And then there were four. The final week of Euro 2020 – this most unusual of major tournaments – comes to a head in London this week, with both semi-finals and Sunday’s final at Wembley.
For England, it is a huge opportunity unlikely to come round again for this generation of players – the chance to triumph on home soil, having played all but one of their matches at the National Stadium.
Yet on Wednesday, Gareth Southgate‘s side will face an inspired-Denmark outfit, producing some stunning play in wake of the shock of Christian Eriksen‘s cardiac arrest in their opening defeat to Finland.
Spain (L) face Italy (R) in the first semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday evening
An in-form England side host Denmark in the second semi-final at Wembley on Wednesday
The other semi-final sees a clash of European heavyweights in Spain and Italy. The Spanish have overcome an underwhelming group-stage start to stutter into the semis, beating Croatia in extra-time and Switzerland on penalties.
Meanwhile the Italians have arguably been the in-form team of the tournament, winning all three of their group matches and coming through impressively against Belgium on Friday night.
But as London becomes the focus this week, where are all the teams training ahead of their semi-final showdowns and where are they based? Sportsmail takes a look.
ITALY
Like all four semi-finalists, Italy played all their group games in their home country, in Rome, but have been on the road ever since.
It won’t be their first visit to London in this tournament. Their dramatic last-16 win, after extra-time, against Austria was at Wembley, while their quarter-final triumph was in Munich.
Yet ahead of Tuesday’s showdown with Spain, the Azzurri are basing themselves in Harrow, north London.
Italy trained at the base for the Italian FA in Coverciano, Florence before flying over to London
Roberto Mancini’s squad will train in London tonight after their session at home this morning
They trained in Coverciano, Florence this morning – home to the Italian FA – before flying into Luton this afternoon on a charter flight, according to Italian outlet ANSA.
Usual UEFA protocol means teams often have the opportunity to train at the stadium itself the evening before a game.
However, in order to protect the Wembley pitch, that won’t be the case this week. Instead, the Italians will train tonight, at around 5:00pm, at the Hive Stadium in Harrow, home to National League side Barnet FC.
The Italians will train at The Hive, home to National League side Barnet FC, on Monday evening
The 6,500-capacity stadium opened in 2013 and also hosts Tottenham Hotspur women’s team
After that, it’s the usual matchday preparation as Italy look to repeat their 2012 feat and claim a spot in the final of the European Championships.
SPAIN
The Spanish are preparing slightly differently to their opponents.
Luis Enrique’s side trained this morning at the Cuidad de Futbok in Las Rozas on the outskirts of Madrid, which is the HQ for the Spanish Football Federation.
The Spain squad trained this morning at the base for the Spanish FA on the outskirts of Madrid
Luis Enrique’s side will fly to London this afternoon but don’t intend on training on arrival
The squad have been based at the headquarters throughout the tournament, despite their group-stage encounters being in Seville.
The team will then fly over this evening, arriving in London at 6:00pm. Yet unlike Italy, they won’t train tonight.
They are basing themselves at the luxurious Marriott hotel in Regents Park, south-east of Wembley compared to the Italians’ north-west location.
The Spanish team and staff are staying at the luxurious Marriott hotel in Regents Park
ENGLAND
Aside from a quarter-final in Rome on Saturday – which ironically produced their best result of the tournament in a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine – it’s been a home tournament for England from start to finish.
All three of their group games were at Wembley, as was the memorable 2-0 last-16 win against Germany.
England have been based at St George’s Park in Burton upon Trent throughout the tournament
Southgate’s squad trained on Monday morning, in their first full session since the win in Rome
And again, following a quick trip to Italy, it’ll be business as usual in preparation for Wednesday’s semi-final, back at the National Stadium.
They trained this morning and will have a session tomorrow at St George’s Park, The FA’s national football centre, in Burton upon Trent, north of Birmingham.
The team spent Sunday fooling around in the swimming pool after their weekend win in Rome
Like previous games in this tournament, they will then travel down to London on the eve of Wednesday’s game.
For instance ahead of the Scotland clash, Gareth Southgate’s squad stayed at the Marriott in Maida Vale.
Yet St George’s Park will be the predominant base this week, as the Three Lions pursue a first major tournament final since 1966.
DENMARK
Finally the Danes – who have stormed to the semis after the most difficult of starts to the tournament – are training in Helsingor, eastern Denmark today.
Yet midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg confirmed on Danish TV that the squad would be based at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground in Enfield, north London.
Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg confirmed that the Danes will stay at Tottenham’s Enfield HQ
Did Hojbjerg, who has just completed his first season at Spurs, work some magic to facilitate this? Of course, it’s likely to have been dealt with higher-up, but it may have helped.
The Hotspur Way training ground is familiar to those who watched Tottenham’s All or Nothing behind-the-scenes documentary.
Yet as Premier League clubs slowly but surely return to pre-season, Denmark will be based at the state-of-the-art complex – and will be hoping their stay doesn’t come to an end on Wednesday, as they target a spot in the final on Sunday.
Tottenham’s state-of-the-art complex will host Denmark ahead of their clash against England