The intensity and excitement for UEFA the Women’s Euro 2022 increased significantly in the quarterfinals than in the group stages as teams got only one shot in the knockout rounds to go closer to Wembley. Four nations in England, Sweden, Germany and France made it through this stage with neither having a cruise ride in the last eight. There was an obvious drop in goals scored by the nations in a more competitive environment with England and Germany only able to score twice. The Lionesses were the only side that progressed while conceding a goal. Each match had its own drama with England completing a spectacular comeback in extra time, Germany and Austria combining to hit the frame of the goal five times, Sweden needed a winner in dying minutes while France had to do the same in extra time through a penalty despite dominating against the Netherlands.
Every player performed to their best level at this moment of the competition with the quality increasing too. There were two or more players performing exceptionally well in each position so creating a team for the quarterfinal stage was not easy. Despite exiting the contest, the Netherlands have two representations of the same number as England. Germany have three while France hits the front with four. Here is the team for the quarterfinals of the Women’s Euro 2022:
Goalkeeper: Daphne van Domselaar (Netherlands)
France took 13 shots on target from 16 and managed to find the net only once which was not from open play but a penalty in the first half of the extra time. Until then, some howling misses and golden gloves of 22-year-old Dutch keeper Van Domselaar making an incredible 11 saves in the game. Conceding only one goal from 3.35 shots faced. A remarkable effort from the keeper whose performance didn’t manage a happy ending. The Fc Twente shot-stopper kept more shots out from France’s star center-back Wendie Renard, the highlight being a last-ditch save at the last kick in 90 minutes to force extra time. Domselaar narrowly beats Belgium’s Nicky Evrard who made seven saves, second best in the quarterfinals, in a narrow loss to Sweden.
Defenders: Eve Perisset (France), Stefanie van der Gragt (Netherlands), Wendie Renard (France), Sakina Karchaoui (France)
Right-back Eve Perisset finally beat the impenetrable Van Domselaar from the spot in extra time after Netherland’s defender Dominique Janssen tripped Kadidiatou Diani inside the box. Next to Van Domselaar, Stefanie van der Gragt should get the plaudits for keeping out France for the large part of the games with two crucial goal-line clearances making eight in total and four blocks. France’s Wendie Renard was a defensive colossal and a passing machine to help Les Bleus focus solely on the other end of the pitch. The Lyon star completed the most number of passes alongside winning every duel on the ground and 82% of them aerially in a class act. It was a close call on the center backs as Millie Bright with her display in the excellent win over Spain and Sweden’s Linda Sembrant with the all-important goal in the 1-0 win over Belgium at the death played huge roles for their respective nations.
Midfielders: Lina Magull (Germany), Georgia Stanway (England), Lena Oberdorf (Germany)
Injuries disrupted Lina Magull’s excellent start to the Euro 2022 and she capped her return to the starting eleven with a goal to put Germany in the lead of an eventual 2-0 win over Austria. She is partnered with the headline grabber Georgia Stanway whose classy hit in extra time set the decider for England’s memorable win over Spain. Soon to be Magull’s teammate at Bayern, Stanway always offered the Lionesses the drive from midfield even when Spain nullified their attack and kept the intensity. The 23-year-old has become a vital member of the England team in this tournament.
Forwards: Kadidiatou Diani (France), Ella Toone (England), Klara Buhl (Germany)
Diani’s contribution on the night was not only to win the crucial penalty for France in the added time but to keep the Dutch busy with her neat footwork, trickery and brilliant ball control along with creating five chances for the side. Manchester United’s youngster Ella Toone produced the spark for the comeback fire for the trailing England just five minutes from time when hopes seemed to be lost latching onto her clubmate Alessia Russo’s header to find the equaliser at the right time. Germany’s Klara Buhl complete the team with her assist for Magull’s opener in the Austria win, creating the entire move almost by herself and also striking the woodwork from distance. The left winger, also from Bayern Munich, completed the most dribbles (6) in the game.
