Spices are up for this summer’s Women’s Euros as Europe’s best and minnows set up the tone of the tournament through their own speculative ways. In midst of this, there is one group that will draw the greater attention. Group B is the specific group that has been branded as in theory ‘the group of death’ in which the four nations competing in it know any slip-off will prove costly.
This group has eight-time champions Germany rubbing shoulders with last edition’s quarterfinalist and finalists, Spain and Denmark respectively and surprise package Finland who made their journey into the final four in 2005. Clearly, the four will be locked into a do-or-die battle in almost every single game with the Germans opening up proceedings against Denmark before facing the Spanish armada who start their campaign against Finland. There is plenty at stake in this group for the neutrals to get excited about.
Germany
Once an unstoppable force in the competition, Germany are now left chasing their glorious past. It’s hard to say the team which was winning almost every single Euros has fallen off dramatically. The 2016 Olympic gold medal was their last piece of silverware before their quarterfinal elimination in the 2019 World Cup and the undisputed streak in this competition coming to an end at the same stage in the hands of Denmark. The opposition they are going to face in their first match. Luck is also not on the side of Germany as they are mired by key absentees again being in the hardest group on paper.
With Spain and Finland to face back to back, this could spell trouble for the side that may not be finishing at the top or juggling their position to qualify for the later rounds. One factor the Germans could consider is their experience in this competition which they used to rule dominantly. Plus, they contain some decisive players in the squad that can make their mark in the tournament and silence all the critics. Manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, a four-time winner as a player herself, is hopeful they turn up on the big occasion to get past this tough group. There are a lot of exciting talents for Die Nationalelf in this Euros.
Sara Dabritz is an obvious name that comes to everyone’s lips while associating with the team and she has turned out to be quite a leader for the team. Lea Schüller is one to watch out for in the attack while youngsters Jule Brand (19), Lena Oberdorf (20) and Sydney Lohmann (21) are there to share the platform in one of the many major tournaments they will don the white jersey. They can draw inspiration from their captain Alexandra Popp who has scored 53 goals for Germany with no shortage of big-game experience. However, Die Nationalelf will be without Chelsea midfielder Melanie Leupolz after she announced her pregnancy earlier this year and Dzsenifer Marozsán who has undergone surgery on her knee.
Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger, Merle Frohms, Almuth Schult
Defenders: Sara Doorsoun, Giulia Gwinn, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Sophia Kleinherne, Felicitas Rauch
Midfielders: Lena Oberdorf, Svenja Huth, Sara Däbritz, Linda Dallmann, Lena Lattwein, Lina Magull
Forwards: Alexandra Popp, Nicole Anyomi, Jule Brand, Laura Freigang, Sydney Lohmann, Lea Schüller, Tabea Waßmuth, Klara Bühl
Denmark
It was a memorable campaign for the Danes when they reach the final of the Euros in 2017 and became a part of a six-goal thriller. Their defeat to the Netherlands in the showpiece didn’t dampen their excellent showing in the competition. Denmark became a part of history when they uprooted Germany’s rule of six straight Euro titles in the quarterfinals. That makes their encounter with Die Nationalelf in the opening game exhilarating. But Denmark are so much more than one competition wonder and they want to prove it by repeating their speculative performance to escape the group stages. As usual, it won’t be so straightforward with an eager Spain team to face and also Finland whom they have a mixed record with two wins, a draw and two defeats in the last five meetings.
The Euro 2020 will be Denmark’s first major competition after the final of 2017 as they missed out on the 2019 FIFA World Cup however that is unlikely to cause any drawbacks. The Red and White have a solid composition in their squad with responsibility falling on their main player Chelsea’s Pernille Harder again to lead the team as captain. Harder spent another title-winning campaign with the English giants and contributed to ten goals for the second season running. With the national team, she has already earned 52 goals to her name in 89 appearances and will be willing to score more than his only strike in the Euros last time out. The other recognizable name in the squad is of course Nadia Nadim, coming back from an ACL injury and continuing to reach high standards. The squad is also having other experienced players like Simone Boye Sørensen with 51 caps.
Lars Londegaard’s side had an emphatic qualification to the Euros, undefeated and dropping points only once in the nine games played. Denmark are also cruising in their World Cup qualification which they have carried forward in their pre-tournament friendlies win over Norway and Brazil. No games lost in the last five too. This has left them buzzing ahead of the tournament and surely a side to look out for. There could be more rewards for Denmark in England if they maintain their promising form.
Goalkeepers: Kathrine Larsen, Katrine Svane, Lene Christensen
Defenders: Stine Ballisager Pedersen, Simone Boye Sørensen, Sara Holmgaard, Katrine Veje, Matilde Lundorf, Luna Gevitz, Rikke Sevecke, Sara Thrige
Midfielders: Karen Holmgaard, Sanne Troelsgaard, Sofie Junge Pedersen, Kathrine Kühl, Janni Thomsen, Sofie Bredgaard, Sofie Svava
Forwards: Olivia Holdt, Stine Larsen, Rikke Marie Madsen, Mille Gejl, Pernille Harder, Nadia Nadim, Signe Bruun
Spain
The third big name in this group is Spain. La Roja are often criticized for not producing their stunning football in the club level during the international competitions. Now, this could be their year to make something happen following their incredible rise of the players in the national squad with their club, mostly FC Barcelona Femeni. The club with whom they achieved professionalism in the sport over seasons and collected multiple league titles with a Champions League honor. The time has come to translate it with the nation yet to win a major competition. The Spanish armada went out in the quarterfinals in 2017 through penalties in a surprising way against Austria and managed only one win in the group stages. However, the tournament came very early for this group of players with little chance for them to upset a powerhouse like USA going down in the last 16 at 2019 World Cup.
Spain are adamant about not producing such results in 2022 Euros although they have to take a crunching challenge from Germany and Denmark to advance from this group. The spark will be provided by one woman who resonates nowadays with La Roja, 2021 Balon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. A mesmeric player with magical feet in midfield, she had won it all with Barcelona. The aim is to make her impact felt this summer with Aitana Bonmati and Patri Guijarro carrying the midfield partnership since 2016. This will be the third Euros for Putellas so she will wish to add more than his one goal says in the competition having reached double figures in the last four seasons with her club. Irene Paredes, Barcelona’s composed centre-back, will do more than captaincy in the team as she is a top-class player in her role with number one Sandra Panos also benefitting from a clean sheet-laden season.
Apart from the trophy drought and the criticisms, Spain have been consistent in their display with no games lost since last year. They also conceded no goals in 2021 with the streak broken only in Feb of this year in a 1-1 draw against Germany with 46 goals scored remarkably in just eight games. Unfortunately, la Roja’s all-time top scorer Jennifer Hermoso won’t be making it to the tournament with a ligament injury giving the chance for Lucia Garcia, Castillo and Esther Gonzalez to take up the mantle and bring the goals for the side. Although, the midfielders turned out to be the scoring threat in recent memory for Spain. If the team build the right cohesion and get their tiki-taka going in the right direction, this tough group won’t look the same for them.
Goalkeepers: Sandra Panos, Lola Gallardo, Misa Rodriguez.
Defenders: Irene Paredes, Maria Leon, Leila Ouahabi, Andrea Pereira, Ivana Andres, Ona Batlle, Laia Aleixandri, Olga Carmona, Sheila Garcia.
Midfielders: Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey, Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati, Irene Guerrero.
Forwards: Lucia Garcia, Esther Gonzalez, Marta Cardona, Athenea del Castillo, Claudia Pina, Salma Paralluelo
Finland
Finland are the underdogs in this group and it makes them an awkward customer to face. The Boreal Owls have the capability to create an upset to block others from advancing, if not them, to the next round. Anna Signeul’s side will do their best to pose a significant challenge using some of their dependable players at their disposal. They missed out on the 2017 edition of the tournament after finishing in the semi-finals of the Euros nine years back.
The 2005 edition was an inspirational one for Finland and although they couldn’t build it on in the following campaign, Euro 2022 gives them the platform to shine again. The qualification to the tournament was smooth. Finland topped the likes of Portugal and Scotland in a hard group with seven wins and zero losses, scoring 24 goals and letting in just two. Indeed, a great showing. Being in a challenging group in the competition proper albeit playing against stronger oppositions should not be new to them. They were paired in a similar kind of group in 2005 with Sweden, England and Denmark, the opposition this time too whom they beat 2-1 in the final group game back then. The victory secured their qualification to the last four after a memorable 0-0 draw with group leaders Sweden and a close 3-2 loss to bottom-placed England. So, Finland can repeat their trick.
The team is built on a sound defence with Tujia Hyyrynen anchoring the defence. She is helped by Tinja-Riikka Korpela of Tottenham Hotspurs who’s just brilliant in shot-stopping. Her task is enormous to keep away as many shots as possible to keep Finland alive in this group of death. Midfielder Natalia Kuikka is the one stringing things in midfield to give her side the boost. Record scorer for her nation, Linda Sallstrom finished as the top scorer for the Finns in qualifying and wishing to carry on the hot form in the Finals. Coming off a fantastic season with Real Sociedad, Sanni Franssi is eager to put her name on the scoresheet as well.
Goalkeepers: Katriina Talaslahti, Anna Tamminen, Tinja-Riikka Korpela
Defenders: Elli Pikkujämsä, Tuija Hyyrynen, Emma Koivisto, Anna Auvinen, Anna Westerlund, Nora Heroum
Midfielders: Ria Öling, Olga Ahtinen, Natalia Kuikka, Emmi Alanen, Essi Sainio, Eveliina Summanen
Forwards: Amanda Rantanen, Juliette Kemppi, Sanni Franssi, Linda Sällström, Jutta Rantala, Jenny Danielsson, Heidi Kollanen
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