UEFA Women's EURO 2017 - The contenders

ByCarrie Dunn

Updated 14/07/2017 at 21:25 GMT

Carrie Dunn runs through some of the favourites ahead the upcoming UEFA Women's EURO 2017.

A member of Germany's national women's soccer team holds up the trophy as the team celebrates victory

Image credit: Reuters

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GERMANY

The squad in summary

UEFA Women's Championship

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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.

Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany controls the ball during the Women's International Friendly match between Germany and Brazil at BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald on July 4, 2017 in Sandhausen, Germany

Image credit: Getty Images

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.

Anja Mittag #11 of Germany celebrates with Lina Magull #20 after scoring a first half goal against England during the 2017 SheBelieves Cup at RFK Stadium on March 7, 2017 in Washington, DC

Image credit: Getty Images

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.

England captain Steph Houghton hopes to lead Mark Sampson's side to summer success

Image credit: PA Sport

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.

Ada Hegerberg, Kristine Minde, Ingvild Isaksen, Ingrid Schjelderup of Norway during International Friendly match between Norway v Switzerland at Skagerak Arena on April 10, 2017 in Skien, Norway.

Image credit: Getty Images

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.