It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but the men’s 2020 UEFA Euro Cup came to a thrilling end last July as Italy defeated England on penalty kicks. The tournament featured high-level play from the world’s best players, and fans can tune in to the Women’s Euro Cup this summer to experience more of the same.
England will host the Euro Cup for a second straight year, with the final match set to be played at Wembley Stadium. To get ready for the action, we’ll look at three teams who have a legitimate chance to win the 2022 Cup.
France
One of the top teams in Europe heading into the proceedings is France, who dominated the competition during qualifying. They have a little bit of a cursed history though in recent major tournaments, losing in the quarterfinals many times in the past several years. They are not the favorites according to online sports betting sites, as Spain (see below) are judged to have the best chance. However, France will be in the mix.
There’s no question about their talent, and the best of the bunch might be Wendie Renard. She is one of the most well-rounded players in the sport. Although she is an integral part of France’s defense, Renard also brings a lethal scoring touch that can change games. Individually, she’s as decorated as any French player on the club side, and will be motivated to deliver a memorable performance for her country.
England
The English women’s team will look to accomplish what their male counterparts came stunningly close to achieving last summer; winning the Euro Cup at home. In order to do this, they’ve brought on a manager who is used to delivering such results. Sarina Wiegman headed up the Netherlands team in 2017 that won the last Women’s Euro Cup held in Holland. This could be a huge advantage for England, as Wiegman will likely not let the moment ever feel too big for her players.
One of Wiegman’s most experienced players is Ellen White, who has 106 caps to her name, and 50 goals scored for the English national team. At 33 years old, this might be the last golden opportunity for her to deliver a European championship to the English fans.
Spain
Not to be ignored in the championship discussion is the Spanish team, who also figures to challenge for 2022 Euro Cup supremacy in July. Spain is famous for dominating possession of the ball on both the men and women’s side, and fans can expect them to try to frustrate their opponents by utilizing short crisp passes to move up the field.
The team features two of the premier players in the world; Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas. Putellas was recently named the best player in the Women’s Champions League competition this season, leading the way with 11 goals scored in ten games. Hermoso has scored the most goals internationally for Spain, and her club contract status will be a story to monitor in June. Regardless of whether she remains with FC Barcelona, Hermoso will have a large say in whether her country comes out on top.