Two of the favourites have struggled and the greater competitiveness reflects the doubling of investment in women’s football across Europe since 2013Germany, seeking to win the European championship for a seventh time in a row, have surprisingly stuttered into their title defence. In 2013 the start of the story was similar – they finished second in their group with one win, a draw and a loss. However, they went on to clinch their sixth title with trademark efficiency, three 1-0 wins paving the way.Although not as all-conquering in Europe as they were before Euro 2013, Germany contain a huge amount of quality and have more experience than any other side when it comes to handling the pressures of major tournaments....
As the women’s game grows and professionalism increases, so does that technical ability and pace – which we will be able to see in the Netherlands The Women’s European Championship finals got under way on Sunday. Holland beat Norway 1-0 after a beautiful swerving cross from Barcelona’s newly signed Lieke Martens was powered in by the stooping head of Liverpool’s Shanice van de Sanden. And it always promised to be an exciting match. Norway possess some of the most exciting attacking talent in Europe, which was excellently nullified by the Dutch, while the rapid growth of women’s football in the Netherlands is showing on the pitch. The Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht was rocking with 21,732 fans, a record crowd for...
In the first of a weekly series on women’s football Suzanne Wrack explains the significance for the English game of possible success in the NetherlandsThe 2015 Women’s World Cup felt like a turning point. Women’s football was suddenly in the spotlight. As England battled back from defeat by France in their first group game to reach the semi-finals, the country rallied behind them. Millions tuned in to watch.Not saddled with the weight of expectation, Mark Sampson’s side beat the hosts, Canada, and European champions, Germany, on their way to a historic third-place finish. Only an agonising Laura Bassett own-goal in the second minute of extra-time against Japan ended the Lionesses’ chance of a place in the final. But they had...