.