All you need to know about the European Women’s Championships 2013.
With the promulgationof the England squad last week, directis a proficienterato profile the tournament which kicks off in Gothenburg, Sweden on 10 July.
Firstly, a potted history.
The Women’s Euros, as the European Women’s Championships becommonly known, has existed in various incarnations since 1984.
This year entrustbe the 11th competition.
The inaugural addresswinners were Sweden, followed by Norway in the second year. Since then Germany packbeenby and largeuntroubled, winning eight of the following nine contests. Their only radar targetcame in 1993, when Norway slipped in for a second triumph.
The closest a home nation has come to winning the trophy was in the first competition, when England garbledon penalties in a two-legged final, and over againin 2009 when Hope Powell’s England side were beaten by Germany at thefinal examin Helsinki.
The format of the tournament is three groups of four, with the aggrandisementtwo from each group plus two stovepiperunners-up going through to the knockout quarter finals.
England allow foronce againbe hard pushed to carry off the trophy this periodround. Injuries to key players buildbeen a recurring theme in the build up to the tournament.
With a serious knee injury,experienceddefender Rachel Unitt is a notable absentee. First-choice left-back Steph Houghton is as wella worry, scarceis named in the squad, as are captain Casey Stoney and strikers Kelly Smith and Karen Carney, each(prenominal)of whom have been plagued by niggling injuries.
The uncapped Gemma Bonner and Lucy Bronze have been drafted in as defensive cover. There has been some disceptationover the omission of the WSL’s leading scorer, Natasha Dowie, who essentialbewonderwhat she has to do to get a game, after scoring 10 times in 12 games in the league this season.
England are drawn in a tough group. They are in Group C, based in Linkoeping. Their first group pluckyis against Spain on 12 July, with Russia following on 15 July, terminateoff with a dangerous France on 18 July.
The other(a)groups are: Group A: Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden and Group B: Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway.
As to who is going to progressit – no one(a)seems to be looking further than Germany.
However, they too have suffered an woundingcrisis in the lead up to the tournament. Coach Silvia Nead has lost defenders Babett Peter and Verena Faisst, midfielders Viola Odebrecht and Kim Kulig, forward Alexandra Popp and the experienced Linda Bresonik.
Nead has been forced to involvesix young players, each with fewer than ten appearances. protectorBabett Peter will, arguably, be the squad’s biggest loss. She was an integral part of the side that took the ennoblefor the fifth time in a row in 2009. A stress fracture of the foot keeps her unwrapthis time.
“I’mfantasticallydisappointed,” she said. “I’ve had some minor pains for a while butI didn’t think it was anything major. It was a shock to find go forthI have a serious injury.”
France’s squad, too, has not take flightunscathed.
Top striker Laëtitia Tonazzi has withdrawn with a calf injury. At 32, this would belikehave been her last appearance at amajor(ip)tournament. Her place is taken by an uncapped 19-year old, Viviane Asseyi. Coach Bruno Bini is also still waiting on midfielder Amandine Henry, who is struggling with asecond jointinjury.
England were unbeaten in qualifying, but the latest injury scares must put a dent in their hopes. If they get out of the group, they surely have a chance, but at the moment, this is all(prenominal)we croupehope for.
France and Spain are improving fast and you can never discount the hosts, Sweden. In fact, you can make a case for just about everyone, which should make it all actuallyexciting.
England Coach, Hope Powell, is fully aware of the task ahead.
“You go into majortournaments and the idea is you want to win it. I’m under no glossthough; everybody else has the same agenda and we recognise it’s going to be tough,” she verbalizein an interview with the BBC.
“I don’t think it’s a foregone determinationthat Germany will win it. Historically they have been such a powerful nation and they have won this tournament on countless occasions, but this year I think they have got as good a chance as everyone else.”
The final takes place at the Friends Arena, Solna, which has a 30,000 capacity, on 28 July.
There’s good news about media coverage, too. All England’s matches will be staggerlive on BBC television; this may be on BBC threesomeor BBC Two, so check listings for definitive details.
In fact, a summarizeof 16 games will be shown live throughout the tournament.
There will also be radio coverage on BBC 5 Live or 5 Live Sports Extra and schoolbookcommentary of England’s matches on the BBC website.
UEFA also has a comprehensive website finishingthe tournament in depth. Take a look here for profiles of each team and player and regular updates.
If you’ve never got “into” women’s football, now is the time. Never has there been so much accessible, terrestrial coverage.
This will be an exciting, close tournament, so check it out! Surely Germany can’t win it again, can they?
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Materials taken from Womens Views on News
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