Two of the tournament favourites – Spain and Germany – begin their Women’s Euros campaign on Friday as Group B gets under way.
Spain vs Finland: Keep calm and carry out without Putellas
Spain manager Jorge Vilda has revealed his side received a “huge shock” losing Alexia Putellas to injury just before their Euro 2022 – but have “made a promise” to be stronger without her.
Ballon D’Or winner Putellas picked up an ACL injury on Tuesday, just four days before their Euro 2022 campaign was due to start.
Vilda, whose side are one of the favourites to win the whole tournament, told his pre-match press conference ahead of their tournament opener with Finland that a special meeting was held to try and move on without the Barcelona midfielder.
“The day before yesterday was not the best,” Vilda said on Thursday. “It was a big shock, a huge blow for everyone: for the team and for [Putellas], thinking about what she’s going to miss.
Alexia Putellas has been ruled out of Spain’s Euro 2022 campaign
“But the next day, 48 hours before our first match, the team met, it came together, united and made a promise. We can’t let the sadness and anger over what has happened [affect us]. There is no choice but to come together, be stronger, and fight even more. She is still with us, a captain and an example to us all. Now we just want the ball to roll.
“It’s not just football; it’s about the group too. Hers is an absence we feel. But I want to show total confidence in the 23 players we have: there are alternatives and quite a few players who can play on the inside left of midfield. Our philosophy comes above all else and we have 23 players who can play that way perfectly.”
Germany vs Denmark: Harder hopes bond carries nation through tough group
Pernille Harder hopes her Denmark team’s bond and “tactical knowledge” can boost their fortunes at Euro 2022 as they prepare for their opening Group B game against Germany on Friday.
Harder will lead her side out as Denmark captain at the Brentford Community Stadium as they aim to improve, having been runners-up in 2017.
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“There are so many good teams playing in this European Championship, and Germany and Spain are two of the best, perhaps two of the favourites,” Harder said when asked about Denmark’s group.
“We know that on paper we are perhaps not as good as them but what we have – the team bond and the tactical knowledge – can maybe carry us a long way.”
Finland, meanwhile, will be hoping to impress on their return to the competition after failing to qualify for the previous edition in 2017 – and Nora Heroum feels her side are ready.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “It’s going to be a very amazing tournament, one of the biggest, I guess.
“We have a good, tough group, so we have good games coming up. I feel like we are ready. We have been waiting for this for one year so, finally, it’s starting.”
Follow Euro 2022 across Sky Sports
Keep up with all the latest from Euro 2022 across Sky Sports and Sky Sports News this summer.
Coverage will be anchored by Sky Sports WSL presenter Caroline Barker, alongside Jessica Creighton and Kyle Walker. Meanwhile, Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Laura Bassett will give analysis throughout the tournament.
They will also be joined by experienced England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and Manchester City defender Esme Morgan.
The pundits and presenters will work from the Sky Sports Women’s Euro 2022 Mobile Presentation Bus, which will follow the Sky Sports News team around the country to the various stadiums where matches are being played.
In addition, Sky Sports’ Essential Football Podcast will be rebranded for the tournament to Sky Sports Women’s Euros Podcast from 21 June. Hosted by Charlotte Marsh and Anton Toloui, it will feature exclusive news and player interviews in addition to a strong programme line-up around the tournament.
Euro 2022: The groups…
Group A: England, Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland
Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland
Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland
Euro 2022: The schedule…
Group stage
Wednesday July 6
Group A: England 1-0 Austria – Old Trafford
Thursday July 7
Group A: Norway 4-1 Northern Ireland – St Mary’s
Friday July 8
Group B: Spain vs Finland – kick-off 5pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Germany vs Denmark – kick-off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Saturday July 9
Group C: Portugal vs Switzerland – kick-off 5pm, Leigh Sports Village
Group C: Netherlands vs Sweden – kick-off 8pm, Bramall Lane
Sunday July 10
Group D: Belgium vs Iceland – kick-off 5pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Group D: France vs Italy – kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium
Monday July 11
Group A: Austria vs Northern Ireland – kick-off 5pm, St Mary’s
Group A: England v Norway – kick-off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Tuesday July 12
Group B: Denmark vs Finland – kick-off 5pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Germany vs Spain – kick-off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Wednesday July 13
Group C: Sweden vs Switzerland – kick-off 5pm, Bramall Lane
Group C: Netherlands v Portugal – kick-off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village
Thursday July 14
Group D: Italy vs Iceland – kick-off 5pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Group D: France vs Belgium – kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium
Friday July 15
Group A: Northern Ireland v England – kick-off 8pm, St Mary’s
Group A: Austria vs Norway – kick-off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Saturday July 16
Group B: Finland vs Germany – kick-off 8pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Denmark vs Spain – kick-off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Sunday July 17
Group C: Switzerland vs Netherlands – kick-off 5pm, Bramall Lane
Group C: Sweden vs Portugal – kick-off 5pm, Leigh Sports Village
Monday July 18
Group D: Iceland vs France – kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium
Group D: Italy vs Belgium – kick-off 8pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Knockout phase
Quarter-finals
Wednesday July 20
Quarter-final 1: Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B – kick-off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Thursday July 21
Quarter-final 2: Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A – kick-off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Friday July 22
Quarter-final 3: Winners Group C v Runners-up Group D – kick-off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village
Quarter-final 4: Winners Group D v Runners-up Group C – kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium
Semi-finals
Tuesday July 26
Semi-final 1: Winners quarter-final 1 v Winners quarter-final 3 – kick-off 8pm, Bramall Lane
Wednesday July 27
Semi-final 2: Winners quarter-final 2 v Winners quarter-final 4 – kick-off 8pm, Stadium MK
Final
Sunday July 31
Winners semi-final 1 v Winners semi-final 2 – kick-off 5pm, Wembley