Women’s Euros 2022 Preview. England in with a chance of winning on home soil

This year’s Women’s Euros will commence on Wednesday 6^th July, with the tournament being held in England in various grounds around the country.

England’s Lionesses will be making their ninth Finals appearance and will be keen to go one further than they did back in 2017 when they lost to the eventual winners the Netherlands in the semi-final.

This competition looks set be one of the biggest ever in Women’s football with a flock of great players taking part.

Aside from England who remain one of the top sides expected to go well in the tournament, four other sides names spring to mind as the sides to beat.

The first name that comes to mind is Germany. Like the male national side, one can never rule the Germans out of any competition.

This young German side is full of vibrance; however, they have been hampered coming into the tournament having been plagued with injuries. Two key players who will look to play a prominent part of this side are Bayern Munich’s Lea Schuller and Wolfsburg’s Lena Oberdorf who have excellent seasons for their respective clubs.

The defence of the German’s is a cause for concern, and their record against the top 10 international sides in the past 18 months doesn’t make good reading.

Germany have been drawn in a tough group with the Euro 2017 runners up Denmark and favourites Spain along with Finland.

Current holders the Netherlands have excelled in the last two major international tournaments, having beaten Denmark in the final back in 2017, they are still regarded as one of the top women’s sides in the world.

They boast some excellent players including Women’s Super League prolific goal scorer and striker Vivianne Miedema, by her own high standards she had a below par season for her club side Arsenal, yet still managed to hit the back of the net 14 times along with providing eight assists in 22 WSL appearances last season.

Midfielder Jill Roord is another key player to keep an eye on. The former Arsenal player scored seven goals in seven games during the Dutch’s World Cup qualifiers.

The women’s French national team are normally regarded as major underperformers. Although this current French side have included in their squad one of the best strikers in the world in Marie-Antoinette Katoto.

France’s captain Wendie Renard is an integral part of a very strong French defence and has already made 126 appearances for the French national side.

France were ruthless in qualifying for the Euros, scoring 44 goals and conceding none, having won seven of their eight qualifying games and drawing the other one.

The Lionesses of England go into the tournament as one of the top favourites to lift the trophy. Combined with the fact they have home advantage; this side has quality in all areas.

Ellen White, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead are just a few that spring to mind, with a squad on paper that looks like a side that could go all the way.

Under new manager Sarina Wiegman, the side haven’t yet lost under her since she took over the side back in September.

The side that has been given the favourites tag by the bookmakers are Spain. They have never the Women’s European Championship but are certainly the side to beat.

They scored 48 goals in qualifying, conceding just once and haven’t been beaten in 21 matches, winning 18 of them.

Spain have Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas in their ranks. The Barcelona player has been in outstanding form for Barcelona last season and could prove to be the player of the tournament.

Despite having the talismanic Jennifer Hermoso out injured and also being drawn in the

Group of Death alongside Germany- who they have never beaten- they still are going to be a very tough nut to crack.

Other players to look out for are fellow Barcelona players Patricia Guijarro and Aitana Bonmati. 20-year-old Barcelona forward Claudia Pina, who became Barcelona’s youngest ever player when she made her debut at the age of just 16 is a promising youngster who could surprise a few people in the tournament.

Pina, who can play in either midfield or attack, scored 14 times and assisted 11 times in 24 games last season.

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