France National Soccer Team
France's Kylian Mbappe controls the ball during the international friendly soccer match between France and Bulgaria at the Stade De France in Saint Denis, North of Paris, France, Tuesday, June 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Bulgaria vs France 6/8/2021

Jun. 10, 2021 10:32 AM EDT

The entrance path to Wembley stadium, ahead of the upcoming Euro 2020 soccer championship in London, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday June 11 when Italy face Turkey in Rome. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Virus threat, Europe's divisions hang over rescheduled Euros

By Rob Harris Jun. 10, 2021 10:29 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 file photo shows the 'Allianz Arena' stadium prior to the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 in Munich, Germany. The Bavarian state government says the Allianz Arena in Munich will fill about 20% of its capacity for games during the European Championship. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
Fans are allowed at Euro 2020, even if stadiums aren't full

Jun. 10, 2021 09:41 AM EDT

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the international friendly soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain on Friday June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain, Portugal draw 0-0 in front of nearly 15,000 in Madrid

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 04, 2021 03:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, June 16, 2016 filer, Germany coach Joachim Loew looks from the sidelines during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Germany and Poland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. France won the last major international soccer tournament — the World Cup in 2018 — by defending compactly, hitting teams on the break with clinical finishing, and being effective at set pieces. What will the winning approach be at the European Championship?. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
EURO 2020: Pragmatism the key to success in pandemic soccer

By Steve Douglas Jun. 04, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, March 28, 2021 filer, Hungary coach Marco Rossi looks on during the World Cup 2022 Group I qualifying soccer match between San Marino and Hungary, at the Olympic Stadium in Serravalle, San Marino. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini, File)
EURO 2020: Hungary challenged by tough group and injury

By Eric Willemsen Jun. 02, 2021 06:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, June. 7, 2019. Filer, Ukraine's head coach Andriy Shevchenko reacts during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Ukraine and Serbia at the Arena Lviv stadium in Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)
EURO 2020: Shevchenko aims to break through as Ukraine coach

By James Ellingworth Jun. 01, 2021 06:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 file photo, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic looks at the field prior to the Euro 2020 group E qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Slovakia at the Rujevica stadium in Rijeka, Croatia. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko Dalić of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Daniel Kasap, File)
Slovakia vs Croatia 11/16/2019

May. 31, 2021 07:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, July 15, 2018 file photo, France's Paul Pogba, pulls on the arm of Croatia's Ivan Rakitic during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Delaying the European Championship by a year has helped out some teams and hurt others. England had more time to integrate talented young players and deepen its squad. Croatia's squad from its run to the World Cup final in 2018 is nearing the end and Ivan Rakitic has retired from international soccer. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Croatia vs France 7/15/2018

May. 27, 2021 09:06 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, June 8, 2018 file photo, Croatia squad pose ahead of a friendly soccer match between Croatia and Senegal in Osijek, Croatia. Delaying the European Championship by a year has helped out some teams and hurt others. England had more time to integrate talented young players and deepen its squad. Croatia's squad from its run to the World Cup final in 2018 is nearing the end and Ivan Rakitic has retired from international soccer. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
EURO 2020: Winners and losers from the 1-year delay

By James Ellingworth May. 27, 2021 09:05 AM EDT

FILE - In this Netherlands Thursday, March 21, 2019 filers, fans wait for the start of the Euro 2020 group C qualifying soccer match between Netherlands and Belarus at the Feyenoord stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. With games scattered across 11 cities from London to Baku, this year's European Championship is going to be hard on the fans. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, it remains to be seen how many supporters will be able to attend matches or if any can follow their teams across borders into different countries. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
EURO 2020: Fans moving across borders will be complicated

By Andrew Dampf May. 26, 2021 09:09 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, April 25, 2021 filer, the video display casts a shadow on the pitch of the National Arena stadium, a venue of the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, in Bucharest, Romania. For players, the pandemic has meant a congested season that poses fitness challenges, let alone trying to avoid coronavirus infections. Financially playing the delayed tournament is essential for UEFA. For fans, the EURO 2020 24-team event should be the first chance for the widespread return of fans to stadiums across Europe since March 2020, assuming new restrictions aren't imposed. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
EURO 2020: Fans back in stadiums but not in same numbers

By Jerome Pugmire May. 25, 2021 08:34 AM EDT

France's Kylian Mbappe controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine at the Start de de France stadium, in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Ukraine vs France 3/24/2021

Apr. 02, 2021 07:50 AM EDT

Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, left, shake hands with Bayern's head coach Hans-Dieter Flick during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, Germany, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Matthias Balk/Pool via AP)
Stellar games in Germany, France head European title races

By Graham Dunbar Apr. 02, 2021 07:49 AM EDT

France draws, Dutch lose at start of WC qualifying in Europe

By Steve Douglas Mar. 24, 2021 05:49 PM EDT
The road to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup began for European teams on Wednesday with a slip-up by France to open its title defense, a big loss for the...

Porto's Pepe, left, and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo embrace at the end of the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Juventus at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Europe starts World Cup qualifying amid pause for pandemic

By Graham Dunbar Mar. 22, 2021 11:38 AM EDT

Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna, left, challenges for the ball with Arminia's Manuel Prietl during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Arminia Bielefeld in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)
Reynolds, Odunze receive US call-ups but not Hoppe

Mar. 17, 2021 02:09 PM EDT

Montreal Impact head coach Thierry Henry exits the field after his team lost 3-1 to New York City FC during their MLS match, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Thierry Henry resigns as coach of Montreal in MLS

Feb. 25, 2021 11:26 AM EST

Denmark's players celebrate with the trophy after the World Handball Championship final game against Sweden in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Denmark retains men's handball world title ahead of Olympics

Jan. 31, 2021 04:24 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2019, file photo, Stanford's Catarina Macario celebrates after scoring a penalty kick against North Carolina during a soccer match in San Jose, Calif. Macario, a promising prospect for the U.S. women's national team, has announced that she will forgo her senior season for a professional career. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group via AP, File)
Stanford's Catarina Macario turns pro with Lyon

Jan. 12, 2021 06:45 PM EST