Women’s EURO Reporter Predictions: Winners, Best Players, Breakout Stars and Dark Horses | UEFA dam-EM
UEFA.com has reporters embedded in each of the 16 teams at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. We measured their views before the final, even though we denied them the right to give their “own” team for the biggest prize of all.
Joanna Kozak, Austria
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
Breakout star: Ella Toone (England)
Best young players: Christmas Brand (Germany)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: Despite all their incredibly talented players, France has achieved little on the international stage in the last decade, having recently reached a major semi-final at the 2012 Olympics. Les Bleues can never be written off, but their previous record does not suggest that success will come to this year’s finals.
If Austria were a song, they would be… Do Not Stop Believin ‘by Journey. Austria are not favorites but they showed at Women’s EURO 2017 what they can achieve with faith and hard work.
Alyssa Saliou, Belgium
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)
Sagittarius: Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Breakout star: Ella Toone (England)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: Germany will either fail to get through the group stage or win the tournament. There is nothing in between for them.
If Belgium were a song, they would be… Stop Me Now by Queen. This Women’s European Championship is about two things for Belgium: to get as far as possible and to have a good time in the process. In one way or another, Don’t Stop Me Now covers it. Let’s hope they have a ball.
Sture Sandø, Denmark
Winner: Spain
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Signe Bruun (Denmark)
Breakout star: Kathrine Kühl (Denmark)
Best young players: Christmas Brand (Germany)
Dark horses: Germany
Sneaky feeling: After losing in the semi-finals in 2013 and the final in 2017, this is the year that Denmark will go all the way (unless Spain spoils it for them).
If Denmark were a song, they would be… Run the World (Girls) by Beyoncé. Women’s football is on the rise in Denmark and with great support from their traveling fans, they will take the tournament by storm.
Lynsey Hooper, England
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Lauren Hemp (England)
Sagittarius: Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)
Breakout star: Beth Mead (England)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Italy
Sneaky feeling: Reigning champions Netherlands will leave in the quarterfinals.
If England were a song, they would be… Football’s Coming Home, of course – and how fitting it is for this tournament to be held in England.
Mikael Erävuori, Finland
Winner: England
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Pernille Harder (Denmark)
Breakout star: Aurora Galli (Italy)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: You can never really count them out, but Germany will bend in the quarterfinals … at best.
If Finland were a song, they would be… Unite and Win by Sham 69. Finland will need to come together as a close-knit team to succeed.
Vanessa Tomaszewski, France
Winner: Spain
Players in the tournament: Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
Sagittarius: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Breakout star: Clara Matéo (France)
Best young players: Selma Bacha (France)
Dark horses: Iceland
Sneaky feeling: England will endure another close miss and hit the buffers in the semifinals of the third major tournament in a row.
If France were a song, they would be… Hall of Fame of The Script. The whole country is hoping for a first title ever.
Anna-Sophia Vollmerhausen, Germany
Winner: England
Players in the tournament: Leah Williamson (England)
Sagittarius: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
Breakout star: Lauren Hemp (England)
Best young players: Klara Bühl (Germany)
Dark horses: Sweden
Sneaky feeling: Group D will be wonderfully wild, chaotic and unpredictable.
If Germany were a song, they would be… Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.
Andri Valsson, Iceland
Winner: France
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Breakout star: Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (Iceland)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: Since the players have had to wait for five long years since the last women’s European Championship, it is urgent to go – and I expect more goals and higher quality than ever before.
If Iceland were a song, they would be… Love Shine a Light by Katrina and The Waves. If there is one thing Icelanders love even more than their national team, it is Eurovision. The nation is now united behind the girls and hopes that they will shine together and light up the hearts with exciting performances in England.
Vieri Capretta, Italy
Winner: Spain
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Ellen White (England)
Breakout star: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
Best young players: Agnese Bonfantini (Italy)
Dark horses: Italy
Sneaky feeling: England, who play at home, were able to match the men’s team from last summer by reaching the final at Wembley just for not being able to lift the trophy.
If Italy were a song, they would be… A sky full of stars by Coldplay. The sky is blue as Azzurre and Italy hope to show many stars.
Derek Brookman, The Netherlands
Winner: England
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Breakout star: Lauren Hemp (England)
Best young players: Julie Blakstad (Norway)
Dark horses: Austria
Sneaky feeling: Inspired by the recent successes of the men’s team in international tournaments, the French will go a long way – maybe even to the final.
If the Netherlands were a song, they would be… Tubthumping of Chumbawamba. They were beaten down by 5-1 mauling they suffered in the hands of England in June, but they can still get up again.
Samantha Miller, Northern Ireland
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
Sagittarius: Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Breakout star: Lauren Hemp (England)
Best young players: Ella Toone (England)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: Germany and Italy will do better than people expect …
If Northern Ireland were a song, they would be … Unforgettable by French Montana.
Philip O’Connor, Norway
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)
Sagittarius: Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
Breakout star: Christmas Brand (Germany)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Denmark
Sneaky feeling: England will fight to deal with the press and will miss the semi-finals.
If Norway were a song, they would be… Take On Me by A-Ha – optimistic, stylish and capable of reaching countless heights!
Carlos Machado, Portugal
Winner: Spain
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Breakout star: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)
Best young players: Kika Nazareth (Portugal)
Dark horses: England
Sneaky feeling: Germany will fight to get past the group stage.
If Portugal were a song, they would be… Happy by Pharrell Williams – all the players’ smiles and joy were evident in the camp after they advanced to the final.
Simon Hart, Spain
Winner: Sweden
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
Breakout star: Athenea del Castillo (Spain)
Best young players: Lauren Hemp (England)
Dark horses: Norway
Sneaky feeling: Spain’s brilliance in the middle of the pitch should take them far, but expect a strong Nordic challenge.
If Spain were a song, they would be… Billy Ocean’s 1970s hit Red Light Spells Danger. For the opposition, hopefully.
Alexandra Jonson, Sweden
Winner: France
Players in the tournament: Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Sagittarius: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
Breakout star: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden)
Best young players: Claudia Pina (Spain)
Dark horses: Italy
Sneaky feeling: That Spain will fly through the group stage but then fall early and hard in the knockout phase, and struggle to cope with the weight of expectations.
If Sweden were a song, they would be… We Will Rock You by Queen. This current Swedish squad is a very tight group that is ready to shake everyone who comes in this EURO.
Judith Tuffentsammer, Switzerland
Winner: France
Players in the tournament: Wendie Renard (France)
Sagittarius: Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway)
Breakout star: Riola Xhemaili (Switzerland)
Best young players: Christmas Brand (Germany)
Dark horses: Italy
Sneaky feeling: Even though there are so many favorites, I would not be surprised if we have a disadvantage in the semifinals again.
If Switzerland was a song, they would be… Ta This Lonely Heart by Nothing But Thieves.