[ad_1]
We at The Equalizer proceed our preview of the 2022 UEFA European Girls’s Championship by diving into Group B. Earlier this week we lined Group A, and broke down among the gamers to look at this summer season.
Now we transfer onto a gaggle that’s broadly thought to be essentially the most intriguing of the entire event. Spain and Germany are among the many favorites for the title. They’re joined by two reside underdogs in Denmark and Finland. Right here we analyze the outlook, techniques and key gamers of all 4 groups.
Denmark
Finalists on the final EUROs in 2017 and semi-finalists in 2013, Denmark have pedigree on this event. It is going to be troublesome to repeat these feats this time round, although, as they discover themselves within the competitors’s hardest group. Nonetheless, having overwhelmed Italy to qualify, there are many causes for optimism.
Lars Sondegaard strains his staff up in a 3-4-3 system that ensures steadiness. Denmark all the time have 4 or 5 gamers behind the ball whereas attacking, serving to them to defend counters if and after they lose possession. Their exterior center-backs are answerable for progressing play, operating the ball ahead or choosing out the strikers and wing-backs. With numerous top within the staff, the Danes may even be harmful from set items.
In Pernille Tougher, Denmark possess one of many best strikers on the planet, somebody who can play broad or by way of the center. With distinctive motion between the strains, velocity on the dribble and a capability to attain from wherever in or across the penalty field, the Chelsea star provides aptitude to a staff whose possession can in any other case be too protected and sideways.
Tougher is backed up by Signe Bruun, a powerful attacking focus, and Nadia Nadim, who returned from harm in time for the event. There’s additionally an thrilling new technology that includes 21-year-old Actual Madrid wing-back Sofie Svava, 22-year-old attacking midfielder Mille Gejl and 18-year-old playmaker Kathrine Kuhl. For Denmark to progress, Germany or Spain should fall within the group stage. It’s a tricky ask, however they’ve what it takes to spring a shock.
Finland
They’re the underside seeds, however Finland shouldn’t be taken flippantly. They received their qualifying group, forward of Portugal and Scotland, conceding simply as soon as in 4 video games in opposition to their principal rivals for high spot. It’s additionally value noting they’re led by one of the vital skilled head coaches round in Anna Signeul, who beforehand guided Scotland to their first-ever EUROs in 2017.
Preparations for the event haven’t been preferrred. In World Cup qualification they misplaced at dwelling to the Republic of Eire and drew away to Slovakia, leaving them with slim hopes of a playoff spot. In addition they suffered damaging defeats in February’s Tournoi de France, 5-0 to hosts France and 3-0 to an experimental Dutch facet. Some pleasure was restored within the closing sport of that pleasant event, nevertheless, with a 0-0 draw in opposition to Brazil underlining the qualities that received Finland to this EUROs.
Signeul likes the 4-4-2 formation and her staff is compact defensively. Natalia Kuikka is a roving wingback for the Portland Thorns, however at worldwide degree she performs a key position on the coronary heart of her staff’s again 4. On the ball, Finland seems to play out with passing triangles within the wider areas and all the time pose a menace with two good strikers up high. Certainly one of them, Actual Sociedad’s Sanni Franssi, withdraws to obtain the ball; the opposite, Linda Sallstrom, runs in behind.
Solely two gamers within the squad function domestically. The overwhelming majority performs at degree in Sweden; others ply their commerce in England, France, Spain, Italy or america. Finland has expertise and, come event time, needs to be well-organized. They may not get to the knockout rounds, however anticipate them to make life troublesome for one or two of their Group B opponents.
Germany
Germany sailed by way of qualifying, profitable all eight video games. Since then, although, their momentum has stalled with a sequence of underwhelming performances. They took an injury-weakened squad to February’s Arnold Clark Cup and emerged with only one level – a draw in opposition to EURO group rivals Spain. Then, in April, got here a shock 3-2 defeat to Serbia in World Cup qualifying.
The Serbia loss highlighted Germany’s central defensive points. At occasions, head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg has experimented with midfielders like Lena Oberdorf at center-back, however that hasn’t all the time labored effectively. Towards Serbia, a pairing of Sophia Kleinherne and Jana Feldkamp didn’t take care of the opponent’s direct play. Marina Hegering could assist, however her return comes after a season hampered by accidents by which she performed simply 5 Bundesliga video games.
Dzsenifer Marozsan will miss the EUROs due to a torn ACL. This undoubtedly weakens the German roster on paper, however it might simplify issues in actuality. Up to now, Voss-Tecklenburg has jammed as many attackers as potential into her 4-3-3 system, to no avail. When Germany met Sweden within the 2019 World Cup quarters, they fielded a midfield of pure ahead Alexandra Popp alongside playmakers Lina Magull and Sara Däbritz. They have been too open, and have been counter-attacked out of the event. With out Marozsan, Voss-Tecklenburg could now be pressured into fielding a extra balanced line-up.
Germany nonetheless possesses one of many best attacking picks at this EUROs. Tabea Wassmuth starred on this season’s Champions League, whereas 21-year-old Klara Bühl and 19-year-old Jule Model have impressed. These gamers, alongside Popp, Lea Schüller and Svenja Huth, give Germany the firepower to attain in opposition to anybody. The problem will probably be maintaining the ball out of their very own web. To try this, it’s crucial that they discover a working center-back partnership and a steady midfield.
Spain
Going into this summer season’s EUROs, Spain are in a curious place. They discover themselves the favorites, regardless of having by no means gone previous the quarter-final stage. That is partly right down to the emergence of Barcelona as a real continental superpower at membership degree. That staff will provide the vast majority of the Spanish first XI, together with goalkeeper Sandra Panos; center-backs Irene Paredes and Mapi León; midfielders Aitana Bonmati, Patri Guijarro and Alexia Putellas; and roaming attacker Mariona Caldentey.
With a core of that high quality, it’s comprehensible that Spain enter this event as severe contenders. But their standing can also be the consequence of exterior elements. Merely put, this competitors is broad open: the Dutch, the reigning champions, are in transition; Germany aren’t what they as soon as have been; France have been hampered by off-field controversies; and hosts England are solely now recovering from two years of dire shows.
Spain has no downside maintaining maintain of the ball. Nevertheless, the age-old downside stays: how do they break down obstinate defenses? On the 2019 World Cup, they failed to attain in group video games in opposition to Germany and China, and beat South Africa with the assistance of two penalties scored by Jennifer Hermoso. In 4 current friendlies in opposition to high opposition – Brazil, England, Germany and Canada – they solely received as soon as and scored simply three objectives.
Hermoso will miss the EUROs as a result of harm. Esther Gonzalez is an ready deputy, however a unique sort of striker. This may increasingly alter the attacking dynamic. On the wings of his 4-3-3, head coach Jorge Vilda can name on promising kids in Claudia Pina, Athenea del Castillo and Amaiur Sarriegi. Spain will nearly definitely dominate possession in each sport they play this summer season, however turning that into common objectives would require finish product from a frontline untested at this degree.
[ad_2]
Source link