The Women’s 2022 Euro’s gets underway this coming Wednesday and England are one of the favourites to lift the trophy on home soil. With the Women’s game in the best shape it has ever been there is a lot to get excited for over the three and a half weeks.
In the past you could have accused this tournament of perhaps lacking a competitive edge, we had to just sit back as Germany went onto 6 consecutive Euro winning campaigns. In 2017 though the mould was broken and there was a change of guard when the Netherlands overthrew German dominance. Since then the playing field has leveled further across the board, now there are a good six or seven teams who will feel they have a genuine chance of winning this tournament.
On paper you would have to say that our Lionesses are one of those teams that are ‘in the running’. I expect us to comfortably navigate our way through Group A, where we will face Austria, Norway and the Netherlands. Our first major tests should come in the knockout stages where we could be met by Euro’s giants Germany.
Who will win each group? The perfect excuse for an acca, and if you back the following four teams in an accumulator you will get odds of 5/1.
My tips for the winners in each group are:
Group A - England, Group B - Spain, Group C Sweden, Group D The Netherlands
There was a change of guard when the Netherlands overthrew German dominance. Since then the playing field has leveled further across the board, now there are a good six or seven teams who will feel they have a genuine chance of winning this tournament.
On paper you would have to say that our Lionesses are one of those teams that are ‘in the running’. I expect us to comfortably navigate our way through Group A, where we will face Austria, Norway and the Netherlands. Our first major tests should come in the knockout stages where we could be met by Euro’s giants Germany.
England fixtures
Wednesday 6th July 2022 20:00 GMT - England vs Austria
Monday 11th July 2022 20:00 GMT - England vs Norway
Friday 15th July 2022 20:00 GMT - Northern Ireland vs England
Knockout schedule
Quarter-final 1 - 20th July 2022 20:00 GMT
Quarter-final 2 - 21st July 2022 20:00 GMT
Quarter-final 3 - 22nd July 2022 20:00 GMT
Quarter-final 4 - 23rd July 2022 20:00 GMT
Semi-final 1 - 26th July 2022 20:00 GMT
Semi-final 2 - 27th July 2022 20:00 GMT
Final - 31st July 2022 20:00 GMT
Who are the favourites?
This looks set to be the tightest the competition has ever been with six teams all priced under 7/1 to win the tournament outright. So if England are to go the distance who are the major threats that stand in their way?
Spain 7/2
Spain enter as the pre-tournament favourites, but they begin their campaign in the ‘group of death’ alongside Germany, Denmark and Finland. La Roja had a monumental qualifying campaign which saw them take 22 points from 8 games, scoring 48 goals and conceding just once. Jorge Vilda’s side boasts a wealth of talent with a strong Barcelona core, but for me I still question whether Spain can produce goals on the big stage, a theme that has followed them in major tournaments.
France 5/1
France are undoubtedly the form team of all the 16 participants, having won their last 14 games. Les Bleues are ranked 3rd in the world rankings behind the USA and will fancy themselves to progress from a group, made up of Italy, Belgium and Iceland. As mentioned above the French are on a 14 game win streak, notable wins in that period have come against six times Euro champions Germany, current Euro holders the Netherlands and Brazil who are ranked 9th in the World.
The Netherlands 5/1
The Netherlands are the defending champions after an invincible 2017 campaign which saw Samira Weigman’s side win every game. With Weigman now in control of the Lionesses the Dutch have acquired the services of English coach Mark Parsons. Coming into the tournament you would say the Dutch have some work with a serious lack of form. Their most recent outing saw them lose 5-1 to England and a 3-1 defeat to France in February gives Parsons plenty of food for thought. They have flattered to deceive since the Olympics with draws coming against Czech Republic (x2), Japan and Brazil.
Sweden 13/2
Sweden has a rich heritage in women’s football and they are ranked as the 2nd best team in the World currently, behind the USA. Peter Gerhardsson’s first task will be to qualify from Group C where they will play Portugal, Switzerland and the Netherlands. It is widely expected that both Sweden and the Netherlands will qualify from the group, it is just a matter of in which order. Keep an eye out for Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius who will be the focal point of the yellow and blue attack. A proven talent on the International stage and in the Swedish leagues she is now flourishing in WSL.
Germany 7/1
Germany have won the trophy a record 8 times, 2017 brought to an end a streak of 6 consecutive trophy lifting campaigns. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s squad is blessed with an array of top stars, but at times that has left her with a dilemma as to what her strongest starting XI looks like. Their form coming into this tournament will not install much confidence having lost to Serbia, Canada, England, France and the Netherlands all in the last 18 months. Germany has a tricky group to escape from with Spain, Denmark and Finland. Should they come through, there is a strong chance that they will be met by England in the quarter-finals. If they are going to reclaim the trophy they will likely have to endure their toughest Euro campaign to date.
Betting predictions
Who will win the Euros? - For me the value lies in France to lift the trophy at 5/1. Les Bleues carry some unbelievable form, having already overcome Germany (8 time champions) and the Netherlands (current holders) they have everything on paper to win the tournament.
ho wins the golden boot? - I can see France potentially going the distance and if they are going to lift the trophy Marie-Antoinette Katoto will be a key figure. At just 23 years old she is already PSG’s all time top goalscorer with 108 goals in 113 games played. Katoto has also been prolific on the International stage with 25 goals in 30 caps for France.
Who will win each group? The perfect excuse for an acca, and if you back the following four teams in an accumulator you will get odds of 5/1.
My tips for the winners in each group are:
Group A - England, Group B - Spain, Group C Sweden, Group D The Netherlands
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