Record Champions Germany Face Tricky Opposition

Germany are by far and away the most successful team in the history of the UEFA Women’s Euros. They have won eight of the 13 editions of the tournament so far, but have faltered on each of the last two occasions. The record champions will be keen to get back on track in Switzerland this year, where Poland, Denmark and Sweden will give them their first challenges in Group C.

🇩🇪 Germany

Current FIFA Ranking: #3

Euro History: 11 previous appearances; best result: Champions (1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013)

Other Major International Trophies: FIFA Women’s World Cup (2003 and 2007) and Olympic gold medal (2016)

Germany are currently on their longest trophy drought since they won their first major honor at the 1989 Euros. Their first-ever group stage exit at the last World Cup was a real low point, but they have not fared badly at other recent major tournaments as they reached the last Euros final and won bronze at the Olympics last year.

Recent Results and Performances

Christian Wück took over the head coach role after the Olympics and seems to have the team in good shape going into the Euros. Germany went unbeaten in their Nations League group with 26 goals scored in six games, including four against a disorganized Dutch defense and six past Austria in the last month.

In those matches, Germany showed themselves capable of breaking down low blocks and hurting more possession-based teams in transition, so they seem well set to go into the Euros from a tactical perspective as well.

Key Player

Lea Schüller was one of the stars of the recent Nations League campaign as her return of five goals made her one of the joint top-scorers in League A.

In a Germany side that is not short of creativity and attacking threat from the wide areas, the Bayern Munich striker’s clinicality will prove critical. Schüller has over 50 international goals to her name while only one of her teammates has over 20, so she will have to continue to play a leading role in attack.

Expectations

With great quality in all areas of the squad and such an incredible historic track record, Germany have to be considered serious competitors as always. They ought to get through the group with relative comfort and should then aim to go all the way.

🇵🇱 Poland

Current FIFA Ranking: #27

Euro History: No previous appearances

Major International Trophies: N/A

At long last, Poland will make their major international tournament debut at the Euros. They face quite a challenging group, but their qualifying campaign showed just why they should not be taken too lightly.

Recent Results and Performances

With hard-fought 1-0 wins in both of their qualifying playoff final legs against the higher-ranked Austria, Poland created history. They showed good defensive resilience and a consistent counterattacking threat, which ideally should have led to more goals had they been clinical enough.

The Eaglesses went on to win all but one group game to seal promotion to the top division of the Nations League earlier this year, so they are heading into this tournament with wind in their sails.

Key Player

Captain Ewa Pajor undoubtedly is the best and most important player in this Poland squad. The 28-year-old forward has maintained a fantastic goal-scoring rate after moving from Wolfsburg to Barcelona last year, while her tally of 68 goals in just over 100 international caps is not bad either.

For a team that will have to drop back and absorb a lot of pressure, Pajor’s all-round abilities in terms of holding up the ball, carrying it forward and peppering the opposition’s goal will make her the centerpiece of their attacking plans.

Expectations

As with any debutante, Poland should be proud of qualifying for the tournament itself. They will face some tough opponents in Group C starting with the record champions, but they might just have something to trouble the others on their day.

🇩🇰 Denmark

Current FIFA Ranking: #12

Euro History: 10 previous appearances; best result: runners-up (2017)

Major International Trophies: N/A

Denmark sprung one of the biggest surprises in the Euros’ recent history on route to the final in 2017, but they ultimately came up short against the Netherlands. They could not make it out of the group stage last time around, though, and look likely to face another uphill battle this summer.

Recent Results and Performances

Denmark qualified for the Euros with relative comfort, but their most recent Nations League campaign was more topsy-turvy. They scored a good win over Italy in which they showed their ability to deal with tricky conditions and pose a direct threat and were in the hunt for the top spot until the final day, when it all came crashing down with a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Sweden.

Head coach Andrée Jeglertz likes to consistently alternate between a 3-4-3 and 4-4-2 formation, often in a bid to best match the opposition. His squad is not the strongest in the defensive department, so his tactics will need to be on point to avoid another embarrassment.

Key Player

Denmark’s all-time top-scorer Pernille Harder is now well into her 30s and thus should be approaching the latter years of her international career. For now, though, she remains a key figure not just thanks to her goal-scoring but also through her ability to link up play and connect the attack, especially when playing alongside Signe Bruun. Much of Denmark’s attacking play will go through her, so she will be expected to step up and deliver.

Expectations

A lot will ride on Denmark’s first group game, in which they will have to banish the memories of their recent Nations League defeat and take on Sweden again. Germany should be a bridge too far for them, so they will need to get a result in the opener if they are to have good realistic chances of reaching the knockouts.

🇸🇪 Sweden

Current FIFA Ranking: #6

Euro History: 11 appearances; best result: Champions (1984)

Other Major International Trophies: N/A

Sweden might not have won a major title since 1984, but they are one of the stronger teams at this tournament. With consecutive third-place finishes at the last two World Cup as well as a semifinal appearance at Euro 2022, they have come fairly close to a second major honor in recent years and will once again look to get past the final hurdles.

Recent Results and Performances

Sweden needed the playoffs to qualify for the Euros, though that should not be considered an alarming qualifying campaign. They only finished behind France and England in their group and then scored 20 unanswered goals to seal their spot. Their Nations League run earlier this year was a little inconsistent as they drew as many games as they won, but they ultimately topped their group in emphatic fashion.

Long-serving head coach Peter Gerhardsson will end his eight-year tenure in charge of the team after this tournament. He has shaped Sweden into a solid team that can stand their ground against the strongest opposition on their day and maximize set-pieces, so they should not be short of preparation or motivation going into the Euros.

Key Player

Sweden will take a pretty experienced squad into the Euros with as many as six players who have more than 100 international caps. Joining the centurions club should be Fridolina Rolfö, who is currently on 98. In a team that will look to attack in transition quite often, her ball-carrying down the wing, crossing and shooting threat from the left will prove quite important.

Expectations

Sweden are among the top four teams at the Euros as far as the FIFA rankings are concerned, so they should naturally be aiming to reach the semifinals. Recent big wins over Denmark and Italy should give them ample confidence to get the better of those sides, and they should put up a serious fight against Germany as well as any strong opponents in the knockouts.