Euro 2020/1 Predictions Game - Call Out!

Hi there, folks - The 2020/2021 season has barely finished but it's already that time again. With merely a week until the opening kick-off of the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament with Italy taking on Turkey in the opening match on Friday, June 10 at 3pm EST, I'm asking you to pull out your crystal balls and come up with some predictions for this summer's tournament. For those new to our predictions games, all you have to do to participate is email me with your predictions in the following categories (please email me without "replying all" to the list of competitors so that we get a variety of entries):

1. The top two teams in each of the six groups (you'll receive two points for each correct team plus an extra point if you get them in the correct order); e.g. "Group A: 1. Wales  2. Switzerland.”

2. The four best third placed teams that also advance to the Round of 16 

(1 point for each team)

3. The winners of each of the eight Round of Sixteen matches (3 points per team)

4. The winners of each of the four Quarterfinal matches (4 points per team) 

5. The winners of each of the two Semifinals (6 points per team) 

6. Champions! (10 points) 

7. The scorer of first goal scored in the tournament (3 points/ 2 points for first in pool)

8. The scorer of the first hat-trick (if there is one!) (2 points/ 1 point for first in pool)

9. The first player sent off (either straight red or two yellows) (2 points/ 1 point for first in pool)

10. The first player to miss a penalty (either during regular play in a match or in a penalty shoot-out) (2 points/ 1 point for the first in pool)

11. The first match to go to a penalty shoot-out (2 points/ 1 point for first in pool)

12. The player who scores the winning goal in the Final (if there is one) (2 points) 

13. The first manager to be sacked (2 points/ 1 point for first in pool) 

14. The Golden Glove winner (top goalkeeper) (4 points) 

15. The Golden Boot winner (top scorer) (8 points)

16. Tournament MVP (8 points)

For those of you who were with us for France 2016, you'll notice that I've added one element suggested by our friend West Ham Rising to assign points for the first players mentioned by one of us and a bonus point if the player is the actual first. For example, if you correctly guess that Italy's Giorgio Chiellini scores the opening goal of the tournament, you'll be awarded three points; however, if no one guesses Chiellini and your guess of, say, Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu, is the first goal among the group, you'll be awarded two points.

The winner of the Euro 2020/1 Predictions Game will receive the vaunted Lancer Cup, which I'm showing off in the attached image as the current holder - you'll have to work hard to pry this junk shop beauty out of my hands! 

I'll be updating the game on the blog and through email every few days throughout the tournament. We'll be live blogging most games, so definitely jump in on the chatter and feel free to post threads with news and funny bits.

I can't wait for it all to get started.