The Women’s Euros is finally here and we are kicking off our group previews with a look at the hosts. It’s Group A …
Hosts Switzerland headline Group A, where they are joined by two-time winners Norway (1987, 1993), Iceland, and Finland.
It looks like a kind draw for the hosts, playing in front of home crowds and avoiding the likes of England, the Netherlands and Sweden from the second pot. Norway’s star power cannot be overlooked, though, and they will be the dark horses for many.
Norway have demons to exorcise. A country with huge pedigree and star names shouldn’t be suffering a group stage exit as they did three years ago, and they certainly shouldn’t be suffering 8-0 defeats like they did at the hands of England in that tournament. The 2023 World Cup didn’t go much better, losing to hosts New Zealand before an early exit against Japan, and Norway have a squad capable of so much more.
📸 Phil Walter – 2023 Getty Images
Guro Reiten (Chelsea) and Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) are genuinely world class creative talents, Frida Maanum (Arsenal) has a nose from goal from midfield, and Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) is a former Ballon d’Or winner. The only question is whether or not they can finally put it together at a tournament.
The opening game of the tournament involves Finland take on Iceland but that will serve as a mere appetiser on the opening day, with Switzerland vs Norway to come later that evening.
An early win for either side here will set the tone. A defeat, and the pressure is on massively for the two remaining games. The stakes are high from the off.
📸 FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP or licensors
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