Euro 2022: Biggest women's sporting event in European history kicks off
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Manager Sarina Wiegman calls on England players to 'make everyone proud'
Uefa Women's Euro 2022 |
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Host country: England Dates: 6-31 July Venues: Old Trafford, Manchester; St Mary's Stadium, Southampton; Amex Stadium, Brighton; Stadium MK, Milton Keynes; Brentford Community Stadium; Leigh Sports Village; Bramall Lane, Sheffield; Academy Stadium, Manchester; New York Stadium, Rotherham; Wembley Stadium. |
Coverage: All 31 games will be shown live across the BBC. Click here for more information |
The European Women's Championship kicked off with a bang on Wednesday as hosts England beat Austria 1-0 in front of a record-breaking crowd at Old Trafford.
Organisers had said "let's go and make history" and England's opening group game was watched by 68,871 - the largest attendance at a European Women's Championship game.
It is the first of 31 matches across 25 days which are all being shown live on the BBC.
Half a million tickets, external have been sold - twice as many as the previous Euros in the Netherlands in 2017 - with the final being staged at a sold-out Wembley on 31 July.
England are favourites to win Euro 2022, according to data analysts Nielsen's Gracenote., external
Sixteen teams - including debutants Northern Ireland and holders the Netherlands - are competing in the first Women's European Championship to be staged in England since 2005.
Highlights: Netherlands crowned European champions
First Women's Euros for five years
The Women's Euros is usually held every four years and, after the Netherlands won it in 2017, it should have taken place in 2021.
It was pushed back 12 months after the men's 2020 European Championship and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were both postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
When England previously staged the tournament in 2005, venues across the North West - Blackpool, Manchester, Blackburn, Warrington and Preston - were used.
This time games are being staged across the country although no venues in the Midlands or North East will host games.
It will also be the first time that Video Assistant Referee technology has been used at a Women's European Championship.
How Simone Magill became Northern Ireland's first female pro
Low-priced tickets and record crowds
Uefa have made 700,000-plus tickets available. The previous edition staged in the Netherlands was watched by 240,045 fans.
Ticket prices have been kept low to attract families. They range from £5 to £50, external meaning a family of four can watch a match for as little as £30.
The decision to use the Manchester City Academy Stadium - which will have a reduced capacity of under 5,000 for the Euros - has been criticised.
"It's embarrassing," said Iceland midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, whose side play two of their three group games at the home of Manchester City's women's team. "It's disrespectful towards women's football because it's so much bigger than people think."
Almost 100,000 international fans are expected to attend matches while a global television audience of 250 million-plus is expected to watch.
There is pressure on the organisers to deliver an event that draws fans in beyond the Euros.
"We are confident that many matches will be sold out and are looking forward to more than doubling the total attendance of Uefa Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands," said a Euro 2022 spokesperson.
Which countries are taking part - and who are the big hitters?
Germany are by far the most successful side in the tournament's history with eight triumphs, including six in a row between 1995 and 2013. The other winners are Norway (1987, 1993), Sweden (1984) and the Netherlands (2017).
Six of the world's top 10 are taking part: Sweden (2nd in Fifa's rankings), France (3rd), Netherlands (4th), Germany (5th), Spain (7th) and England (8th).
The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. The top two go through to the quarter-finals, where it becomes a straight knockout.
England boss Sarina Wiegman led her native country, the Netherlands, to European glory five years ago.
While the Lionesses are predicted to win by Nielsen's Gracenote, they forecast a "wide open tournament" with Sweden, Germany, France and the Netherlands serious contenders.
"There is nearly 80% chance that this year's European champions will come from this quintet," they add.
Group A: England, Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland. Venues: Manchester (Old Trafford), Southampton, Brighton.
Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland. Venues: Milton Keynes, Brentford.
Group C: Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal. Venues: Leigh, Sheffield (Bramall Lane).
Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland. Venues: Manchester (Academy Stadium), Rotherham.
Five players to look out for
How Vivianne Miedema became a football icon
Ada Hegerberg (Norway): Quit the national team in 2017 in protest at a perceived lack of respect for female players, but the inaugural Ballon d'Or winner returned to the international scene in April and is looking to make her mark at Euro 2022.
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands): The Arsenal striker is at the top of her game and is hoping to add another European title to her CV after helping the Netherlands win Euro 2017.
Pernille Harder (Denmark): The Chelsea midfielder is Denmark's all-time leading scorer and captained them to the Euro 2017 final.
Lauren Hemp (England): The Manchester City winger, 21, who was named the Women's Super League's young player of the year for a record-breaking fourth season in a row, has been on-fire for club and country, winning many plaudits for her eye-catching runs and goals.
Wendie Renard (France): The Lyon defender, 31, has won a record 14 French league titles and eight European Cups and is captain of club and country.
Will England deliver?
There is pressure on the Lionesses to deliver a first European crown in front of their own fans.
They have twice come close before, finishing runners-up to Sweden in the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984 before getting to the final again in 2009 only to lose to Germany in Finland.
Since Wiegman became manager in September 2021, England are unbeaten in 14 matches and in February won the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup - a competition that featured Olympic champions Canada, Spain and two-time world champions Germany.
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Arsenal's Leah Williamson will captain the Lionesses.
"This is going to be the biggest women's event in Europe ever," Wiegman told BBC Sport.
"It's going to be really exciting but it can also cause a little stress. There are going to be expectations but we have to embrace it.
"This is a chance to make everyone proud."
This England team is pretty sturdy - Williamson
Will Northern Ireland shine?
Euro 2022 marks a huge moment in the history of women's football in Northern Ireland. The national team only reformed in 2004 after being disbanded at the turn of the century.
Whatever happens this month, Northern Ireland have already defied the odds to reach one of the biggest stages in the sport as a team largely made up of part-time players.
In preparation for Euro 2022, 22 domestic-based players entered a seven-month full-time professional programme.
Kenny Shiels' side are the lowest-ranked team in the competition - 47th in the world.
In April, Shiels said "women are more emotional than men" when discussing his side's 5-0 defeat by England in a World Cup qualifier.
His remarks drew criticism and Shiels apologised saying: "I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country."
Highlights: Northern Ireland 2-0 Ukraine
How to follow Euro 2022 on BBC
The BBC will give audiences 24/7 access to all of the action, analysis and insight across TV, radio and online during the tournament.
Every England and Northern Ireland game will be broadcast live on BBC One. Most games will be BBC One or Two, with all 31 matches on BBC iPlayer. Former Arsenal and England players Alex Scott and Ian Wright are among the pundits.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also have commentary on selected games.
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