Covid looms large as Euros preparations begin

It was already going to be a tournament like no other. And that was before a global pandemic.

Staging a football competition over multiple countries was always an ambitious concept with the logistics of moving hundreds of players and support staff and thousands more supporters around from place to place something never before done.

It was former Uefa president Michel Platini's "zany idea" - to use his words - with the hope, at least initially, that sending the 60th anniversary European Championships all over the continent was a way of returning the game "to the fans".

The reality, in a tournament that is still set to be significantly impacted by Covid, is slightly different.

Two cities, Dublin and Bilbao, have already lost their hosting rights because they couldn't commit to hosting supporters in their stadiums. Even those that can are only able to offer a fraction of the capacities that they once could have.

Squads have been increased, from the usual 23 players to a more malleable 26 to guard against any unforeseen, virus-related issues. Protocols are in place too for games to be postponed or moved should infections rise with testing across teams and staff also being ramped up.

And while countries all over the continent are inching back to something closer to normal, that this won't be a tournament like the ones before it isn't lost on anyone.

Scotland now know that all too well with midfielder John Fleck testing positive on the eve of the tournament and forced into isolation.

He should be back to full health by the time the Scots kick off against the Czech Republic in their opener on 14 June, but the result has proved a wake-up call to the rest of the squad.

"If you ever need any reminder that this virus is still here, it's that," captain Andy Robertson said on Tuesday. "Obviously we're disappointed for Flecky being positive and having to stay in his room.

"But I suppose the lucky thing is that the doctors and the performance guys have followed every protocol and there is no close contacts and no other positive results from the three rounds of testing we've done since then.

"In a bad situation we can take some positives. We'll take this one."

Following a period of self-isolation Fleck will be back with his teammates soon enough to feature in the tournament.

Jasper Cillessen, another to test positive on Tuesday, won't be so lucky, however, with the Netherlands goalkeeper now ruled out of the competition.

This is just the sporting side of a far more serious situation of course, and Robertson knows nothing can be taken for granted.

"Flecky will be ready when he gives a negative test and luckily it's happened soon enough that he won't miss the Euros. It just means we'll need to be even more careful the closer we get.

"The boys are already switched on to it and we just need to make sure we get no other positive tests.

"It's something that's always in the back of your mind because as a young fit healthy player - and Flecky as far as I'm aware isn't showing any symptoms - it's tough to say you're staying in your room for five days when he probably feels quite healthy.

"But that is this virus unfortunately. It doesn't affect some people but others it does and we've seen the death toll and the number of people who have been infected.

"It's so important we take it seriously. We'll have to heighten that caution even more the closer we get because we don't want anyone missing out for something that can hopefully be avoided.

"The three rounds of testing have been a confidence booster in that there's be no other positives but we can't take that for granted."

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The Scots take on the Netherlands on Wednesday night in their first tune-up before a final warm-up in Luxembourg on Sunday.

Then it will be small matter of a first tournament in 23 years that will include another meeting with old rivals England in the group stages.

"It's here and it's exciting to be a Scotland player," Robertson added. "It'll just heighten and get stronger and stronger as the days go on.

"The friendlies will be good for us. Some players haven't played in four weeks, some haven't played for two weeks. The Premier League players have not played for only a week, so we're all at different stages but it's important to get games together to work at what we're going to do.

"We're playing against one of the favourites for the tournament tomorrow and it isn't going to be easy but you want to test yourselves against the best and that's what we're doing.

"Then on our way home we stop off in Luxembourg, which will be a different challenge, a tough one against a good team.

"So, two good games to have and that'll get us going really close to the kick-off against the Czech Republic. It's a really important week coming up and then we go full steam ahead into the group stages."