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Lewis Ambrose·15 July 2022
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Lewis Ambrose·15 July 2022
That’s two third of the group stage done, with some Euro 2022 favourites definitely emerging.
Here are our latest Power Rankings for all 16 teams.
Two games, two defeats, and already heading home with a game against the hosts to come. But Northern Ireland played well against Austria and scored their first major tournament goal against Norway – the summer has not been for nothing.
Finland may have no points on the board but they tested Spain more than anyone expected and Denmark had to work very, very hard to beat them. They’re out but with their heads held high.
Italy responded to that big defeat to France with a draw from behind against a dangerous Iceland side. There’s life in the Azzurri yet.
Things have not gone well for Switzerland this summer. A 2-0 lead against Portugal slipped away, a bug went through the camp and then Sweden beat them after VAR took away a penalty and they had equalised immediately after falling behind. And next they have to play the reigning champions.
It was a nervy win against Finland after that humbling at the hands of Germany first time out. But Denmark can now qualify for the knockout stages if they just beat Spain.
A win against Northern Ireland has Austria dreaming of a place in the quarter-finals as they meet Norway. And they only need a draw!
Belgium have everything to be one of the surprises of the tournament and they showed as much as they gave France a run for their money on Thursday. Reaching the next round is still possible if they beat Italy.
Still unbeaten in Group D, Iceland have impressed against both Belgium and Italy. Plus they’re fun to watch!
Speaking of fun to watch, Portugal have come from two goals down to equalise in each of their games. Switzerland and the Netherlands were the favourites in both matches but given almighty frights. Now Sweden will have to watch out for perhaps the most entertaining underdog at the tournament.
Well, what is there to say after an 8-0 defeat? Norway just need to compartmentalise that immediately and focus on beating Austria. They have the talent to go far, no matter what happened against England.
Spain arrived as one of the big favourites this summer but lost their star in Alexia Putellas and look wide open on the break. It is not too late to improve but that 2-0 defeat to Germany made them look very, very human.
Sweden have played well in patches in both their games so far but without truly convincing. Still, four points is no poor return and their talent is undeniable. They are still a force to be reckoned with.
A 1-1 draw with Sweden was a truly mixed performance and the same can be said of their win over Portugal, though that was achieved without Vivianne Miedema. Whether or not they can trouble the three sides above them here remains to be seen but they are on course to find out.
France were unlikely to be as devastating as they were against Italy a second time around and they had to work a little more to beat Belgium. Two wins from two is enough to have qualified already and they will hope Marie-Antoinette Katoto is fit and firing for the knockout rounds.
We saw Germany attack and dominate against Denmark, creating chance after chance. We saw them press and counter and defend resolutely against Spain, who had so much of the ball but did so little with it. Two very different displays, both excellent in their own right, and a real statement made.
But there is no bigger statement than beating one of the top sides in the competition 8-0. And there’s not much more you can say about that.