The 2025 ladies’s European Championship kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, when 16 groups may have the prospect to get their arms on the long-lasting trophy. However how a lot are you aware concerning the event that began formally in 1984? Utilizing the alphabet, listed here are some information you may not have come throughout earlier than.
A is for … Angerer, Nadine: Switzerland‘s goalkeeping coach and former Germany custodian is one in every of two gamers, alongside compatriot Birgit Prinz, to earn 5 Euros winners’ medals. The spotlight of her quintet got here within the remaining in 2013, when her two penalty saves helped Germany beat Norway 1-0. She gained the Participant of the Match award and, in 2014, grew to become the primary goalkeeper, and first lady, to win the FIFA World Participant of the Yr.
B is for … Breakthrough?: Alongside Norway, Italy have missed just one occasion since 1984 and have appeared in probably the most European Championships (this 12 months might be their thirteenth). Nonetheless, in contrast to their Nordic counterparts, they’re but to win it, making them the staff with probably the most finals appearances (12) with out lifting the trophy. Le Azzurre have twice been runners-up, in 1993 and 1997, and have additionally reached the semifinals 4 instances.
C is for … Coultard, Gillian: The England trailblazer is the file holder for most girls’s Euros appearances, with 61 (together with qualifying matches). She performed within the remaining in 1984, during which the Lionesses misplaced to Sweden on penalties, earlier than changing into the primary English lady to achieve 100 caps. She was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Wonderful Order of the British Empire) for providers to soccer 20 years after retiring.
D is for … Die Nationalelf: Germany have lengthy been the dominant pressure at Europe’s high desk. They’ve gained the competitors eight instances in complete, together with six instances in a row between 1995 and 2013. They’ve performed extra matches than anybody else, 46, successful 36 of them, additionally a file. They’ve scored probably the most targets (107) and boast the very best aim distinction (+80) … you get the image.
E is for … European Competitors for Consultant Girls’s Groups: The primary three iterations of the Euros (in 1984, 1987 and 1989) have been named the “European Competitors for Consultant Girls’s Groups.” This modified in 1990 because of UEFA’s rising acceptance of the ladies’s recreation, when it was renamed and awarded European Championship standing.
F is for … First-timers: Three groups have gained the Euros on the first try. Sweden set the bar, defeating England on penalties in 1984 because of Pia Sundhage who scored the decisive spot-kick after netting 3 times within the semifinals and within the first leg of the ultimate. Norway repeated the feat in 1987 on dwelling soil, at Sweden’s expense, whereas Germany’s dominance started at their first time of asking, in 1989. On dwelling soil, they beat Italy within the semifinal in what was the primary televised match on German TV, earlier than thrashing favorites Norway.
G is for … Groundhog Day: Speaking of Germany vs. Norway, the 2 nations have met in 4 finals. They swapped blows in 1989 when, as West Germany, the house nation shocked their opponents with a 4-1 win. Two years later, Germany gained once more, 3-1 after extra-time. They met for a 3rd time in 2005, and once more in 2013, when Germany made it a clear sweep. The 2 nations have met 10 instances in complete in Euros finals historical past, greater than another fixture.
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Bonmatí: Spain deserved extra from final Euros vs. England
Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí speaks about her hopes of successful the Girls’s European Championship.
H is for … Hat-trick heroes: There have been solely six hat methods on the Girls’s European Championships, with each England’s Beth Mead (in opposition to Norway) and France‘s Grace Geyoro (in opposition to Italy) becoming a member of the unique membership in 2022. Arguably probably the most spectacular was Sweden sub Lena Videkull, who netted three targets in 17 minutes within the semifinal second leg vs. Norway in 1995. She boasts the quickest treble, although Norway’s Marianne Pettersen is the youngest hat trick scorer; she was simply 22 years and 79 days outdated when she hit three in opposition to Denmark in 1997.
I is for … Within the dugout: Germany’s Tina Theune-Meyer is probably the most profitable coach in ladies’s European Championship historical past, successful 13 of her 15 matches in cost between 1997 and 2005. Theune, who in 1985 grew to become the primary lady in Germany to earn the DfB Fußball-Lehrer license, gained three Euros within the sizzling seat, plus one other three as assistant. Sarina Wiegman is the one coach to win the Euros with two international locations (Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022).
J is for … Joint-top: Two gamers high the ladies’s Euro goal-scoring charts, with Germany duo Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz netting 10 targets apiece. Grings can lay declare to being probably the most prolific, netting 4 instances in 2005 and 6 in 2009.
Ok is for … Knockout queens: In terms of successful knockout matches, a Germany duo leads the best way. Midfielder Doris Fitschen (1989-2001), thought of probably the most profitable German feminine footballer of all time, and Prinz once more (1995-2009), a five-time Euros winner, have performed in probably the most knockout matches (11).
L is for … Loss: When Norway have been crushed within the 2013 remaining, you’d have anticipated them to return all weapons blazing 4 years later. They arrived within the Netherlands in 2017 because the fifth-highest ranked nation, however misplaced all three group video games to seal a shocking early exit. Furthermore, they returned dwelling with out scoring a aim — exceptional given their assault was led by Ada Hegerberg, the then-UEFA Greatest Girls’s Participant in Europe.
M is for … Morace, Carolina (Italy): The very best aim scorer in Euros historical past (together with finals matches and qualifiers) is Italy ahead Carolina Morace. She made her worldwide debut aged simply 14, and scored 42 of her 105 targets within the Euros earlier than taking cost of the nationwide staff as supervisor between 2000-2005. Extra not too long ago, she certified as a lawyer and was elected to the European Parliament in 2024.
N is for … Neid, Silvia: A former participant and coach, Neid has a particular place within the hearts of German soccer followers as a result of she has been concerned in all eight of their Euro triumphs. She was victorious as a participant in 1989, 1991 and 1995; then as assistant coach to Tina Theune-Meyer in 1997, 2001 and 2005; after which as head coach in 2009 and 2013. She was named the FIFA Girls’s Coach of the Yr 3 times.
O is for … Oldest participant: Present Paris FC coach Sandrine Soubeyrand made historical past as a participant in 2013, when she performed for France in opposition to Denmark aged 39 years and 340 days. It was her fifth Euros as a France worldwide. She retired shortly afterwards and stays the nation’s most-capped footballer.
P is for … Pellerud, Even: The previous Norway coach was simply 39 years and 354 days outdated when he guided his nation to victory on the 1993 finals because of a slender 1-0 win in opposition to Italy. Two years later, he was within the dugout when Norway grew to become the primary Europeans to carry the World Cup.
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How will England cope after senior Lionesses’ departures?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens talk about how the retirements of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby, and the withdrawal of Millie Vibrant will affect England’s Euro 2025 marketing campaign.
Q is for … Quatre: The Euros has advanced into the 16-team event we all know and love right now, however from 1984 till 1995 simply 4 groups competed for the trophy. Sixteen groups tried to qualify by way of 4 teams, with solely the highest staff heading into the event correct. Eight international locations took half in 1997; two years later it was 16.
R is for … Document breakers: England did not simply win the Euros in 2022 on dwelling soil, they did so in swashbuckling model. They recorded the most important margin of victory in Euros’ historical past because of their 8-0 drubbing of Norway, which in flip contributed to 14 group targets, one other file. They completed the competitors with 22 targets, a Euros excessive, and lifted the trophy in entrance of the most important attendance (87,192) within the competitors’s historical past.
S is for … Spot-kick success: Norway boast a 100% file in penalty shootouts. In 1991, they wanted eight penalties to see off Denmark within the semifinals, earlier than Gro Espeseth lastly broke Danish hearts. Denmark have been the opponents once more in 2013, on the semifinal stage, when 4 spot-kicks have been required to separate the 2 sides. Speaking of Denmark, they have been in probably the most penalty shootouts (4), successful twice.
T is for … Time to attain: France have been quickest out of the blocks in opposition to Iceland in 2022, as Melvine Malard slotted dwelling from the sting of the field after simply 43 seconds to open the scoring and safe the quickest Euros aim. Although Iceland equalized late on, 12 minutes into damage time.
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All it is advisable learn about Group B on the Girls’s Euros
Check out some key information for Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy forward of the Girls’s European Championship.
U is for … Unbeaten: Such was Germany’s Euros dominance for twenty years that they boast not solely the longest sequence of matches with out defeat (26) but additionally the very best run of consecutive victories (19). This exceptional run began in opposition to Denmark in 1997 and ended with a stalemate in opposition to Netherlands in 2013, a mere blip, as they gained the following 5 matches to go all the best way. Once more.
V is for … Volley: There have been volleyed targets aplenty at Euro 2022, together with Alexandra Popp‘s net-buster in opposition to France for Germany and Ella Toone‘s close-range end for England in opposition to Spain. Nonetheless, neither can lay a glove on Angelique Roujas’ impressive touch and looping effort for France in opposition to Russia in 1997. Roujas’ stunner was one a part of a hat trick performed out in entrance of simply 626 followers in Karlstad, Sweden.
W is for … West Berlin: Roots of the European Championship as we all know it right now have been sown in West Germany in 1957, when 4 groups took half in a event staged by the Worldwide Girls Soccer Affiliation. At the moment, ladies’s soccer groups have been banned by the German FA, however England, West Germany, Netherlands and Austria defied the authorities to participate within the round-robin held at Poststadion.
X is for … X-rated: There should have been one thing within the water on the 2017 Euros held within the Netherlands, because it noticed probably the most playing cards awarded within the historical past of the competitors thus far. There have been three pink playing cards and a exceptional 90 yellows. Furthermore, by the quarterfinal stage, 13% (7) of the 53 targets scored got here by way of the penalty spot.
Y is for … Younger gun: Norway striker Isabell Herlovsen was simply 16 years and 351 days outdated when she discovered the web in a 1-1 draw in opposition to France in June 2005. This made her not solely the youngest participant at that competitors, but additionally the youngest scorer in ladies’s Euros historical past. And she or he discovered the web once more within the semifinals.
Z is for … Zero: Norway’s protection stood agency once they gained the competitors in 1993, beating Denmark 1-0 within the semifinals and Italy by the identical scoreline within the remaining. Their good file included the qualifying spherical, once they scored 24 targets of their 4 matches with out keeper Manuela Goller having to choose the ball out of her web as soon as.