Pay Attention to These Five Players in the 2022 Euros
The 2022 Women’s Euros will begin on Wednesday, July 6, with the host country England kicking it off against Austria. The kickoff game will be in front of a sold-out crowd at Old Trafford.
The tournament will run from July 6-31 and feature 16 teams. ESPN will be airing the games on their networks and ESPN+.
We take a look at some players to watch throughout the tournament.
Alexia Putellas – Spain
Putellas is the best player in the world right now, without question. In the last year, she has won the Ballon d’Or, UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, and FIFA Women’s Player of 2021.
Putellas captained the Barcelona side that went 39-0 in the Primera División. The midfielder tallied 18 goals and 15 assists in league play.
Spain is ranked seventh in the world, but they’re young and don’t have a lot of major tournament experience. Even with that, though, they are favored to go far with this team’s talent, which starts with Putellas.
The midfielder has been terrific for both FC Barcelona and Spain, and she’ll be a key piece for Spain.
Fran Kirby – England
In 2019, the midfielder was diagnosed with a virus that affected her heart, but she was able to push through and make a return, and she was terrific for Chelsea and England. Unfortunately, in April of 2022, she was diagnosed with a fatigue problem that saw her have to step away from the game again.
Kirby has had to overcome a lot of hardships throughout her career, but despite her time away this year, she was named to England’s 23-player squad.
She’s a special midfielder and one of the world’s best playmakers. England’s attack will go through Kirby when she’s on the field.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto – France
Katoto is a proven goalscorer, and she’s done just that in her short time for France on the senior national team. She earned her debut in 2018, but this will be her first time representing France in a major tournament at the senior level.
The 23-year-old has already surpassed 100 goals for Paris Saint-Germain in just over 100 matches, making her the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Magdalena Eriksson – Sweden
Sweden is known for having a strong defensive-minded squad, and Eriksson is the anchor of the backline. Eriksson made her debut for Sweden in 2014 and has since made over 80 appearances for her country.
This team is the second-ranked squad in the world, and they bring a ton of experience with them, but they haven’t won the tournament since 1984. Nevertheless, they have high expectations to lift the trophy this year, and only twice have they failed to reach the semi-finals.
Sari van Veenendaal – Netherlands
The Netherlands will have tough competition in Group C with Sweden as they look to defend their 2017 championship. They’ll have an experienced goalkeeper in Van Veenendaal anchoring their backline.
The goalkeeper has been on the national team for 11 years, earning her first cap in 2011. She’s got 90 caps for the Netherlands and has cemented herself as one of the best in the world. In 2019 she was named the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year.
She’s no stranger to major competitions, having gone to two World Cups, and this marks her third Euros. She was a star for the Dutch in 2017 when they lifted the trophy, and they’ll lean on her again this summer.
Featured image via Getty Images
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
