Women's EURO 2022: Meet the Teams Coming to Sheffield
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 promises to be the biggest women’s sporting event in European history, and it arrives at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane this summer.
It kicks off with a heavyweight fixture between the reigning UEFA Women’s EURO champions the Netherlands and Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Sweden. Switzerland will also play games at Bramall Lane in a group completed by Portugal, who do not make the trip to S2. Sheffield also plays host to a semi-final this summer, as two of the very best teams in Europe will fight for the chance to feature in the sold-out UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final at Wembley.
Netherlands vs Sweden
Bramall Lane, Saturday 9th July at 8pm, Group C
This is set to be one of the showcase UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 group-stage matches as the 2017 champions take on the 1984 winners.
The Netherlands are looking to defend their title and will have to overcome a difficult challenge in this plucky Swedish side early on. They have several reasons to be hopeful - they overcame the Swedes on their road to winning the UERA Women’s EURO in 2017 and once more in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, where they finished as runners-up to the United States.
The same can be said for Sweden who are in search of their second European title following their silver medal in last summer’s Olympic Games.
Unsurprisingly, both teams are packed full of talent, with Dutch stars Lieke Martens of Barcelona and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal lighting up their respective leagues, while Miedema’s Arsenal teammate Stina Blackstenius will lead Sweden’s line this summer.
Sweden vs Switzerland
Bramall Lane, Wednesday 13th July at 5pm, Group C
The second UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 fixture taking place at Bramall Lane sees Sweden take on Switzerland. The two sides have played each other five times, with Sweden unbeaten after coming out on top on four occasions with one draw.
Switzerland qualified for the tournament for the first time in 2017, stumbling out in the group stage of a tough group that included France and Austria. They qualified for the Women’s EURO this summer with a play-off victory on penalties against Czech Republic and will be hoping to make it to the knockout stages on this occasion.
There will be another clash between Arsenal stars as Stina Blackstenius of Sweden is set to come up against experienced midfielder Lia Walti.
Switzerland vs Netherlands
Bramall Lane, Sunday 17th July at 5pm, Group C
The final UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 group stage match to be played at Bramall Lane this summer is set to be a thriller as Switzerland face the Netherlands. The sides have met on ten occasions, but never in the Women’s EURO, with the reigning champions winning seven times and the spoils being shared on three occasions.
That shows the size of the challenge the Swiss have in Sheffield this summer, but with more experience after narrowly missing out on the knockout stages last time out, they will be hoping to force their way out of the group this time around.
Barcelona star Ana-Maria Crnogorčević will be a vital cog in the Swiss attack - her 67 goals in 131 matches is a Swiss record – and she comes up against a familiar face in Lieke Martens after the duo starred for the Catalan club, who went unbeaten in the Primera División Femenina de España this year.
Semi-final
Bramall Lane, Tuesday 26th July at 8pm, SF1
The winner of quarter-final three will face the winner of quarter-final one at Bramall Lane for a place in the coveted and sold-out UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final at Wembley. That could see one of the Netherlands, Sweden or Switzerland making a return to Sheffield should they beat the runners-up in Group D.
The winners of Group A will face second place in Group B in the first quarter-final, which may well bring England up north for a huge semi-final clash.
There was penalty drama in the 2017 Women’s EURO semi-finals, as Denmark beat Austria, while Netherlands showed their title credentials by beating this year’s hosts England 3-0.
How you can be there
Excitement for UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 is building up. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Be sure to visit uefa.com/womenseuro to purchase your tickets now and enjoy the festivities in and around Sheffield.