Women’s EURO: Quarter Final stage
The Women’ EURO Tournament has made it to the Quarter Final stage. England, Spain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, France and the Netherland all qualified. We take a look at what this means for the Fantasy competition.
Quarter Final stage matches
Wednesday 20 July
England vs Spain
Thursday 21 July
Germany vs Austria
Friday 22 July
Sweden vs Belgium
Saturday 23 July
France vs Netherlands
Fantasy managers need to ensure that they change their Fantasy teams to include only assets from these eight teams. But who are the best assets to select?
Austria
Austria have scored three goals and conceded just one in the tournament so far. This meant that they finished second in Group A behind England. Austria have been great in defence, which could trouble Germany who they face in the Quarter Final stage.
Key player: Nicole Billa
Billa was the top scorer in Germany’s Bundesliga in 2020/21 with 23 goals. She is a natural striker with great anticipation. She has returned one goal in the tournament so far.
One to watch: Laura Wienroither
Wienroither impressed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season. She joined Arsenal in January 2022,. The 23 year old should therefore feel at home playing in England for the EURO tournament.
Belgium
Belgium’s tournament has not necessarily run how they would have wanted it too. They had to settle for a point in Matchday 1, lost narrowly to France in Matchday 2 and then beat Italy in Matchday 3. Qualification for the quarter-finals is an historic event for women’s football in Belgium.
Key player: Janice Cayman
Cayman is the second highest goalscorer and the most-capped player in the history of the Belgium women’s team. She has scored six goals in six 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier games, as well as five times in eight matches during the EURO qualifiers. She was a big part of the reason that Belgium won their qualifying group.
One to watch: Amber Tysiak
Tysiak is a tall and athletic defender who loves to surge forward. This gives her the potential for attacking returns, something Fantasy mangers look for in a defender.
England
England have scored 14 goals without reply in the group stage of the competition. This is a record. England have been dominant and full of style and vigour. Making their assets highly attractive.
Key player: Ellen White
Ellen White is England’s top scorer. Last year she scored 12 goals for England in just nine games as well as a further six for Great Britain at the Olympics. In April 2022 reached 50 international goals. So far this tournament White has added another two goals to her tally and is in great form.
One to watch: Lauren Hemp
Hemp has scored one goal at the tournament so far however her involvement in the England attack has been excellent. She has become a regular choice and can be unplayable when she sets off down the wing.
France
France started the tournament with a fantastic win, putting five goals passed Italy in Matchday 1. Thus saw them become the first side to score five in the first half of a Women’s EURO game. Of course this was soon beaten again by England in Matchday 2. French start Grace Geyoro scored a first half hat-trick, again a first in the Women’s EURO tournament.
Key player: Wendie Renard
Renard is the French captain and boasts 126 caps for her country. A towering defender she makes her height count at both ends of the pitch. The defender has returned 29 goals for France.
Germany
Germany scored six goals and conceded none on their way to topping their group. In fact they qualified for the quarter-finals with a match to spare. In their final match of the group stage they scored three more without reply against Finland.
So far their defence has been rock solid. In addition their attacking players Lina Magull, Klara Bühl and Alex Popp have had plenty of chances and scored plenty of goals.
Key player: Svenja Huth
Huth is an attacking player who can support the forwards from the middle of the pitch or down the wing. She is creative which could lead to some attacking promise during the Quarter Final.
One to watch: Lea Schüller
Scheuller has already scored one goal in the tournament back in Matchday 1. Her pace and dribbling skills seen her knicknamed ‘the female Marco Reus’ she could be a great pick for managers in the Quarter Final stage.
Netherlands
The Dutch were expected to qualify second behind Sweden from their group and therefore they have performed as expected so far. However, they are yet to show the spark that this Netherlands team is capable of. The return of Vivianne Miedema should also help to rejuvenate the side.
Key player: Vivianne Miedema
Miedema has over 100 caps and is approaching 100 international goals for the Netherleands. She was part of the Netherlands team who won the UEFA Women’s U19 EURO in 2019. She scored two goals in the Women’s EURO 2017 final as well as returning ten goals in the 2021 Olympics.
One to watch: Victoria Pelova
Pelova has often been used as a substitute for the Netherlands. This could make her a great option for managers who haven’t played their superb chip.
Spain
Spain responded with four goals, three of which were from set plays after conceding in the first minute to Finland. With Alexia Putellas joining Jenni Hermoso on the injury bench they are struggling for goals. Without those two, the cutting edge has diminished. Substitute Marta Cardona’s did score in Matchday 3 which might make her a good option in the Quarter Final stage.
One to watch: Aitana Bonmatí
The midfielder scored in the 2021 UEFA Women’s Champions League final. Bonmatí is an exciting prospect and they might need her attacking threat to make it though the quarter-finals.
Sweden
Sweden came to the EURO’s dreaming of victory, however their performances so far have not necessarily lived up to the pre-tournament hype. Against Portugal their set-piece threat was greatly improved and their was more intensity in their game.
Key player: Stina Blackstenius
In the Olympics Sweden played attacking direct football, Blackstenius takes credit for a lot of that. At youth level she scored 50 goals in 49 game for Sweden and was part of their 2015 UEFA Women’s U19 EURO victory. She also scored in the Olympic final in 2016. She also scored five goals when Sweden won Olympic silver last year.
One to watch: Hanna Bennison
Bennison was part of Sweden’s Olympic silver medalist team. She is another great player for the superb chip as she is usually deployed from the bench.
Check out our coverage of the Women’s EURO tournament so far.
