Vardy wins Golden Boot... Mail simulate Euro 2020 that should have started TODAY

June 12 was a date marked in all of our calendars for so long - the day Euro 2020 was supposed to start, kicking off a month-long festival of football.

Of course, bigger things have been at stake than sport over the past few months as the world has tried to fight back against the coronavirus pandemic.

But the arrival of a date for so long etched into our minds cannot stop us wondering, what if? What if the pandemic had not struck and Euro 2020 was not cancelled? What if the plan for a 12-host tournament had gone ahead?

Well, Mail has gazed into its crystal ball and imagined what might have happened had the tournament kicked off today in a coronavirus-free world...

England beat Germany on Penalties after VAR drama

England's scant reward for finishing top of a group featuring Croatia, Czech Republic and Norway is a nightmare last-16 tie against Germany in Dublin, who are pipped to top spot in their group by France. 

England take a first-half lead through Raheem Sterling but are pegged back by a Serge Gnabry equaliser. The Germans think they have scored an injury-time winner but Gnabry's second is ruled out by the harshest of offside decisions, after four minutes of deliberation by the Video Assistant Referee. 

A cagey extra-time period sees little in the way of chances and England find themselves in a penalty shootout with Germany for the third time in tournament history. With the scores at 5-4, Joshua Kimmich has his effort brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford low to his left and England are through to the quarter-finals.

Vardy wins Golden Boot

With Marcus Rashford's back problem ruling him out of England's squad and captain Harry Kane unfit for at least the first two matches, Gareth Southgate persuades Vardy to come out of international retirement, fresh off the back of guiding Leicester to second place with a 28-goal return. 

After impressing in England's warm-up matches, Vardy enjoys a prolific group stage, netting two against Croatia, a hat-trick against Norway and a sixth for the tournament against Czech Republic. He can only add one more in the knockout stages but finishes as top scorer with seven goals.

Scotland crash out to Israel in play-offs

Winding the clock back a few months, Scotland are dreaming of a European tour as they host Israel at Hampden Park in March, knowing a win will leave them just one step from the tournament proper. Their hopes are cruelly dashed by an 89th-minute Andy Robertson own goal.

Mick McCarthy guides Ireland to last 16 

In the real world, McCarthy was harshly sent packing by the FAI before their play-off against Slovakia could take place. In this alternative universe though, McCarthy delivers on his promise to lead Ireland back to a major tournament, scraping past Slovakia and Bosnia in the play-offs without conceding a goal. 

Spurred on by a home crowd in Dublin for the opening two matches, Ireland beat Poland and draw against Sweden, earning third place despite a 3-0 defeat by Spain in Bilbao. Holland knock them out in the last-16 in Budapest.

Bale rips through Italy in Rome

With just one point from their opening two matches, Wales are staring at a group-stage exit as they head to Rome to face Italy in their own backyard. 

Enter Gareth Bale. With the Italians 1-0 up and grinding Ryan Giggs' young side into submission, Bale scores a brilliant equaliser after a trademark slaloming run with just two minutes left on the clock, before slamming home a 30-yard free-kick to send Wales through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Ronaldo retires in a tearful rage

Having scraped through to the last-16 after group-stage defeats by France and Germany, Portugal are drawn against the in-form Belgians in Bilbao. 

With his team trailing 2-0 in the closing stages, captain Cristiano Ronaldo lashes out at Kevin De Bruyne after a foul and is given his marching orders. His international career over, the former Manchester United man sobs uncontrollably as he exits the stage.

Backlash

After hosting three forgettable group-stage matches, Azerbaijan's capital is the venue for the quarter-final between Holland and Italy. Despite the star billing, empty seats fill television screens - barring the packed UEFA corporate ares - as a drab 0-0 draw is played out. Italy eventually advance on penalties but both managers are criticial of the venue after the match. Aside from Baku, the 12-country tournament is popular, with host cities basking in the limelight and London becoming its hub.

France beat Belgium again

With the kindest draw of all, the favourites Belgium breeze through to the semi-finals without conceding a goal, seeing off Russia, Denmark and Finland in their group before knockout wins over Portugal and Switzerland. Just as at the 2018 World Cup though, France knock them out, with Kylian Mbappe netting the only goal.

Kane returns to steer England to final 

And what of England, you ask? Well, having come down from the high of their dramatic win over Germany in Dublin, reality hits home as the Three Lions still face a treacherous path to the final, with Spain up first in the quarter-finals after their win over Wales. 

After a quiet game against Germany, Vardy is dropped in favour of a now fully-fit Kane, who rewards Southgate with the opening goal in Rome from the spot. Sterling doubles the lead with his fourth of the tournament before a late Saul Niguez goal sets up a nervy finish - but England progress. 

Back at an electric Wembley for the semi-final against Italy, England fall a goal behind but rally in the second half, with Kane equalising before substitute Vardy hits a late winner to send England to the final.

The final

All the talk in the build-up is how to accomodate Vardy and Kane in the same team after their semi-final heroics, but Southgate opts to stick with a 4-3-3, with Sterling and Jadon Sancho either side of Kane and Vardy left on the bench. 

France, for whom Paul Pogba has made a miraculous return to form after missing most of the season for Manchester United with injury, are the better side and take a deserved lead through Antoine Griezmann midway through the first half. Southgate belatedly sends Vardy on after 80 minutes but England are caught on the break by Mbappe just minutes later to end their hopes of glory and deliver France their second successive major trophy.