Women’s Euro 2022 / France in a package of contenders: favorites examined

The scarecrows

FIFA ranking : 4t
Euro 2017: Winner
1st round: Sweden (07/09), Portugal (07/13), Switzerland (07/17)
Coach: Mark Parsons

One of the world leaders. Defending champions and world runners-up in 2019, the Dutch enter the tournament with team status to beat. A favorite suit legitimized by an ultra-competitive collective articulated around a Spitse-Groenen-van de Donk midfielder and powered by two high-class offensive individuals. On the one hand, Lieke Martens, the best player in Euro 2017, recently moved from Barça to PSG, and in full possession of her means unlike the 2019 World Cup, where she suffered ankle pains. And on the other hand Vivianne Miedema, Arsenal’s top scorer, who has 92 hits in 109 selections under the shirt of Oranj. Enough to aim for the double.

FIFA classification: 3r
Euro 2017: Quarterfinals
1st round: Italy (10/07), Belgium (14/07), Iceland (18/07)
Coach: Corinne Deacon

On paper, it is perhaps the best armed team in the Euro. France will no doubt present itself without some iconic figures, Amandine Henry, Eugénie Le Sommer and Gaëtane Thiney at the helm. But he can always rely on an exceptional leader in the person of Wendie Renard and now a top scorer with Marie-Antoinette Katoto from Paris, who is playing her first international tournament. An emerging generation led by Selma Bacha and Melvine Malard can make a big contribution to Corinne Deacon’s Blues finally reaching the quarterfinals after the failures of 2017 and 2019. And to win their first international title.

FIFA classification: 8th
Euro 2017: Semifinal
1st round: Austria (07/06), Norway (07/11), Northern Ireland (07/15)
Coach: Sarina Wiegman

It is an understatement to say that it is expected. Already, because England is coming off a pretty positive World Cup even if it fails at the foot of the podium. He had remarkably shaken the Americans in the semifinals (2-1). Also because it has a team made more competitive by the progression of a championship that has become very attractive, with experienced elements like Lucy Bronze, Ellen White, Fran Kirby or Nikita Parris and rising stars like Ella Toone. Finally, and above all, because the English would push them a whole village home. A popular enthusiasm further reinforced by the card passed in the Netherlands (5-1) in preparation for Leeds. Ideal for gaining confidence.

Safe bets

FIFA classification: 5th
Euro 2017: Quarterfinals
1st round: Denmark (07/08), Spain (07/12), Finland (07/16)
Coach: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg

It is the first time since 1995 that Germany has not approached the European Championship with the status of defending champion. Crowned six times in a row between 1995 and 2013, the Germans had disappointed in 2017 by losing to Denmark in the quarter-finals before falling in the same phase of competition against Sweden at the 2019 World Cup. Since then, they have almost fired against all costs with 8 victories in 8 qualifying matches and … 46 goals scored. Germany may seem at the bottom of the wave, but that only makes it more dangerous. Although he will have to compose without his strategist, Dzsenifer Marozsan, six months off the field after having knee surgery. And with an ultra strong group in the group stage …

FIFA classification: 2n
Euro 2017: Quarterfinals
1st round: Netherlands (07/09), Switzerland (07/13), Portugal (07/17)
Coach: Peter Gerhardsson

The Swedes reacted perfectly after their surprise elimination in the round of 16 of the European Championship when they reached the quarter-finals of the last World Cup, only losing in overtime to the Netherlands. Victorious in 1984, three-time finalists (1987, 1995, 2001), three-time semifinalists (1997, 2005, 2013), are regulars at the continental meeting and can legitimately harbor ambitions for the English tournament after winning the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Well armed in defense around Magdalena Ericsson, formidable in attack with Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius, Sofia Jakobsson and Fridolina Rolfo, Sweden has very strong arguments to advance. As usual, finally …

The “golden balloons”

FIFA classification: 11th
Euro 2017: 1st round
1st round: Northern Ireland (07/07), England (11/07), Austria (15/07)
Coach: Martin Sjogren

What if he regained his former prestige? World champion in 1995, European champion in 1987 and 1993 and gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Norway recovered in the right direction after a catastrophic European campaign in 2017 with a quarter-final at the 2019 World Cup. He had already done so. he has been able to rely on a very solid collective block in France, especially in sports, and already had two offensive talents with Guro Reiten and Caroline Graham-Hansen. But most of all, Norway recovers Ada Hegerberg. The Lyonnais has returned to a selection she had shunned since 2017 and has fully recovered her physical means after her serious knee injury. With the 2018 Golden Ball in its ranks, that changes everything …

FIFA classification: 7th
Euro 2017: Quarterfinals
1st round: Finland (07/08), Germany (07/12), Denmark (07/16)
Coach: Jorge Vilda