7 players to look out for during the Women’s Euros

The Women’s Euros 2022 are finally here, with hosts England taking on Austria at Old Trafford tonight, below are a list of seven players who could shine for their respective nations during the tournament.

1. Lauren Hemp (England)

At the age of just 21, Hemp isn’t one of the most experienced players in the England team, but she surely is one of the most talented wingers boss Sarina Wiegman has on offer to her. The Manchester City attacker scored 20 goals and assisted 10 in the WSL last season and is known for her incredible pace and skill. She also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award for a record fourth time.

In England’s warm up games before the tournament Hemp has been in outstanding form and is likely to rise to the occasion on home soil and really shine for her country over the next couple of weeks.

? "She's just arguably one of the most dynamic players we both have."

Karen Bardsley is in high praise of Lauren Hemp, believing she will play a vital role in the England squad pic.twitter.com/5zfzsvcARO

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) July 6, 2022

2. Leah Williamson (England)

The 25 year old midfielder/defender has been named as England’s captain for this tournament, it will be her first major tournament wearing the captain’s armband and there is certainly a lot of pressure on her to lead the Lionesses to glory on home turf.

But with her versatility of playing either in defence or in midfield Wiegman has got a perfect player to hopefully lead her side to glory. After predominantly playing centre back last season in the WSL for Arsenal, Williamson scored 2 goals and grabbed 3 assists. Her long cross field passes are something to admire and could prove to be critical against certain sides in the tournament.

Since taking over from Steph Houghton as England captain, Williamson hasn’t lost a game.

WWWWDWWWWW

Can she be the one to lead The Lionesses to glory?

?️ Leah Williamson on captaining England on home soil: "I'm really excited. I feel like I'm ready. With the national team, it's different to club football: you can't buy winners; you have to make them. And we're on that journey."

Read more:https://t.co/HfX9e6phiJ

— miedemastuff (@miedemastuff) July 4, 2022

3. Ada Hegerberg (Norway)

Ada Hegerberg is arguably the greatest striker we’ve seen in women’s football in recent years. The Norwegian has won pretty much everything on offer to her in her outstanding career at club level (she has won: 6x Women’s Champions League titles, 7x Division 1 Feminine titles and 5x French Cups with Lyon) and individually has won: UEFA’s Best Women’s Player (IN EUROPE) in 2016, The Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 and The BBC Women’s Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019.

After stepping down from international duty back in 2017 to protest against the treatment of the Women’s National team in Norway, much to the annoyance of the other teams but to the delight of her teammates the 26-year-old is back and ready to shine for her country again.

Will she finish top goalscorer?

4. Pernille Harder (Denmark)

Pernille Harder being in your team for a major tournament almost guarantees you success right?

Well along with being the most expensive women’s footballer in the world Harder has won the league every season she has played since 2016 with Linköping, Wolfsburg and Chelsea (where she still is now). But she is yet to win a trophy with her national side.

The attacking midfielder has finished runner up to Hegerberg in the Ballon d’Or but has claimed the UEFA player of the year award twice, is captain of her nation and is their all time leading goalscorer.

Denmark finished runners up at the Euros back in 2017, so Harder will be hoping to captain her side one step further this year and lead them to cup glory

For Chelsea last season the 29-year-old scored six goals and grabbed three assists in just 16 appearances.

5. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)

One of the outstanding stars at the tournament back in 2017, scoring two goals in the final to help her side lift the trophy.

She returns on the Euros stage yet again.

The 25-year-old striker is her country’s all time leading goal scorer and she holds the current record (which will keep increasing) for the most goals in WSL history with 74 for her club Arsenal.

She scored 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for The Gunners last season and has recently signed a new contract with the North London club.

Her ability to find the back of the net is arguably one of the best in the Women’s game and if she finds her scoring form early on in the tournament she could be a real contender for The Golden Boot and give The Netherlands a real chance of retaining their Euros crown.

Quick Reminder ??

111 caps ?
94 goals ?

Vivianne Miedema ?

100 goals at The Euros ?? pic.twitter.com/OzJ6XDaxAx

— Ray (@rayxwfc) July 2, 2022

6. Wendie Renard (France)

 

France has always had an exciting and talented squad in recent history and defender Wendie Renard has always been nothing short of an outstanding leader.

Arguably one of, if not the greatest defenders and skippers in the history of the Women’s game Renard is a born winner, so the 31-year-old will be looking to captain her French side to international cup glory.

At club level for Lyon she is also the captain and has won a record-breaking 14 French league titles and eight Champions Leagues.

7. Lea Schuller (Germany)

24-year-old Lea Schuller is a serious player to keep an eye on during this tournament. Her nation Germany are said to be in the ‘group of death’ for the tournament but with her at striker will the Germans have anything to worry about?

She was voted Germany’s player of the season last year and has the best international record compared to anyone else in their entire squad.

The forward has been at Bayern Munich for the last two seasons and has scored 16 goals each season. And she also hashas 25 goals in 38 games for Germany.

The Germans have won eight of the last 10 European Championships and they will be looking to improve on their quarter-final finish back in 2017.

Will Schuller provide them with that cutting edge up front?

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt

[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”34″ heading=”Women’s football” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]

[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”7267″ heading=”Women’s Euros” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]