MANCHESTER: England’s opening match of Euro 2022 against Austria at Old Trafford is expected to be the most competitive women’s European Championship to date.
What to expect from the group stage is examined by AFP Sport:
After making it to the semifinals of their last three major competitions, the hosts must shoulder the burden of an entire nation hoping to win a women’s tournament for the first time.
Under the Dutch coach, who guided her country to Euro glory on home soil five years ago, the Lionesses are unbeaten in 14 games.
This includes scoring 68 goals without answering in eight World Cup qualifying matches against teams like Austria and Northern Ireland, who they will both face in Group A.
With all three of their group matches sold out, including the tournament opener at Old Trafford against Austria, England will also have strong backing from the crowd.
Two-time winners Norway pose the biggest threat with former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg restored up front after a self-imposed five-year exile from international duty.
Austria was a penalty shootout away from reaching the final five years ago and only narrowly lost out 1-0 to England when they met in World Cup qualifying in November.
Northern Ireland is the only tournament debutants and Kenny Shiels’ side faces a daunting task if they are even to take a point from their three games in Southampton.
The toughest of the four groups sees tournament favorites Spain, eight-time winners Germany, and 2017 finalists Denmark battling for two places in the last eight.
Spain has yet to excel at a major competition, but they are fortunate to have the core of the Barcelona team, which had swept all before them in recent seasons until falling to Lyon in the Champions League final in May.
La Roja’s chances have been severely hurt by the injury to all-time leading scorer Jennifer Hermoso, but all eyes will be on Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas to make a lasting impression on the competition.
Germany is no longer the dominant force it once was in women’s sports.
When they lost 3-2 to Serbia in April, Martina Voss-team Tecklenburg’s suffered its first away World Cup qualifying defeat since 1998. They also placed last in the four-team Arnold Clark Cup, trailing England, Spain, and Canada two.
