Plenty of records and milestones are set to be made or broken at the Euro 2020. A few are imminent and some will need huge luck to happen.
In this article, we will have a look at those records that could be broken at the European Championship 2020.
1. Top-scoring team at the Euro Cup
Currently, this record is held by France and Holland who have scored 13 goals. France has done it twice, and Holland managed it once. The record has been achieved on three different occasions but only one of those times led to a trophy. David Trezeguet’s golden goal against Italy in the final of Euro 2000 led France to a victory.
France is once again the contender of surpassing that record. Given that they could have many star players with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema.
2. Youngest goal scorer in Euro Cup history
Currently, this record is held by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen. He scored his debut goal when he was just 18 years 141 days old at the Euro 2004. It has somehow stayed unbroken all these years, but this season there’s a high possibility that few players could surpass that feat at the Euro 2020.
One of the young talented stars, Borussia Dortmund from Jude Bellingham has been called up to the England squad. He will turn 18 next month. And even if the Three Lions go all the way, the midfielder would still be a lot younger than what Vonlanthan was when he scored his debut goal.
3. Longest gap between European titles
Italy is the only side that could set this record in Euro 2020. It’s been 53 years since the Azzurri lifted their first and only European success. Winning the title this year would see them setting the longest gap between two titles, surpassing Spain. La Roja currently holds the record, with a gap of 44 years between their first European glory in 1964 and the second in 2008.
4. Most tournaments featured in Euro Cup
Currently, 17 players have represented in four tournaments for their country. This record is sure to be broken as soon as Ronaldo plays his first match at Euro 2020. As he was the only active player who is eligible to feature in his fifth European Championship.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who recently came out of retirement, could have joined him. However, he is ruled out from the tournament due to injury. And this shows how freak Ronaldo is, not only he’s scoring goals but also maintaining fitness. Playing regular matches is a tough job but he has been doing it over the years now.
5. Biggest ever victory margin
No side has ever won by more than a margin of five goals. This remains the biggest victory in the competition till now. France first set the record with a 5-0 thrashing of Belgium in 1984. But since then, Denmark 5-0 Yugoslavia (1984), Netherlands 6-1 Yugoslavia (2000), and Sweden 5-0 Bulgaria (2004) have equaled the goal margin.
Since this season many debutants like Finland and North Macedonia are participating at Euro 2020, there’s a very good chance of witnessing a one-sided victory.
6. Highest attendance at one match at the European Championship
In the game between the Soviet Union vs Spain, at Santiago Bernabeu in 1964. The record attendance of 79,115 was witnessed. This is the one that is dependent on COVID-19 restrictions but if Wembley can welcome 90,000 fans in the latter stages of the tournament, this record will almost certainly be broken.
The semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 are set to occur at Wembley, so if government regulations allow for full capacity for those fixtures, it would be safe to assume that Wembley would be a sell-out would host the most-attended games in the history of the European Championship.
7. Most saves in a penalty shootout
Currently, this record is held by Spain’s star Goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Spain, 2008), Francesco Toldo (Italy, 2000), and Manuel Neuer (Germany, 2016). All three have saved 2 penalties in penalty shootouts. Of all the European Championship records listed here, this one is probably the most niche.
This record is likely to be broken with young talented Goalkeepers taking part in this team. All of them have a great chance to follow the footsteps of legendary GK with the likes of Francesco Toldo, Iker Casillas, and Manuel Neuer by saving at least two penalties in a penalty shootout. Let’s hope there is a penalty shootout epic like the one we all witnessed during Villarreal’s Europa League final win over Manchester United.
8. Most appearances without progressing from the group stage in the Euro Cup
Currently, Ukraine, Austria, and Scotland hold this record. All three sides, along with Bulgaria, have played in the competition twice before without ever progressing beyond the group stages.
In Euro 2020, Ukraine and Austria have been drawn in the same group. So the competition would be intense. Scotland, meanwhile, is with England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic in the other and has a tough task of qualifying into the knockout rounds.
9. Most goals in the tournament
Starting with the noticeable record of goals, the tournament has been expanded to 24 teams since the last edition, while it saw a record of 106 goals being scored. And there are high chances that this record can be broken this season.
The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee has allowed the sides to be awarded quite a few penalties of late, which could increase the goal count. However, the VAR has also disallowed goals.
10. Most losses in European Championship history
This record is currently held by Russia and Denmark who have 14 losses each. Group B features Belgium, Russia, Denmark, and Finland. Both teams may lose the same amount of fixtures at Euro 2020 and continue to share the honor for being the teams who have lost the most in the history of the Euros.
This season on paper, Denmark has a stronger squad. but Russia was one missed penalty short of reaching the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup, so good luck to anyone trying to predict which of these two teams loses more at Euro 2020.