The Girls’s Euros is lastly right here and we’re kicking off our group previews with a take a look at the hosts. It is Group A …
The Groups
Hosts Switzerland headline Group A, the place they’re joined by two-time winners Norway (1987, 1993), Iceland, and Finland.
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It seems to be like a sort draw for the hosts, taking part in in entrance of residence crowds and avoiding the likes of England, the Netherlands and Sweden from the second pot. Norway’s star energy can’t be missed, although, and so they would be the darkish horses for a lot of.
The Favourites: Norway
Norway have demons to exorcise. A rustic with enormous pedigree and star names should not be struggling a bunch stage exit as they did three years in the past, and so they actually should not be struggling 8-0 defeats like they did by the hands of England in that event. The 2023 World Cup did not go significantly better, shedding to hosts New Zealand earlier than an early exit in opposition to Japan, and Norway have a squad able to a lot extra.
📸 Phil Walter – 2023 Getty Photos
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Guro Reiten (Chelsea) and Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) are genuinely world class inventive skills, Frida Maanum (Arsenal) has a nostril from objective from midfield, and Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) is a former Ballon d’Or winner. The one query is whether or not or not they’ll lastly put it collectively at a event.
The Key Conflict: Switzerland vs Norway
The opening recreation of the event entails Finland tackle Iceland however that can function a mere appetiser on the opening day, with Switzerland vs Norway to come back later that night.
An early win for both aspect right here will set the tone. A defeat, and the strain is on massively for the 2 remaining video games. The stakes are excessive from the off.
Key Gamers
Lia Wälti (Switzerland) – A metronomic midfielder used to the strain of the largest levels, the Switzerland captain shall be completely key for the hosts. When issues aren’t going properly, the workforce will look to Wälti to calm the nerves, when they’re going properly, it is going to be on her to maintain every little thing in examine.
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway) – One of many world’s greatest dribblers, one of many world’s most inventive gamers, one of many world’s most prolific goalscorers. Now 30 and at her fourth Euros, it is time for the Barcelona winger to shine.
Glódís Viggósdóttir (Iceland) – The onus shall be on the Iceland and Bayern Munich captain to excel the ball taking part in out from the again and defend sternly when her workforce are up in opposition to it. At membership stage she does each, and dominates aerially too. Iceland’s recreation will lean on her talents in all phases.
Natalia Kuikka (Finland) – A five-time winner of Finland’s Participant of the 12 months, the 29-year-old is a quick, bodily defender and an NWSL winner with former membership Portland Thorns. Finland are more likely to have loads of defending to do however they have been properly geared up to compete in qualifying and can want Kuikka to be at her greatest in Switzerland.
Predicted qualifiers
Norway, Switzerland
📸 FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP or licensors