Covid in pressing on the Europeans. To take the breath away from Uefa, the continental football federation that has organized the tournament since 1960, obviously the Delta variant, which in the football stadiums reopened to the public risks finding one of its ideal habitats. This edition of the traveling Cup takes place in eleven cities in as many different countries: a format chosen in 2014 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tournament in 2020, but which many then disputed when a year ago precisely because of the pandemic the event was postponed for a year.
Fear
The fear that the away fans could fuel outbreaks has unfortunately become a reality. As the days go by, fear grows together with the infections. The data is increasingly disturbing. Northern Europe worries, with Finland registering record numbers. The Helsinki Institute for Health and Welfare has reported an impressive increase in cases traced on football fans who have returned from the two matches that the Biancazzurri played in St. Petersburg, which is only 200 kilometers from the border. On Tuesday, the day after the match against Belgium, there were too many people at the Vaalimaa crossing and the authorities were unable to test everyone: They were only allowed to return on condition that they had a tampon as soon as possible. It is estimated that at least 120 fans tested positive for Covid upon returning, but the number is set to rise as many swabs have yet to be processed. Prime Minister Sanna Marin said: If everyone takes a test, the contagion will not spread.
Il Corriere has created a special on the European 2021 with matches, teams, protagonists and results in real time: you can find it here
Leave safely
The alert remains as a maximum. And more and more, even within UEFA itself, are now convinced that confirming the traveling European was not a great idea. It makes no sense for people to travel all over Europe during the pandemic, he said Dr. Lothar Wieler, president of the German body for disease control, the Koch Institute, one of the first specialists to sound the alarm. The British authorities continue to reiterate that the matches of 6, 7 and 11 July will be in total safety, but the doubts of the rest of Europe are known, with our premier Draghi and the German chancellor Merkel who have publicly expressed their doubts regarding to the choice of playing in a country like England where the emergency is high.
Record of infections in St. Petersburg
Not the only problem. In St. Petersburg, where a quarter-final will also be played on July 3, Friday recorded a record with 107 deaths in 24 hours. Russia in enormous difficulty. Denmark and the Netherlands are also on the alert, after about twenty fans tested positive for the new variant after attending the match against Belgium at Parken in Copenhagen on 17 June. The Danish authorities have asked those who were at the stadium that day to undergo molecular swabs immediately, but it is clear that controlling the situation is virtually impossible. On Saturday, say, at least 5,000 Danes were in Amsterdam for the eighth final against Wales. And many of them had been to Parken for previous games. The truth is that the traveling European has opened the doors to the virus. And now perhaps too late to close them (here the board with all the matches).
June 27, 2021 (change June 27, 2021 | 22:33)
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