EURO 2016 - THE STADIUMS

The latest in our series of blogs at Direct Soccer on Euro 2016 focuses on the stadiums that will host the 24 teams taking part in the European Championships as well as what games to look out for that are still to take place at the stadia involved in the tournament.

10 stadiums were chosen to host the games at Euro 2016, spread through the whole of France from Paris and Lens in the north to Marseille and Nice in the south.  51 games will take place during the competition with each stadium being used at least 4 times between last Friday's opener when hosts France defeated Romania 2-1 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, to the final on July 10th at the same venue.

PARIS

Stadium - Parc des Princes  -  UEFA capacity - 45,000  -  Opened - May 1972  -  Home to - Paris Saint-Germain

Opened two years after PSG were formed, the Parc des Princes was the iconic home of French football and rugby until the Stade de France was built for the 1998 World Cup.  Now it plays host to European cracks Paris Saint-Germain where the Parisian residents have seen PSG lift the French title for the last 4 seasons.  The stadium hosted the European Cup Final in 1981 when an Alan Kennedy goal was enough to see Liverpool defeat Real Madrid for the club's 3rd European Cup.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Northern Ireland v Germany, June 21st

By this point, Germany should have made it two wins out of two and be through to the knockout stages.  Providing Northern Ireland can get a good result against Ukraine on June 16th this match could see Michael O'Neill's team score a famous result and reach the 2nd Round.

 

SAINT-DENIS

Stadium - Stade de France  -  UEFA capacity - 80,000  -  Opened - January 1998  -  Home to - France national team

Built for the 1998 World Cup which France famously won by beating Brazil 3-0 in the final, this is the home of the French national football and rugby teams and is frequently used in World Cup, European Championship and Six Nations matches.  It is the only stadium in the world to have hosted a World Cup Final in football and rugby, having been used for the Rugby World Cup in 2007.  At Euro 2016 the Stade de France gets to play host to 7 matches, which have included the opening game between France and Romania, Ireland's 1-1 draw with Sweden and the final on July 10th.

Key games at Euro 2016  -  Germany v Poland, June 16th and the Final, July 10th.

With both sides winning their first fixture, the biggest stadium in the competition will play host to Germany and Poland on June 16th.  A win for either side will see them through to the next stage, though a draw will be fine for both sides given their opening result.  Germany will be looked upon as being one of the favourites to reach the final on July 10th which is also taking place at the Stade de France.

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade de France - the biggest football stadium in France plays host to 7 games during Euro 2016 including the final on July 10th. Stade de France - the biggest football stadium in France plays host to 7 games during Euro 2016 including the final on July 10th.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1377" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade Pierre Mauroy - Lille's 50,000 capacity stadium is the venue when Italy and Ireland face off on June 22nd. Stade Pierre Mauroy - Lille's 50,000 capacity stadium is the venue when Italy and Ireland face off on June 22nd.[/caption]  

                   

LENS

Stadium - Stade Bollaert-Delelis  -  UEFA capacity - 35,000  -  Opened - August 2015 (re-developed)  -  Home to - RC Lens

Originally opened in 1933, the home of RC Lens has the unique distinction of being bigger than the town's population.  It has already hosted Switzerland and Albania (the Swiss won 1-0) and will host 3 further matches.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  England v Wales, June 16th

Wales won their first game at the European Championships, beating Slovakia 2-1 and go into the game on Thursday against England top of Group B after the English let in a late goal against Russia for a 1-1 draw.  With Slovakia beating Russia, the group is now wide open with a win for Wales sealing top spot, while an English win will put them top with a game to go.  The omens for England aren't too bad.  At France '98 they beat Colombia 2-0 to qualify for the last 16 while they also won here against the United States in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

 

LILLE

Stadium - Stade Pierre Mauroy  -  UEFA capacity - 50,000  -  Opened - August 2012  -  Home to - LOSC Lille

This stadium not only has a retractable roof (it was installed in just one day) but also has two floors, allowing half of it to be raised or lowered to different heights.  In 2014, it broke the record for an official tennis match when France and Switzerland battled it out in the final of the Davis Cup.  At Euro 2016 the stadium has already hosted Germany beating Ukraine and Slovakia defeating Russia, and will play host to 4 more matches.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Italy v Ireland, June 22nd

Ireland must get a good result against Belgium and follow up their well-earned 1-1 draw with Sweden earlier in the tournament and then hope to take something from the Italians if they are to advance.  Italy should beat Sweden in their second game after an excellent 2-0 win over the much-fancied Belgians so expect Italy to be through by this game and rest a few of their key players from risk of injury or suspension.

 

LYON

Stadium - Stade de Lyon  -  UEFA capacity - 59,000  -  Opened - January 2016  -  Home to - Olympique Lyonnais

The new home of French giants Olympique Lyonnais, this stadium hosts 4 group games including the 2-0 win for Italy over Belgium, Ukraine against Northern Ireland on June 16th, a second round match and a semi-final on July 6th.  The stadium will also host an outdoor Ligue Magnus ice hockey game between Lyon and Grenoble on December 30th.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Semi-Final, July 6th

Depending on how the draw pans out, this could be the stadium where England play their semi-final match.  Other teams that could be playing at this stadium include Spain, Poland, Portugal or Belgium.

  [caption id="attachment_1374" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade de Lyon - The home of French giants Olympique Lyonnais, this stadium will play host to one of the semi-finals as well as Ukraine and Northern Ireland on June 16th. Stade de Lyon - The home of French giants Olympique Lyonnais, this stadium will play host to one of the semi-finals as well as Ukraine and Northern Ireland on June 16th.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1375" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade Geoffroy Guichard - the home of St. Etienne, this classic stadium will be the place where England hope to beat Slovakia and reach the last 16. Stade Geoffroy Guichard - the home of St. Etienne, this classic stadium will be the place where England hope to beat Slovakia and reach the last 16.[/caption]  

                   

SAINT-ETIENNE

Stadium - Stade Geoffroy Guichard  -  UEFA capacity - 42,000  -  Opened - September 1931  -  Home to - AS Saint-Etienne

A traditional English style stadium - meaning there are no corner stands - the "Cauldron" is the home of AS St. Etienne.  This stadium saw Iceland cause the biggest shock so far of Euro 2016, drawing with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-1.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Slovakia v England, June 20th

England's final group game sees them take on Slovakia, who will fancy their chances of winning after beating Russia 2-1.  England will hope to fare better at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium than Scotland did in 1998 when the Scots were taken apart by Morocco 3-0 to crash out of the World Cup.

 

NICE

Stadium - Stade de Nice  -  UEFA capacity - 35,000  -  Opened - September 2013  -  Home to - OGC Nice

Costing €250 million to build when it was opened in 2013, this stadium, placed in the sunny location of Nice, hosts 4 games at Euro 2016 including the 1-0 win for Poland over Northern Ireland on Sunday 12th June.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Sweden v Belgium, June 22nd

With both sides failing to win their opening games, the pressure will be on Sweden and Belgium to get out of Group E and into the knockout stage.  This should be a mammoth clash as it pits Zlatan Ibrahimovic up against Eden Hazard, two of the biggest stars in European football in what could be a winner-takes-all match.

 

MARSEILLE

Stadium - Stade Velodrome  -  UEFA capacity - 67,000  -  Opened - October 2014 (re-developed)  -  Home to - Olympique de Marseille

The second biggest stadium at Euro 2016, and one of the most iconic looking, Marseille's Stade Velodrome hosted England and Russia in a 1-1 draw and plays host to France's second game against Albania as well as a further two group games and a 2nd round fixture.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Semi-Final, July 7th

The stadium will make history by becoming the first to host a semi-final at three different European Championships, having been used in the 1960 and 1984 tournaments at this stage.  With sides like France, Italy and Germany likely to be involved in the semi-finals, the Stade Velodrome should play host to an exciting match.

  [caption id="attachment_1376" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade Velodrome - one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, Marseille's home ground hosts 4 group games, a quarter final and the second semi-final. Stade Velodrome - one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, Marseille's home ground hosts 4 group games, a quarter final and the second semi-final.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1373" align="alignleft" width="300"]Stade de Bordeaux - The 42,000 capacity stadium will be used 5 times during Euro 2016 and will have teams such as Wales, Belgium and Spain visit. Stade de Bordeaux - The 42,000 capacity stadium will be used 5 times during Euro 2016 and will have teams such as Wales, Belgium and Spain visit.[/caption]  

                 

TOULOUSE

Stadium - Stadium de Toulouse -  UEFA capacity - 33,000  -  Opened - 1937  -  Home to - Toulouse FC

The smallest stadium at Euro 2016, Toulouse FC's stadium is the venue for 4 matches during the finals, including Russia taking on Wales on June 20th.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Italy v Sweden, June 17th

A key game in the Group of Death, the Italian's surprise 2-0 defeat of Belgium sees them installed as favourites to top the group, while Sweden will hope for a better result than the 1-1 they got against the Irish in their opening group game.

 

BORDEAUX

Stadium - Stade de Bordeaux  -  UEFA capacity - 42,000  -  Opened - May 2015  -  Home to - Girondins de Bordeaux

Opened last year, this great looking football stadium is the home of top French side Girondins de Bordeaux and was the site of Wales' 2-1 victory over Slovakia on the 2nd day of the tournament.  With Belgium taking on Ireland on June 18th and Croatia and Spain contesting their last group game on June 21st, there are sure to be more goals finding the nets in this stadium.

Key game at Euro 2016  -  Quarter Final, July 2nd

The quarter final that takes place at the Stade de Bordeaux will see the winners of Match 41 (Group C's winner vs the 3rd place team in either Group A, B or F) take on the winner of Match 43 (Group E's winner against the runners-up of Group D) so there is a good chance this stadium could be the venue where Germany take on Italy in a mouth-watering Quarter Final.