The UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 has not failed to entertain. From record crowds, first time goal scorers, unexpected score-lines, and outstanding performances, the tournament has had it all. The group stages are now over, and with the first quarter-final game kicking off this evening, it’s time to reflect on the tournament so far.
Group A
Player of the Group: Beth Mead
Do we need to say anything else? The Whitby wonder has had an electric season with Arsenal and has carried over that strong from into the tournament. The most goals (5) and assists (3) in the tournament so far, she gave England the perfect start to Euro 2022 with her goal against Austria, then followed that up with a superb hat-trick against Norway and a clever feint then volley against Northern Ireland. With ‘Beth Mead’s on Fire’ being sung in the nightclubs and bellowed out from the terraces, she has become the centre point of England’s attempt to win the Euros in their own back garden. If the Lionesses do bring it home this summer, you can guarantee Beth Mead will have had a major part to play in it.
Moment of the Group: Julie Nelson’s goal vs Norway
Russo’s twist and shot, Mead’s dancing feet, or Kirby’s curler could all have all won this based on technical excellence. But the best moment of the group has to be Julie Nelson’s header against Norway. It was a goal that meant little in terms of the result (Norway won 4-1), but for a nation playing at the Euros for the first time, with a team lacking the luxury of the big names and star players the other teams possessed, this goal meant everything. Northern Ireland are still developing their women’s game, and moments like this will help inspire the next generation, and encourage those in charge to invest in women’s football. From just small seeds, huge greatness can grow.
Northern Ireland made history against Norway on Thursday night as Julie Nelson scored their first ever goal at a major women's tournament! 🙌
Can they secure their first win tonight? 🤔
📲💻📺 Watch live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer ⤵️#BBCFootball #BBCEuros
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 11, 2022
Disappointment of the Group: Norway
Blimey, where to begin? Norway’s campaign looked to be on track after an opening 4-1 win over Northern Ireland. But the cataclysmic 8-0 drubbing handed to them by England completely annihilated them mentally, and they never recovered for their decider with Austria. Despite their historical pedigree, and the talent they possess on the pitch, this is the second Euros in a row where they have exited at the Group Stage. Now it’s no shock that Martin Sjögren’s has since resigned as Norway’s manager. What we witnessed this summer, particularly against England, was not acceptable.
Game of the Group: England 8-0 Norway
A stunning victory for England, both in terms of the scoreline, and who they were up against. This was the fixture earmarked as England’s toughest game of the group, yet it ultimately became their easiest. The cheers of joy as Lionesses roared to an early 2-0 lead soon became ones of incredulity, as Norway were torn apart at will to the tune of 6 further goals. It was a defensive shambles unlike anything witnessed in Euros history. For comparison, England lost 5-0 to Sweden at Euro 2001, whilst we were still developing our Women’s game. Norway have no such excuse. For England, it was the moment their party truly started. Georgia Stanway, Ellen White and Alessia Russo all opened their Euro accounts, but the star of the night was Beth Mead with a well taken hat-trick.
Group B
Player of the Group: Alexandra Popp
It’s incredible to think that a forward as experienced and talented as Popp had, until this summer, never scored at a European tournament. That quirk of a statistic has been laid to rest as headers in all 3 games have helped catapult Germany into the next round and elevated the team to strong favourites in many fans and pundits’ eyes to win the whole thing. She and Mead are the only two players to score in every game of the tournament so far. If Germany go on win yet another Euros, their charge forward will be spearheaded by Popp’s penalty-box prowess.
Moment of the Group: Alexandra Popp’s goal vs Denmark
Even as a neutral watching on in the crowd, I could tell this goal meant so much to everyone concerned with Germany. Popp had never played at a European Championship until then, but with 30 minutes to go, she was finally given her first taste of Euro action. With just 5 minutes left, she made up for lost time with a superb diving header to round off a comprehensive 4-0 win against a Denmark side run ragged. Popp hasn’t looked back since, notching two further goals, putting herself firmly in contention for the Golden Boot.
Disappointment of the Group: Denmark
When Group B was given the title ‘Group of Death’, it was under the assumption that Denmark would have something to bring to the table, having knocked out Germany and finished runners up at Euro 2017. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The Danes looked very out of sorts when Germany exorcized some demons by trouncing them 4-0 in their opening game at Brentford. They didn’t look much better when they toiled to a laboured 1-0 over Finland, relying on a scrambled header from their talismanic captain Pernille Harder. Against Spain, there was some semblance of fight from them, as they tried to contain the pass-masters and ping them on the counter. However, relying on Harder to do everything on her own in attack was asking far too much, and they fell to a late 1-0 defeat. They can feel unlucky to have been drawn into such a tough group, but that doesn’t mask the struggles the team has. Lump it long to Harder is not a valid team strategy and leaving the likes of Nadim and Bruun on the bench when the team desperately needs a goal is baffling. Like Norway, there’s plenty of talent on display that’s not being utilised effectively.
Game of the Group: Germany 4-0 Denmark
As hard as it is to believe, Germany hadn’t been touted as one of the favourites going into Euro 2022. They’d lost twice at the Arnold Clark Cup at the start of the year, and then lost 3-2 to Serbia in World Cup Qualifying. Yet from the moment this game kicked off, Germany showed their intentions, and Denmark were completely shredded. The most remarkable thing about the game was that it was only 1-0 at half time. The woodwork had received more touches than some of the Danish players in an incredible first half of pure dominance by Germany. Their intense, high press kept the Danes permanently hemmed in, and they eventually cracked when Magull robbed the defender of the ball on the edge of the box and smashed it past Christensen. There was no let-up in the second half either, as Germany profited from 2 well worked set pieces, before the cake was firmly iced when Alexandra Popp, on her Euro debut, headed home a late fourth. Germany had arrived at Euro 2022.
Group C
Player of the Group: Daphne van Domselaar
Daphne who? That would have been the reaction of most fans when the 22-year-old FC Twente keeper came on for the stricken Sari van Veenendaal in Netherlands’ opening game against Sweden. Sari had been a permanent fixture in the Dutch goal since Euro 2017, despite her recent deterioration on form (highlighted by two clangers in a warmup against England). But that came to an end after an aerial clash with her own defender in the first 20 minutes took her out of the tournament altogether. Into the breach stepped Daphne, and she has commanded her box well with a skill and maturity beyond her young years. Her best moment came in the deciding final game against Switzerland. With the scores at 1-1, and the Swiss in the ascendency, she produced an incredible point-blank close-range double save to keep the scores level. The Dutch would go on to win 4-1 and qualify, the game turning on that moment. Daphne looks like a keeper that is here for the long term. Sari, once fit again, may struggle to get herself between the sticks for the Dutch again, based on this form.
Moment of the Group: Daniëlle van de Donk’s goal vs Portugal
What a journey it’s been for DVD this past year. Many a tear was shed at Arsenal when she ended her long association with the club to move to Lyon and take up a fresh challenge. Sadly, things nosedived not long into her Lyon career, as a ruptured Achilles in November terminated her season early and put her Euro place with the Dutch squad in jeopardy. A long journey in rehab followed, as DVD fought to make it back into the Lyon team and onto that plane. The hard graft paid off, as she was deemed fit enough to make an appearance on the bench for Lyon’s UWCL final victory over Barcelona, then was picked by Mark Parsons to be part of the final 23. But would she be fit enough to not just play, but play at the high level that is her standard? Such fears were laid to rest in the Netherland’s 2nd group game against Portugal. The Dutch had just thrown away a 2-goal lead early in the second half when DVD stepped in to re-affirm the authority of the Oranje Leeuwinnen. A superb rocket from outside the box gave Pereira no chance and set the Dutch on their way to their first win of tournament. What a way to announce your return, Daan!
⚽ What a goal from Daniëlle van de Donk on matchday two!
The #NED midfielder discusses her highs and lows dealing with injuries which threatened to derail her career and almost made her miss #WEURO2022 ⤵️
— UEFA (@UEFA) July 17, 2022
Disappointment of the Group: Switzerland
Ah, Switzerland. What could have been. So many moments, so many nearlys and almosts, but nothing to show for it. In every game, they were in it. In every game, they had their chance. In every game, they didn’t take it. They chucked a 2-goal lead away against Portugal in their opening fixture and were holding Sweden and the Netherlands to impressive 1-1 draws. Sadly, games are 90 minutes long, rather than 70, and in both games, they conceded late on to throw away decent scalps crucial to getting them to progress to the next round. There’s quality there, with the likes of Ramona Bachmann, Lia Walti, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević and Noelle Maritz amongst their ranks. But the inability to mentally concentrate and focus for the entire 90 minutes is holding them back. There were warning signs as far back as their warmup game against England, as after a strong first half to keep the Lionesses at bay, they surrendered to a 4-0 defeat in the second half. Their final game against the Dutch was emblematic of their entire campaign. They scored a great goal, had a period of dominance in which they failed to capitalise upon, then when Lia Walti limped off with 7 minutes to go, imploded catastrophically by gifting the Dutch 3 cheap goals to knock themselves out.
Game of the Group: Netherlands 3-2 Portugal
The game that had everything. Set pieces, penalties, VAR interventions, rabonas, offsides and screamers. Portugal have been the surprise package of the tournament, entertaining fans with their skill, flair, and strange ability to only play well after going 2 goals behind. They caught everyone’s attention by salvaging a point against Switzerland (and in truth, should have taken all three points), but would they be able to do the same again here? The Dutch raced to a 2-goal lead, exploiting the Portuguese inability to defend set pieces with two headers from corners. Yet just like against Switzerland, this was the cue for Portugal to kick into gear. They raced up the other end and won a penalty after a VAR referral adjudged that Dominique Janssen had clipped Diana Silva’s foot when she attempted to check inside. Carole Costa converted, and at half time, it was a 2-1 game. That quickly became 2-2 when Diana Silva headed home the equaliser early in the second half. Suddenly, all bets were off. Jill Roord thought she given the Dutch the lead again, only for a lengthy VAR check adjudged that Lineth had been offside in the build-up. At the other end, Jessica Silva was wowing the crowds with her rabona attempt and party pieces as the Portuguese tried to find that crucial third goal. Sadly, for them, it was the Dutch who found it, courtesy of an absolute pearler from Daniëlle van de Donk. It would prove to be a winner in a ding-dong contest at the Leigh Sports Village. 3-2. And breathe. Phew!
Group D
Player of the Group: Grace Geyoro.
France exploded onto the scene at Euro 2022 in their opening game of Euro 2022 against Italy, and Grace Geyoro was at the heart of it, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick at the tournament, and the first to score one in the first half of a Euros match. She was unlucky not to add to her tally against Iceland, with VAR ruling that she had handled in the build-up. If France are to finally fulfil their potential, Geyoro’s goals will be key to that.
Moment of the Group: Iceland’s last gasp penalty
With just seconds to go, this award was set to go to Renard’s penalty miss against Belgium. But Iceland have stolen this one right at the death as well. They were a team than came so close to pulling off something incredible, holding leads against Belgium and Italy that could have seen them get to the next round, only to collapse each time. Against France, in their final game, they were still within a shout of getting out of the group. But Malard’s goal after just 44 seconds put a dent in those hopes, and with Belgium beating Italy, the dream had died. But that wouldn’t mean they would give up. One last corner. One last scramble. Players on the deck. Time was beyond time, and suddenly the referee was being called to the monitor. Iceland would have the final say, the final kick of Group D, from the spot. Thorvaldsdóttir had crucially missed with her effort against Belgium earlier in the group stage. Brynjarsdóttir made no such mistake. In the 102nd minute, she smashed it into the top corner. Iceland were out, but they would also become the first team to exit at the group stage unbeaten. 3 games. 3 goals scored. 3 goals conceded. 3 1-1 draws. 3 points. 3rd place.
Disappointment of the Group: Italy
My word. Italy have become something of a growing force in Women’s football in recent years. They had a strong showing at the 2019 World Cup, losing at the Quarter Final stage to the Netherlands. This season in the UWCL, Juventus, under the management of Joe Montemurro, got out of a group containing Chelsea and Wolfsburg, and despite winning the first leg, lost to Lyon in the quarterfinals 4-3 on aggregate. Based on this, there was excitement as to what Le Azzurre would bring to Euro 2022. In reality, what they brought was not very much. The writing was on the wall in their opening game against France, and despite two eminently winnable games, they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Iceland and lost their deciding game against Belgium 1-0. They finished bottom, with just one point. For a nation renowned for their defensive record, their attempts here, as well as their overall record, was, well, indefensible. Back to the drawing board for Italy, sadly.
Game of the Group: France 5-1 Italy
France a joke? Italy have strong potential? Such notions were swept aside in a brutal first half demolition job by Les Bleues. Goals from Katoto, Cascarino and a hat-trick from Geyoro ripped the Italians apart in 45-minute spell of glorious, free-flowing football, assisted by some biblically poor Italian defending. Bonansea must still be cursing her luck, passing up a great 1v1 chance when the scores were still 0-0. But once Geyoro opened the scoring after just 9 minutes, the French put their boot on the Italian throat and did not let up. The pick of the bunch? Cascarinno cutting inside and unleashing a low bullet drive past Giuliani. With the game won, France had the luxury of playing out the second half, though the drama didn’t end there. Gama was sent off for Italy for a reckless challenge, yet inexplicably, VAR asked for the decision to be overturned. Italy did pull one goal back, a Piemonte header providing the scantest of consolations. But the day belonged to France, who may now feel that this is now their summer.
Written by Adam Salter.
Thanks for reading.
Check out more Women’s Euro 2022 articles by clicking here.
Follow Sporting Her on social media: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Youtube
