The Rising Stars to Watch at the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros

As is with every international tournament, a handful of fledgling youngsters have the opportunity to announce their names on the international stage.

At the 2022 Euros, there are several promising players who will be aiming to impress this summer.

Lauren Hemp – England

The Manchester City phenom Lauren Hemp had her best campaign to date finishing with ten goals and six assists which saw her win the PFA Young Player of the Year for the fourth time.

She has now cemented herself into Sarina Wiegman’s England side, starting all four warm-up matches, and will be looking to impress on home soil.

Operating on the left, Hemp is a defender’s worst nightmare due to her quick acceleration and close control that allows her to beat her marker to get into goalscoring areas.

Then when in position, she is a ruthless finisher able to find the corners of the goal or pick out her teammates with ease for them to score.

Every team that England faces will invariably be highlighting her as the most dangerous player because when she has her defender isolated, there is little that can be done to stop her.

Lena Oberdorf – Germany

Lena Oberdorf had a similarly successful club campaign winning the Frauen-Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing to Barcelona.

Despite her young age, she is imperative to Germany. Since her introduction, the central midfielder has become one of the team’s leaders.

The 20-year-old is defensively astute, recognising when to drop or press while also being unafraid to get stuck into a challenge and break up play.

Then in possession, Oberdorf demands the ball to her feet and displays wondrous technical ability to progress the ball up the pitch.

If left unopposed, she can dictate the tempo of a match to the benefit of her team.

Claudia Pina – Spain

Coming through the ranks at Barcelona, Claudia Pina has long been touted as one of their most exciting prospects making her debut at just 16 years old.

The Spaniard has a low centre of gravity and quick feet that allows her to wriggle away from opponents making her a nuisance to dispossess.

In the final third, her threat on goal is genuine with long-range accuracy that opens space for her teammates where she is more than happy to facilitate chances.

Pina is also comfortable playing across the front four, where she enjoys pressing defenders or in midfield, where she can pick up the ball from deep and circumvent a high press.

Her place in the starting line-up may not be as concrete as others on this list, but if head coach Jorge Vilda needs a spark, expect the 20-year-old to be a brilliant option off the bench.

Selma Bacha – France

Lyon had an unbelievable year, winning the league and the Champions League in Turin; a key part of their success was down to Selma Bacha.

France’s 21-year-old possesses a lethal left foot that can unlock defences from wide positions. This season alone, the left-back racked up 18 assists, nine coming in the Champions League.

What makes her so dangerous is not only the variety of crosses she can execute but knowing when to use each type depending on the situation.

She also has good defensive awareness, is conservative with her defensive actions, and can also play higher up the pitch in midfield, providing some versatility.

Places for a spot in this France team are not easy, but if she plays, the Women’s Champions League Young Player of the Season will undoubtedly be one to watch.

Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir – Iceland

Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir is an exciting winger under contract at Wolfsburg, where this season, she scored three and assisted five in 573 minutes played for the German Champions.

In the Iceland setup, the 21-year-old is deployed on the right, which allows her to use her electric pace and deep bag of tricks to burn past defenders wreaking havoc in attack.

Another aspect of Jonsdottir’s game is her ability to create chances with her throw-ins, a trait not usually applied to wingers.

She can launch the ball into the opposition’s box, causing panic and opportunities for her teammates to score.

Her unique frame and profile make her an intriguing prospect to watch this summer.

 

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