I think it is safe to say a lot of people reading this post will have had the time of their lives in July thanks to the Euros and I know I can honestly say it has been the dream month for me. A full month of major tournament football here in England during a month where I am normally sat around counting down the days to the seasons starting again, then getting to see England become winners of that major tournament, it is a dream come true and honestly it still feels like a dream to me and it could do for a long time. We were lucky enough to receive all the tickets we were balloted for in the pre-sale and it just so happens purchasing those games when we didn't know who was even playing worked well in our favour as the games ended up being teams we really wanted to see and we got to see some of our favourite players in action. The tournament was originally delayed a year due to the pandemic and it seemed to be a very long wait but it was worth it all in the end and this tournament has made me even more excited for the new seasons starting up. 

As I said earlier we managed to get tickets to all those games we were in the ballot for and I am so grateful that we did, we knew the opener would include England but as for their opponent and the rest of the games we had no idea who we would be paying to see. As the tournament grew closer I sat and told Liam I was adopting Sweden as a bit of a second team to cheer on throughout the competition as I loved their style of play and Liam told me his would be the Netherlands. So when the fixtures came out and we saw we were going to be at the stadium watching Sweden vs the Netherlands you bet we were involved in a friendly bit of competition. If we weren't at the stadium watching a game though you bet we were watching at least 1 game per day on the TV, it truly was a month of only football. So here are the games that we were lucky enough to attend...

England vs Austria

The tournament opener was the one we really wanted to go see, not just because it was an England game up North but also because it was a game in Old Trafford, one of my favourite stadiums. When the groups were drawn I was hoping this would be the game against Norway but seeing Austria play was also fantastic, they really put up a fight against England and showed they weren't to be written out of the tournament too soon. The atmosphere was fantastic at this game and those 90 minutes set up the start of a perfect tournament. 

Sweden vs Netherlands

As I said earlier I said that Sweden were my second team and Liam said the Netherlands were his so we were more than excited when the fixtures were announced and we saw that we would be watching the two teams face off in Sheffield. We thought the atmosphere was brilliant at the opener but honestly these two sets of fans really brought the noise and it was a great experience being in the stadium soaking it all up and watching a good game of football, it wasn't the best game we saw as both teams cancelled each other out but it was still a good game.

Sweden vs Belgium

The next game we went to was another Sweden game and this time it was to see them take on Belgium in the quarter finals, we really did soak up this game I was in the Sweden shirt, face paint on and we joined in the fan walk to the stadium. It was a fantastic day but they kept us on the edge of our seats with their performance. Belgium really put in a performance and if I am honest I thought they were going to progress to the semi finals but Sweden managed to get that all important goal in stoppage time, it was great to see them progress but I still feel sorry for Belgium as they probably deserved the win that evening. It was great to see Tessa Wullaert play again too as I have missed seeing her at Man City.

Netherlands vs France

We were both very lucky as we got to see both our second teams in the quarter finals however, Liam's didn't get the result that mine did and France came out the winners of a very closely contested game which went to extra time and both sides looked very threatening in. Again this is a game where we really soaked up the atmosphere as we found the Netherlands fans some of the best in the whole tournament with the atmosphere they created. I have to say this was definitely the best fan walk we did as the fans are crazy but in a good way. even when they were knocked out of the tournament the fans were there celebrating how well the team had done. It was great to be there to see some of my favourite players play at long last too such as Roord and van de Donk. 

England vs Sweden

I have to say this was the game I was really dreading (although I always wanted England to walk away the winners) and I hoped it was going to be the final game not the semi finals. I was so excited to see my favourite two teams play each other in what should have been a very close game but Sweden just didn't turn up and England had a spectacular game, they shouldn't have won 4-0 in a semi final it should have been much closer but after those 90 minutes I was so relieved that England had finally broke that semi final curse and the likes of Lucy Bronze, Ellen White and Jill Scott were finally getting to the final after suffering heartbreak in the past 3 major tournaments.

England vs Germany

I got laughed at when I bought tickets to the final last year but in the end after seeing the demand for the tickets I am so glad we did manage to get them when we did as England took on Germany for the title of European champions. To know we had tickets to see this game I was like a kid at Christmas and on the day of the final we just soaked it all in. The 120 minutes were the most nerve wrecking and when that Chloe Kelly goal went in I don't think I have ever celebrated as much. There were tears all round at full time and to this day it still feels like a dream, to be able to say I was there for the Lionesses lifting their first major tournament trophy is amazing and the tournament holds memories that will last a life time. 

It was nice seeing a tournament go in England's favour after so many years of heartbreak, watching the women's game grow to what it is today and the potential it has now after the win is amazing. I am so glad we got our tickets early as I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on any of the opportunities we had, it has been a tournament filled with plenty of highs for a change and here our highs...

England Winning

I think this is the most obvious high for a whole lot of people. After so many years of heartbreak football is finally home. Under Wiegman the teams mentality seems to have massively changed and we look like such a threat in every game we play. Seeing them lift that trophy just puts an end to all those years of heartbreak and honestly it has put the team on the map for the newcomers to the sport but I think its also raised the hope of us who have watched for a long time that this is now only the beginning of what could be a fantastic few years with the World Cup coming up in 2023. 

Getting past that semi final curse

For so many years I have seen the Lionesses get through to the semi finals and fail to progress to the final and seeing those players sat on the floor in tears at the end of those games has been heartbreaking, especially when you get the close ups of Ellen White and Lucy Bronze, those 2 have been through it all for a long time with the squad so to see White in happy tears at the end of the semi final was certainly heartwarming and seeing them go on to lift the trophy just brought tears to everyone's eyes, everyone on that team deserve that win but you can't help feel so much more excited for those who have been part of the heartbreak in the past. 

Fan walks

Me and Liam have loved soaking it all up this tournament and one thing we have loved the most is the fan walks before the game. Being in that group of fans walking to the stadium together chanting and just enjoying the day has been fantastic. Don't get me wrong the Sweden quarter final one was great and the England semi final one was something special due to it being for our country but I just don't think you can beat the Netherlands one, that was a special experience that I know we are never going to forget, being in a sea of orange jumping around and singing whilst making our way to a quarter final game. If you asked me to walk to the game normally and do the amount of steps I did on these walks I would have complained massively but those fan walks took away all complaints.

Atmosphere

Sometimes you can go to a women's game and the atmosphere can feel a bit flat, like only a few are getting behind the team but this tournament the atmosphere in those stadiums was unreal. Foreign fans really brought the noise for the team and showed us all how it was done, some teams fans never seemed to stop. Even the English atmosphere really started to gain momentum and the atmosphere at the final was the best I have experienced. I am really hoping we can replicate this at other games throughout the season as those players really stepped up with the atmosphere the fans created. 

Russo back heel & Stanway screamer

I couldn't do my highs from the tournament without including these two goals, they are my goals of the tournament. First up you have Stanway securing England's place in the semi final with a stunning strike which really showed everyone just what she is capable of, Man City are definitely going to miss her next season. Then you have Russo with the cheeky back heel goal in the semi final and nutmeg not one but two Swedish players, to be able to do that in a semi final just goes to show the confidence in the team and the players on the team and it has really helped boost Russo's profile, I can see a lot of people picking up Russo shirts for the new season.

Seeing players really make a name for themselves

This high doesn't just go for the England team although I think a lot of those players have made a name for themselves and will be on peoples radars for a long time, Kelly, Russo, Hemp & Toone are just a few of the ones from England that stand out for me but at the same time you have a lot of young talent from elsewhere that are going to be players that people keep an eye on in future tournaments and in future seasons, Lena Oberdorf from Germany is one of those players who really shone through the season and gained herself young player of the tournament, I know I will be keeping an eye on her future progress and I can see many other fans of the women's game doing the same.

Memories that will last a life time

The memories created throughout this month really are going to live on for a life time. Me and Liam, going to plenty of games and going on little adventures on our own, having family with us for the opener and the final has all being fantastic. Add seeing Leah Williamson lifting the trophy at Wembley to that list and those memories are never going to fade. As someone who has followed the game for a long time, long before this website even started the tournament has magical and has been a very long time coming. I think it is going to feel like a dream for such a long time but I have collected mementos along the way that I am going to hold onto forever.

Jill Scott

Yes Jill Scott really does get her own section on my highs from the tournament. Jill has been one of my favourite players for as long as I can remember and this tournament has just made me love her even more. A lot of people were complaining about why we would take her to this tournament but I think throughout the month a lot of people's eyes have been opened to the sort of player Jill is and what she can bring to the squad. She is hilarious, she can help motivate the team and she can still play brilliantly and isn't afraid to get stuck in for challenges. Plus we now have the iconic moment of what she shouted to the German player after a challenge which has already made its way onto t-shirts. She really is a national treasure.

I know I keep saying it but this tournament really has been spectacular and I am really hoping this is just the start for the growth of the women's game here in the UK, it is time clubs really capitalise on the Success and momentum we have seen throughout July to keep the game heading in the right direction. Here are some of the things we are hoping to see off the back of Euro 2022...

Attendances grow across the board

There is a full post coming about this in the near future so I wont go into it too much today. We are already seeing ticket sales soar for the start of the WSL but are we going to see that continue when people realise they are going to have to pick between the men or women due to schedules clashing, or when the weather changes and the cold evening games set in are we going to see attendances suddenly drop again? I really hope not and I really hope we see attendances increase at all levels not just in the top flight.

Momentum taking place for the growth of the game

I am really hoping that we are going to see more teams investing in the women's game along with brands putting their money where their mouth is rather than jumping on the bandwagon for a month then dropping off the face of the earth once again. It is time to build on what we have seen this summer across all levels and grow the game into what it deserves, it is time for the women's game to gather pace and start to shine rather than being overshadowed.  

See more girls and women take part in the sport

I signed up to play 9 a side again at the end of last year and joined a Friday night 5 a side session and since the Euros the amount of people being added to the group chat for organising the games has been unreal and numbers are increasing in the participation. I would love to see this replicated across all age groups throughout the country, people just starting out and others getting back to it. I really hope so see those people stick to it though and not get fed up when the weather changes or when the hype of the tournament has dropped off. 

More advertising & promotion of the women's game

We are seeing the Lionesses everywhere at the moment, on TV & in newspapers, clubs are promoting games like never before and to keep the momentum going we need to be seeing this year round not just for a few weeks after the major win. There is no point putting it all out there to totally drop the women when the men's game starts back up or have a major tournament to take part it. There needs to be consistency in keeping the women's game in the public eye to keep up with the high ticket sales and get more eyes on the game it can't just be a one off. Get more games on the TV, get more players being interviewed on major sites in build up to games an get the fans attention gripped and don't let the woemen's game slip off the face of the earth in a few weeks. 

Get those big names involved more and get the big brands on board to promote like they have since the win, if they are really wanting the game to grow like they say now is the time to get on board with the promotion of the game and don't let that historic win just disappear from the media, let's keep things moving along in the right direction.

I really don't think I could have wished for a better summer of football, it has been a dream come true which has motivated and inspired me in so many aspects of my life which I am really looking forward to starting on and working towards. These Lionesses have really inspired the nation and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for them and the leagues in the UK. What a dream month it has been and that win just proved to everyone anything is achievable if you work hard enough for it and are determined to come out on top.

What is a highlight of the Euro's for you? 

We now know who will be playing in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley on Sunday 31st of July and I think it is safe to say we are going to be in for a treat during this final as we are going to be a team playing better than I have ever seen them play against a team that has already won the competition plenty of times but are relying on specific players to get them to that stage so if something happens to those players I think they could easily be finishing as runners up of the competition. We saw two great games in the semi finals and one of those certainly had a surprise result and here is a quick round up on those semi finals...

England vs Sweden

First up we had the hosts taking on Sweden at Bramall Lane trying to secure their spot at a home final and they did it in a spectacular fashion. We were lucky enough to get tickets for this game before we even knew who would be playing so for us to be seeing England taking on Sweden, one of the nations we have watched and supported throughout the tournament was fantastic. The atmosphere on the fan walk was sensational and that carried on into the stadium and lasted well beyond the final whistle. The hosts were determined to break their semi final curse and finally beat the Swedish in a major tournament especially after they beat them to 3rd place in the 2019 World Cup. For me England have really stepped up this tournament and shown us all what they are capable of and the 4-0 victory over Sweden just summed that up. Sweden started the game well but once they went 1-0 down that was is it England started running riot and Sweden looked totally off colour compared to previous games we had seen them play. Every single player in an England shirt put in a real shift though and they have shown that they shouldn't be underestimated anymore and their unbeaten record under Wiegman continues, let's just hope the continues past the final too. Seeing the players like Ellen White, Lucy Bronze and Jill Scott who have had plenty of heartbreak in recent competitions finally get to their well overdue final.

Germany vs France

France looked great against the Netherlands last week but unfortunately Germany proved that bit too strong for them and we will be seeing Germany take on England in the final. German Popp has had a brilliant tournament so far and is a real threat for the team, you just can't help feeling happy for her reaching the final though with the injury struggles she has had to go through to get to the tournament in the first place. Germany initially took the lead in the game but France didn't give up and it didn't take long for them to draw the score level once more. France just couldn't seem to control Popp though and she got her second of the game to take Germany through to the final. France didn't give up even after going 2-1 down but they just couldn't find that goal to send the game to extra time. I am impressed with how France have played throughout this tournament, with a young team and some big name players missing they still put up a fight and showed everyone that even without those big names they are still a force to be reckoned with and I think we could see them do well in the next World Cup too if they carry on the way they are going.  Germany played well but if it wasn't for Popp's form this competition I don't think they would be heading to the final. 

It is safe to say that us fans whether at the stadium or watching at home are going to be in for a treat on Sunday's final and we will be at Wembley cheering on the Lionesses but they definitely need to prepare for what could be the toughest game of the tournament as both teams have their own strengths. Can Germany stop England's unbeaten streak and spoil the hosts party? Or will England show up with another spectacular, resilient performance like we saw from them in the semi final? All I can say is... is it Sunday yet? 

Well here were are into the final week of the Euro 2022 competition, where has the month gone? We have seen some great football and now at the semi final stage of the competition we are getting the chance to watch two great games with four great teams competing for a spot in the final at Wembley on the 31st of July. The four teams left in this competition are all pretty strong teams in their own ways so we are in for two games that honestly could go either way so it is going to be all about who turns up and wants it most on the night, I can see at least one of the games heading to extra time. So here is how we think the games are going to finish...

England vs Sweden 

This is the game I am most looking forward to, not just because it is the home nation but also because these two teams always provide us fans with a great game. This was one of the first England games we ever went to and we are looking forward to being back in the stands on Tuesday night to see the two sides fight for a spot in the final. Sweden beat England in the 2019 World Cup 3rd place match so it is safe to say England are going to be out for revenge plus with them still not losing a game under Wiegman's management they definitely wont want their first to be during this game. England have looked strong throughout the competition and we have seen how they can change the game around after their game vs Spain. As for Sweden, they have done well but they certainly haven't looked their best, as an England fan I am hoping they haven't saved their best until this game because I think if Sweden play like they did against Belgium in the semi's England have a very strong chance of being the team that progresses into the final. 

Germany vs France

Unfortunately due to when Germany have played their previous games I haven't had the chance to sit and watch them properly yet, I have had to rely on group chats and highlights to see how their games have turned out, all I know is they do really well in this competition and have a squad full of talent that is very capable of putting France to the test. France for me though have been one of my favourite teams to watch this tournament and even without their big name players the squad is full of talent and I can see them being the team to beat Germany and progress to the final. Watching France face the Netherlands the other day just showed the quality they have and the depth of squad they have. Not once did they look tired and they pressed and pressed throughout the whole game and honestly that only went to extra time due to the brilliance of the Netherlands goalkeeper. If France turn up and play like they did in their semi final I think we could be seeing them at Wembley in the final.

With how the tournament has gone for these teams so far the semi final games could easily be the toughest ones we have seen so far. Fingers crossed we are seeing the host nation England in the final against France as this could provide a very exciting final for us fans but I guess we will see later on in the week if that actually happens or if Sweden or Germany end up being victorious, I am definitely going for England and France victories.

Who do you think will be victorious in their semi final game?

I think a lot of people will agree when I say that Euro 2022 seems to be flying by, it doesn't seem like 2 minutes ago we were at Old Trafford watching England in the opening game and now we are into the final week of the competition. This tournament has definitely one of my favourites in recent years to watch as nothing has been clear going into games, who would have thought England would beat Norway 8-0, I know I never expected it. There has been some shocks and some expected results but every minute has been great to watch and the quarter finals of the tournament are certainly no different. The knockout stages are always one of my favourites and this tournament has been a bit of a roller-coaster for me whilst watching as the results could honestly have gone either way with no clear cut winners until very late on in the game for 3 out of the 4 games. Here is a quick round up with our thoughts on each of the quarter finals...

England vs Spain

The first quarter final and a chance for the hosts England to progress into the semi finals and lets just say they didn't give us fans an easy ride. Spain looked good in the first half and it was Spain who broke the deadlock, it really looked like England were going to be crashing out of the competition until 6 minutes from the end of normal time when Ella Toone put the hosts level. The substitutes for England definitely made an impact on the game and it rolled over into extra time. Stanway stepped up and scored an absolutely fantastic goal in the 96th minute to put the hosts through to the semi final. This game was definitely one of those that had you on the edge of your seats as it was a bit touch and go for England at times. Spain certainly had a great tournament and they put up a fight against England but they just couldn't see out the lead they held out for the majority of the second half. England definitely look a strong side and I am looking forward to going to watch the semi final live.

Germany vs Austria

Unfortunately I was out for this game so didn't get the chance to watch it but after chatting in a few group chats and watching some highlights it seems like Austria put up a fight and had plenty of chances before falling to a 2-0 defeat by Germany. I think Germany are one of the quieter teams this tournament as there aren't many people chatting about their chances of winning but they are putting in some great performances and their opposition is going to be in for a tough game in the semi final. As for Austria I think they have really put their name out there this time around as a country not to be taken lightly in the game, they certainly challenged England in the opener and did really well to get to the quarter final stage, some of the Austrian players have surely put their names out there for the transfer market.

Sweden vs Belgium

We were lucky enough to get tickets to the Sweden vs Belgium game in Leigh and it was a great experience. We joined in the Swedish fan walk and it was a great experience with a great atmosphere. As for the game though I think people will agree Sweden didn't play at their best and there were times where it looked like they could end up out of the competition. Belgium certainly put up a fight and goalkeeper Evrard had a brilliant game to keep Belgium in the game, it actually looked like we were going to be heading to extra time in this game but Sweden broke the deadlock in the 92nd minute to progress to face England in the semi final. Belgium have really surprised me this time around and if they continue to improve at the rate we are seeing I think in the next few tournaments they could provide some upsets. As for Sweden they definitely didn't look the best in this game and honestly I think they got lucky with the result. 

Netherlands vs France

We also managed to go to the Netherlands vs France game in Rotherham and it is safe to say the experience at that game is the best experience we have had so far. We joined the Netherlands fan walk to the stadium after being in the fan zone and it was a fantastic build up to the game. Once in side the stadium the atmosphere continued to be great with both sets of fans getting behind their team. France certainly looked the strongest on the day and had plenty of chances to take the lead but they just couldn't get the ball over the line, there were some great off the line clearances from the Netherlands and goalkeeper Van Domselaar made some absolutely brilliant saves to keep the Netherlands in the game. Van Domselaar has had a fantastic competition and to say she went in as second choice 'keeper she has really made a name for herself. Some how the Netherlands managed to keep France out for the full 90 minutes and the game went to extra time. The extra time was another chance for France to really push for that goal and it all paid off in the 102nd minute when VAR awarded them a penalty and Chelsea's Perisset scored. Both teams continued to push for a goal after the penalty but in the end the reigning champions have crashed out of the tournament and France have progressed to face Germany in the semi final. 

So there you go that is a round up of the quarter finals, check back tomorrow as we will be doing our semi final predictions. So far the competition is great and the quarter finals certainly didn't disappoint us fans, I think we could definitely be in for a treat in the semi finals. With the quality of the players on offer in these later stages of the tournament anything could happen. 

What did you think to the quarter finals? Is there anyone specific who stood out to you?

England 

Mary Earps

Since joining Manchester United I think a lot of people will agree Mary Earps has really improved in her position as goalkeeper and that improvement looks to have sealed her the number 1 spot for England. Right now Earps is one of my favourite players to watch and I think with some of the saves we have seen her pull off recently we could see her being a crucial part of the England Squad. 

Rachel Daly

I couldn't settle on just one member of the England team, in fact I could have picked 4 or 5 players who we should all be keeping an eye on but of course I had to add Daly in as a little extra one to watch. Those who don't follow the NWSL won't know much about Daly but her attacking and defensive ability will play a big part for England throughout the tournament and I am really going to enjoy watching her get the international game time she deserves. 

Austria

Manuela Zinsberger

The Arsenal goalkeeper is one who can really keep Austria fighting for progression. There will no doubt be plenty of shots fired at her during the games in the group stages but she is up there are one of the best European women's goalkeepers in my eyes and I think she will help keep Austria in with a chance during the groups. 

Northern Ireland

Rachel Furness

 Furness is a player who has been around for a while now and who gets overlooked far too often. At 34 year old she is a player to keep an eye on, after being told at a young age she wouldn't be able to play professionally but just look at her now playing in the Euros for her country. We have seen from her time at Liverpool that she can be a real attacking threat and I am hoping that we get to see her full potential this tournament. 

Norway 

Gruro Reiten

Reiten is a player that is often overlooked at both club and international level and honestly I think it is her style of play that has led to this. You never realise just how many plays she is a part of but she really is a crucial piece of the team no matter who she is playing for. Reiten is certainly a play maker on the pitch and she can get her team in some great positions along with scoring herself at times. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how Reiten impacts that Norway side.

Denmark

Pernille Harder

Harder has been a name people have been watching for a while now and honestly I get more and more impressed every time I watch her. Before joining Chelsea Harder was already a fantastic player but I really think she has excelled with her time under Emma Hayes so far. Denmark are in a tough group but I think if Harder plays anywhere near as well as she has for Chelsea the past few seasons that she will keep Denmark in with a chance of progressing.

Finland

I will be honest with this one I really don't know much about any of the Finland players so instead of doing a one to watch, I will just be watching the full time and I am really hoping they surprise me. They are definitely in a tough group but who knows maybe they might pull of a shock or two. 

Germany

Sara Dabritz

Lyon player Dabritz is the German player I will definitely be keeping a close eye on and the opposition defenders really need to do the same. Again Dabritz is a player I really enjoy watching play and we have seen in previous competitions she is capable of getting goals for Germany and a fair few of them are poachers goals, being in the right place at the right time for any rebounds. I wonder how many goals she is going to end up with this time around? It is going to be a tough group for Germany but Dabritz could play a big part in if they progress or not. 

Spain

Ona Batlle

I managed to watch a fair few Man Utd Women games last season and one player that always seemed to jump out at me was Ona Batlle, yet there doesn't seem to be many others talking about the quality she brings to the team especially outside of that Man Utd fan base. The full back is no doubt going to play a big part for Spain in this tournament and I hope that her performances help her become a more talked about name as she definitely holds the qualities of a fantastic player.

Netherlands

Jackie Groenen

Another Man Utd player that I think is under rated is Jackie Groenen, she really doesn't get the recognition she deserves and I am actually really looking forward to seeing her play for the Netherlands in this tournament and just like with Batlle I really hope it gets her the recognition she deserves. When we saw her play against England in the warm up game she played really well and I really think she is going to be a key player for the Netherlands for as long as they are in the tournament. 

Portugal 

Just like with Finland, I don't know too much about any of the Portugese players we are going to be seeing in the competition however, I am really looking forward to seeing how they are going to do as they are the team that are Russia's replacement so they have had less time to prepare than others plus they are in a very tough group.

Sweden

Magdalena Eriksson

It is no secret that I think Sweden could end up doing really well in this tournament and I think they have a lot of very impressive players in their squad however, the one I will be keeping my eye on is Magdalena Eriksson. She has really shown us what a solid defender she is at Chelsea and how she can get the team motivated and firing on all cylinders so I think her leadership qualities are really going to help Sweden progress through a tough group and further into the competition. 

Switzerland

Lia Walti

Arsenal's Lia Walti is a player I am definitely going to be keeping a close eye on during the Switzerland games. She might not be a goal scorer but she is certainly a play maker and I think her midfield capabilities are going to help Switzerland get into some dangerous positions. They are up against tough competition in this group but I am looking forward to seeing how Walti's performances help her nation.

Belgium

Tessa Wullaert

There are a few players I have missed watching since they have left Man City and one of those players I have definitely missed is Tessa Wullaert. We all know she can score goals and we have seen how she can move the ball around the pitch to help team mates get into some great positions. I think Wullaert will play a big part in how her country does in this tournament and I am looking forward to seeing how she performs. 

France

Kenza Dali 

The 30 year old French midfielder is a player I have enjoyed watching over the past few seasons. Again she might not be a goalscorer but she is able to put in some great challenges and works the ball around well to create her team some opportunities. Everton didn't have the best season last season so I think she will be wanting to show us all what she is capable of this season. Plus with some big names missing due to things going on behind the scenes I think it is a great time for her to be able to show everyone just what she is capable of.

Italy

I don't know why but over the years I haven't really followed any of the Italian players progress and I haven't followed their leagues but no doubt that will change after this tournament. I am going to be keeping a close eye on the whole Italian team as I have heard good things about them and I am just looking forward to watching them play and hopefully being surprised by them.

Iceland

Dagný Brynjarsdóttir

Whilst watching the WSL over the years I have been able to pick a few players out who have stood out to me due to their performances and one of the players who has stood out to me for West Ham has been Brynjarsdottir, I loved watching her for the Portland Thorns when she played over in the States and I enjoy watching her at West Ham now she is there. We know she is capable of grabbing some goals for herself but she can also play a big part in creating them for her team mates. I am definitely looking forward to seeing if she has an impact on Iceland's performances in this competition. 

I think this might be the first tournament where it was so hard to narrow down the ones to watch just down to how the players have improved in the past few years. The standard in the women's game is just getting higher and higher and looking at some names missing due to injury or behind the scenes issues it is quite scary to think what some of these squads could have been like and who would have had to be cut.

This tournament is definitely going to be one of new names breaking through and making players household names and these are our ones to watch but who are your ones to watch?

It is Euros time and it is safe to say we are excited here at Edge of the Area. The next few weeks are going to be filled with plenty of football which has certainly been missed in this off season, I can see most evenings involving us glued to the TV screen to see who is picking up those much needed points to progress out of the group stages of the competition. It is safe to say each group should be entertaining with a lot of groups being too close to call due to the talent each team has however, at the end of the day only two teams from each group can progress and here is our prediction of how the groups are going to look after the group stage games have been played...

Group A 

England 

Norway

Austria

Northern Ireland

You would really like to think that the hosts England were going to walk away the winners of this group but it is football so you never really know what could happen. With England's recent performances though we can't help but think they will top this group to progress to the quarter finals. With the quality of the Norway squad I think they will be the team progressing along with England but you never know Austria or Northern Ireland could surprise us all but on paper it should be England and Norway progressing. It would be nice to see Northern Ireland progress in their first Euros but I think the group might be too strong for them. 

Group B

Spain 

Germany 

Denmark

Finland

This group is could very easily be too close to call. There are some fantastic teams in this group with some brilliant talent available for selection so it really could go any way. Unfortunately I think the rest of the group could be a bit too strong for Finland but who knows they could surprise us. In terms of at the top of the group I have said recently how I think Spain are going to pull off a surprise during the competition and I am really hoping to see them top the group. In terms of who is going to progress with them I think it is going to be a very close call between Germany and Denmark but I think Germany could just beat Denmark to the second spot. Denmark have a pretty strong looking team but so do Germany. This second spot could very easily come down to the final game of the group stage but we are in for a treat watching this group. 

Group C

Sweden 

Netherlands

Switzerland

Portugal

With group C being help up north of course we had to get tickets to what is going to be the game of the group, the Netherlands vs Sweden, this game is bound to be the one where the winner ends up topping the group but I can see it being a fantastic game to watch. This group the top two spots are pretty hard to call but I think Sweden's recent performances will really help them and they will progress as winners of the group. I can see the Netherlands beating Switzerland to the second place spot if they play like the Netherlands we are used to seeing but they are going to have to play much better than they did against England the other week if they want this to be the case. Portugal have had much less time to prepare after it took UEFA so long to say if Russia were being replaced or not so I think that lack of preparation is going to leave them at the bottom of the group. 

Group D

France

Belgium 

Iceland

Italy

Group D is the group that I am really not sure about, I would love to see France topping this group. They are without some big name players due to things going on behind the scenes but with the talent that country has I think we could see them progressing as winners of the group. Now I don't know much about the Italian team so for that reason alone I am placing them at the bottom of the group but I am looking forward to watching them play throughout their time in the competition and learn more about them as it goes on. I have placed Belgium as second in this group just because I like watching them play and I would love to see them do well during the competition.

So there you go that is how we think the groups are going to be looking once the group stage has ended but as we say with football you never really know way results are going to go on the day. If the teams we have predicted do end up progress I think it is safe to say we are in for a great knock out stage. Now it is time to get lost in a month of football.

Who do you think will progress from each group?

When you look at the teams participating in Euro 2022 I think it is safe to say we could be in for a very close competition this time around. A lot of country names are circulating for who could be walking away the winner but honestly it feels like it is too close to decide and I do believe that there could be some shock results that derail the most talked about favourites and that an underdog (or at least less talked about) team could swoop in and steal the Euro trophy come the 31st July. You just have to look at the strength of the squads participating and the groups they have been put it to see that it really is anyone's chance to shine. For me though there are two tams that haven't been talked about as much as they should as I can see them really pushing for a place in the final and who knows they might just end up winning the whole thing and for me those two teams are...

Spain 

I think that Spain are often an overlooked nation in this tournament but with the improvement we have seen from them over the years I think we could see them be a real threat this time around. I think they really started showing off their capabilities in the 2019 World Cup where we saw some very strong performances from them but since then they just seem to have got better and better. I think we are going to see them be a really strong goal threat and with a lot of people over looking them I think they have nothing to lose so they will go all out in terms of performances to show people they need to beware of what they can do.  They have a lot of players who can make an impact Ona Battle & Maria Leon are just two of the people I will be keeping a close eye on throughout the month plus with Ballon D'or winner Putellas on the team who will play a big part I think we are in for a treat when watching Spain play.

Sweden

Could this tournament finally be the one where we see Sweden take home the winners medals? I have a strong feeling that they could finally go all the way and win the competition after being so close in previous ones. They have some absolutely fantastic players in their squad that are often overlooked at club level due to those around them, they really do have the capability to make a name for themselves going into the new season though. Sweden have looked very good in previous competitions and they played really well in the Olympics just missing out on winning like they did in the 2017 Euros but surely their time has to come soon? The team can move the ball around really well and provide some great attacking threats plus to me their football is just really enjoyable to watch. I enjoy watching Sweden play that much that we have actually got tickets to Netherlands vs Sweden which is bound to be an absolutely brilliant game as it is a replay of the Euro 2017 final. I have to say if I was to put money on my Euro winner it would be going on Sweden this time around, I am even tempted to get a shirt for when we go to the game plus I am just really looking forward to seeing Asllani playing live once again rather than it being on a TV screen. 

As I said earlier I really do think this tournament is going to be one of the closest we have seen in a while and lets hope we get to watch plenty of entertaining football over the course of the month. Maybe one of these two team will end up taking home the trophy but I think there are multiple teams in the running for it, these two just deserve a little bit more recognition as they aren't getting as much as they should be currently.

Who do you think could be an underdog team in these Euros? 

Mary Earps - Earps really stood out to me in the 2021/22 season and I think see has really improved over the past few years. It would be nice to see Earps as the first choice 'keeper as she can certainly bring a lot to the team and if she plays anything she did last season England are in safe hands. 

Lucy Bronze - After all these years I still love watching Lucy Bronze play. She can bring a lot to the team on that right hand side and her surging runs can get England into some dangerous positions and we have seen how she can score herself too, we always seem to see one fantastic goal each tournament from Bronze so lets hope we see at least one if not more this time around. 

Rachel Daly - I don't think it is any secret that my favourite player is Daly, I just love seeing her play and to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves. If people are new to the game or don't follow the NWSL they might not realise just what Daly is capable of but I am really looking forward to seeing her get her name out there this tournament. Playing at the back she is brilliant but as we have seen for the Houston Dash she is a fantastic attacking player too and I am really hoping to see her name on the score sheet. 

Keira Walsh - Walsh is one of those players for me that can seem to hide away in a game but when you look back she makes a much bigger impact on the game than you think. Her spacial awareness and passing ability will really help the team out in the middle of the pitch and I am looking forward to seeing how she does in the Euros. 

Alex Greenwood - Since moving to Man City Greenwood has really started to make an impression on me, at first I wasn't too interested but she seems to be doing really well now at club level. She has had to adapt at club level due to injuries and I think her move to centre back has actually been a positive one as she really helped Man City get the finish they did in the season. I am looking forward to seeing how she does at centre back during the Euros as it looks like that could be where she spends the most of her time. 

Millie Bright -  Bright has really stood out to me in the NWSL for the past few years with her defensive skills. For me she really is a no nonsense old school type of defender who not only is a fantastic defender but can be vital at set pieces too. If she plays like she plays for Chelsea us England fans could be in for a treat.

Beth Mead - I really do believe Mead is a massively underrated player. She often gets overlooked when her crossing ability is brilliant and she can get the team into some fantastic positions on the pitch. It is going to be interesting to see if Mead starts games or is brought on as an impact sub but I really do think the super sub later on in the game could be a real threat to the opposition.

Leah Williamson - Captain Leah, I am so glad that Williamson has got the captaincy for this competition as I think she is the perfect choice for the job. Williamson has really made a name for herself the past few seasons and she is finally getting rewarded for this. I am hoping we see her playing in a defensive midfield role as I think this is best suited to her and her ability to make out the perfect pass but she can also play really well in the centre of defence if needed too. 

Ellen White - White always shows us exactly what she is capable of in tournaments so I am looking forward to seeing how well she does this time around. With competition up front high it is going to be interesting to see how much game time she gets especially after recently getting Covid, let's hope that doesn't have too much of an impact for her and we will see her have yet another good tournament. 

Georgia Stanway - Stanway is a bit of a controversial player but honestly I love her I think her ability on and off the ball is fantastic, let's just hope she can keep card free and not put in any silly challenges as I think she could be crucial in the middle of the pitch. I would love to see her on the score sheet a few times too. I just still don't think I am over her leaving Man City yet either. 

Lauren Hemp - Hemp was one of my favourite players last season for Man City and I think she is a young player with a whole lot of potential. Hemp and Daly on the left could create a fantastic partnership throughout the competition and I think we could see Hemp creating and scoring a few goals throughout the month too.

Jess Carter - It is really nice to see Jess Carter being called up for this tournament as I think it is safe to say it has been a long time coming for her. Carter had a standout season at Chelsea in the 21/22 season and it has helped her really break into the England squad which maybe under old managers she wouldn't have done. I hope she does get plenty of game time in the competition as she definitely deserves it. 

Hannah Hampton - To say how young Hampton is she is already showing the potential to be an absolutely fantastic 'keeper. It would be great to see Hampton get some game time but with Earps being in the squad I am not too sure how much time she will get if any but even having her as an option on the bench is great and it will give her some big tournament experience, it certainly won't be the last we see of her in England tournaments if her career keeps going the way it is.

Fran Kirby - Kirby has had her health problems lately but it is great to see her being called up once again as the past few seasons she has really shown us what she is capable of and she has cemented her place in the Chelsea squad. If we can keep Kirby fit and use her correctly I think we could end up seeing her making a big impact on the results.

Demi Stokes -  I honestly aren't sure about how much time Stokes is going to have on the pitch as I think the left back spot is surely going to go to Daly as long as she is fit. But having a player with the capabilities of Stokes as back up isn't half bad. It would be nice to see Stokes on the pitch but honestly I am not sure how much we will see.

Jill Scott - Now I am very glad to see Scott get called up for this tournament as I think her past experience could really come in handy plus she really is a character which will help behind the scenes too. Scott might not get as many minutes as I would hope but those minutes she does get will be great to watch and she will definitely be a huge asset to the team.

Nikita Parris - With the quality of attacking players we have to offer this tournament I think playing minutes for Parris could be in short supply. Now don't get me wrong Parris is a good player but there are youngsters who have performed well consistently who might get the game time over her but if she does get on the field I think her experience could come in very handy.

Chloe Kelly - I am so glad that Chloe Kelly has managed to recover from her injury in time to feature in this competition. I am excited to see how she performs in the Euros as I think she could really benefit this team in the long run with her pace, skill and overall footballing ability. She did well on her return for Man City so lets hope we see some more great performances in the England shirt this summer.

Beth England - England is a player that has really grown on me these past few seasons and I think it is safe to say she is really starting to make a name for herself in the game. I am hoping we see plenty of England in the tournament as she is going to be a fantastic attacking asset but again she is up against some strong competition for game time so let's just hope she does get plenty of chance to prove herself.

Ella Toone - Toone is one of the best young players out there for me at the moment. Since joining Man Utd she just seems to be getting better and better. I am really hoping to see her get her name on the score sheet a fair few times throughout the competition and I really think she is going to end up being a player that a lot of people have their eyes on for years to come.

Ellie Roebuck - I am glad to see Roebuck's name in the squad but again I don't know how much of her we are going to see in the competition, I honestly think the only time we would see her is if England have the group wrapped up or if Earps gets injured (fingers crossed she doesn't). Roebuck spent a lot of last season injured and I think if that wasn't the case she might have ended up as number one but at the end of the day as a Man City fan I just want her to return to next season fully fit.

Lotte Wubben-Moy - I managed to watch a bit more of Arsenal last season and Wubben-Moy really caught my attention. At just 23 years old I think we are still to see just what she is capable of but her development lately has been fantastic so I am excited to see just how good she is going to be a few more years down the line. Again I aren't too sure that we are going to see loads of minutes for Wubben-Moy but I think just being at the tournament will be a great experience and help her prepare for possible future tournaments.

Alessia Russo - I know I have said a few times in this post that a few young players have stood out to me in the past season but honestly Russo has probably stood out to me lately more than any others. Again at 23 years old I think the best is still to come from Russo but I think we are going to see her play a big part in England's progress through the Euros with her fantastic attacking ability. Russo is definitely going to be a player I will be keeping a close eye on throughout the competition and I am really hoping she gets plenty of game time and gets her name on the score sheet a few times.

So there you go that is what we think to the England squad for the upcoming Euros. The past few competitions I think England have had a strong side but for some reason this squad is definitely giving me a lot more hope than in previous years and I actually think we could progress quite far into the tournament and show the rest of the world what could be heading their way in the next World Cup. With the squad being a nice mix of youth and experience I think this could be a squad that we see a lot more frequently but I will be honest I think I am just looking forward to watching the youngsters this time around as they are going to be key to England's progression. 

What do you think to England's squad for the euros?

Did you know the Euros are coming up? I don't think I have mentioned it enough times on here just yet do you? Here at Edge of the Area we are going to make sure we have plenty of content posted over the next month to document the tournament which is being hosted here in England, hopefully it will be content we can always come back to when we want to remember England bringing the silverware home but honestly I guess you don't really know how the tournament is going to play out. This is the first big women's tournament that we will have covered on Edge of the Area and here is the plan...

Predictions post

It isn't the start of a competition if we don't do a prediction post is it? We do it for the leagues so why not do it for the Euros? I think it is going to be fun to see if we get any correct too as you just never know what you are going to get in these competitions. We will be doing these at every stage, the groups, quarter finals, semi finals and of course the final. 

Round up posts

I am really looking forward to writing these posts at every chance I get, to be honest I aren't sure if they will be after sets of group games or just after the groups are over and after each round. Either way though I really can't wait to be able to sit and write these posts as I think they will be fun to look back on.  There will also be a dedicated post at the end of the tournament just as an overall round up of our experiences etc. 

Match Reports

Strangely one of my favourite posts to write has to be match reports, I actually really enjoy getting home from a game sitting down at my laptop to write my thoughts on the game. Originally I wasn't going to be doing any for the Euros and I won't be doing them for every game but there will definitely be a fair few reports going up throughout the competition.

Shirts 

Of course we can't forget about the shirts throughout the tournament that is why we will be making sure to break up other content with hopefully a lot of shirt content. That might be a close up of one we have purchased or just a break down of what the teams will be wearing but you can definitely expect to see plenty of shirts on the blog and certainly on social media. 

Gameday Videos

This is something I wanted to do during the 21/22 season however, I just never got around to doing it. Now though confidence to film & edit is growing so why not make a start on doing this during the Euros. These videos will be going up on our Instagram and TikTok pages and will hopefully capture the atmosphere of the games whilst we are there, plus they are another fun thing to look back on in the future. 

Polls

We want to get others involved too with content so over on our social media pages we will be running polls, possibly daily. These could be anything from favourite shirts to who you think will win each game. We are really looking forward to running plenty of polls throughout the competition as it will be great to see other peoples opinions too, especially when it comes to the shirt ones.

Live reporting

Now this won't be happening at the games we are going to as we will probably be lacking signal to keep up to this however, for those days where we are sat at home watching games we will probably put a poll on Twitter to see which game people want us to live tweet & post on Facebook about. This should be something a bit different for us and fingers crossed this is something we enjoy and can carry into the 2022/23.

Tournament thoughts & memories

As I mentioned earlier we will be doing a blog post at the end of the whole competition to share our experience of going to games and just watching them on TV, who knows when England are next going to host a Women's International tournament so this is a post we will always be able to look at in the future and remember what happened when we got to witness hopefully a fantastic tournament on home soil. 

Players of the tournament

This is probably going to consist of one very long blog post or will be broken down into two different ones but that hasn't been decided just yet. There will be a player that we pick from every nation that has been that nations player of the tournament then we will break it down to the top 5 that we think were the best of the tournament. We will also be doing polls and asking on Instagram who would get your vote so keep an eye out for those. 

So there you go that is the content you are going to be seeing on the blog over the next month or so as the tournament really gets underway. We are really looking forward to documenting this competition and looking forward to seeing other peoples thoughts throughout it too. 

Let us know if there is anything else you would like to see us post throughout the Euro either on the blog or social media.