Home advantage, local derbies & climate

[exile]

Aside from purely footballing strengths, it's always interesting trying to figure how geographical factors weigh in: home advantage (especially in a tournament), local derbies (which may be a leveller) and climate. For tournamnets, we always seem to be on back foot as we're never a host, and most tournaments are in hotter climates (and we don't play much summer football in the first place). For Euro 2020, things are even more unpredictable, as home advantage may be less a factor due to smaller crowds, and it's not at all clear how much being a host city would have an effect.(Maybe less pressure than is Scotland was a host or co-host). To what extent to people think these geographical factors will be factors that could affect outcomes rather than just straight footballing form?

[romanticscot]

Speaking of geographic factors, for us all of our games are in the same time.zone with minimal travelling involved. This is extremely fortunate for us. 

[exile]

For example some of the more interesting games could be:

• Scotland at home for two matches is obviously a boon. But also England v Scotland - local derby, and Scotland have less hassle of international travel to play there, than the other teams.
• Finland v Russia in St Petersburg - could be almost a local deby. Also Denmark v Finland. Finland might do better in the group than footballing from alone might suggest.
• Hungary v France and Portugal in Budapest. These may be trickier for the away teams than the form book might suggest. Whereas I could imagine Germany winning all their home group matches in Munich or at least holding France to a draw. If Germany win the group it could upset France who could face winnders of Group D rather than a 3rd placed qualifier.
• Spain get to play their group games in Seville, so a home and climate advantage over teams from north/central Europe, who don't get any home games.
• Will Baku suit Turkey over Wales and Switzerland?, - even for Wales v Switzerland that's a time zone hassle for both teams?
• Will Bucharest be a leveller for North Macedonia? etc

Edited June 12, 2021 by exile