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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Jon Doel

Euro 2021 now set to be hosted by just one country as Russia leads the way - reports

Euro 2021 is set to be hosted by just one country, with Russia leading the way, according to reports.

The delayed tournament is officially still due to be shared between 12 host nations but that plan is now likely to be aborted amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It means the plans of Wales fans, and those of all the nations, will be completely up in the air for some time to come, with an official final decision not expected to be rushed.

La Parisien report Russia are the frontrunners to be sole hosts as their recent staging of the 2018 World Cup means they have the modern infrastructure needed to host a major tournament in place and ready to go at short notice.

The country also has an officially low rate of Covid-19 infection, with just 29,000 deaths from a huge population recorded so far. The UK has recorded nearly 47,000.

Uefa have refused to confirm or deny the reports at this stage.

Ryan Giggs' side are due to meet Switzerland and Turkey in Baku, Azerbaijan, as things stand, before a Rome clash with Italy.

Thousands of Welsh fans had prepared trips to Baku before the tournament was postponed this summer. Many still hope to go next year.

Condensing the tournament would ensure less travelling, although UEFA remain hopeful fans will still be able to attend.

The Euros will definitely go ahead no matter what, with millions received from TV companies which will be ploughed back into the game.

But staging it in one country would mean teams being able to stay in bubbles.

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