UEFA Women's EURO 2017 - The contenders
Updated 14/07/2017 at 21:25 GMT
Carrie Dunn runs through some of the favourites ahead the upcoming UEFA Women's EURO 2017.
GERMANY
The squad in summary
The reigning champions – as they have been for the past 22 years - Germany are led by goalscoring midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan. The squad is packed full of valuable experience, with the likes of Lena Goessling, but there are younger stars coming through, such as Sara Dabritz. It’s a formidable line-up.
Coach
Steffi Jones is new in the role, and has a lot to live up to after the stellar reign of Silvia Neid, which ended with Olympic gold in Rio.
Qualifying campaign
Group 5 winners, W8 D0 L0 F35 A0 P24
Star player
Anja Mittag: The veteran striker, with a display cabinet packed full of individual accolades as well as team trophies, is in her fourth finals.
Prediction
Winners
- - -
FRANCE (Group C)
The squad in summary
France are magnificent when it comes to Euro qualifying – they are currently on a streak of 41 consecutive wins. They’ve not got it done in the finals, though, and will be looking to end Germany’s dominance this time round.
Coach
Olivier Echouafni, the former Nice player, had a reasonably brief and undistinguished managerial career in men’s football before taking over as France coach in autumn 2016.
Qualifying campaign
Group 3 winners, W8 D0 L0 F27 A0 P24
Star player
Eugenie Le Sommer: She averaged a goal a game during qualifying, and can play either in midfield or up front.
Prediction
Semi-finals
- - -
ENGLAND (Group D)
The squad in summary
England have reached the Euro final twice – but never won the tournament. The Lionesses are looking to change that this time around, under the leadership of captain Steph Houghton, who heads up a squad with few changes from the 2015 World Cup bronze medallists.
Coach
Mark Sampson took over the England reins following the last Euros, when the Lionesses crashed out in the group stages. Expectations are high this time round, and the Welshman has not been shy in talking about his hope of ending the summer as the coach of the European champions.
Qualifying campaign
Group 7 winners, W7 D1 L0 F32 A1 P22
Star player
Lucy Bronze: Manchester City’s flying full back came to global attention after her superlative displays in Canada two years ago.
Prediction
Final
- - -
NORWAY (Group A)
The squad in summary
Runners-up last time round, they’re looking to go one better now – and as the last team not named Germany to win the tournament (way back in 1993) they have traditions to maintain. There is plenty of goalscoring potential in this squad, with the likes of Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten promising lots of attacking football.
Coach
Martin Sjogren is in his first major international tournament following domestic success with Linkoping.
Qualifying campaign
Group 8 winners, W7 D1 L0 F29 A2 P22
Star player
Ada Hegerberg: The striker scored nine goals during the qualifying campaign, and is the current UEFA Player of the Year and BBC World Footballer of the Year.
Prediction
Quarter-finals
- - -
SWEDEN (Group B)
The squad in summary
Sweden are the current Olympic silver medallists, having lost out to Germany last year – and they have the chance to get some revenge in the group stages in the Netherlands, seeing as they’ve been drawn together. Chelsea fans will be looking out for goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who has over 100 international caps.
Coach
The legendary Pia Sundhage will be moving on at the end of this tournament. Her most famous victories came as USA coach, leading them to Olympic glory; she will certainly want to leave her home country with a trophy as well.
Qualifying campaign
Group 4 winners, W7 D0 L1 F22 A3 P21
Star player
Lotta Schelin: The forward is Sweden’s all-time record goalscorer.
Prediction
Semi-finals
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