The Women’s Euros 2022 – Who Will Win the Championship This Summer?

The 2022 Women’s Euros finally kicks off in England this summer after lengthy delays due to COVID and the Summer Olympics, and will run from the 6th-31st July in 8 different towns and cities, across 8 stadiums. With many squads having been announced, now is a good time to predict the outcome of what should be a great tournament, with attendance figures set to shatter the 2017 Euros total in Holland.

Looking at the qualifying stages, there is definitely a group of teams that are streaks ahead of the competition, with a host of teams remaining undefeated. France, aiming to end their quarter-final ‘hoodoo’, didn’t concede a goal in 8 games! With a defence comprised of Lyon greats in Wendie Renard and Griedge Mbock Bathy, who just won the Women’s Champions League against Barcelona, they will be a tough nut to crack. Germany’s form harkens back to their domination of this tournament, having won it 8 times, including 6 times in a row from 1995 to 2013. Spain will be looking to their Barcelona stars such as Ballon d’or winner Alexia Putelles and Aitana Bonmatí for inspiration, with the Femeni having gone unbeaten in the league and securing a domestic treble. This could mirror the intertwined nature of the men’s Barcelona and Spain team, circa 2008-2012. And of course, England’s Lionesses will be looking to claim a maiden Euros title in front of their home crowd. This all adds up to a competitive tournament, with the knockout stages set to provide a lot of entertainment.

Best Bet – France at 5/1 with Bet365

You could pick any one of the teams at the top of the bookies’ list for good reason, but preference goes to France, in what will be a defining tournament for them, considering they have never won a major international competition, falling at the quarter final stage in their last 5 tournaments. But they have the core of the Lyon team, who have dominated women’s domestic football for 15 years, including the formidable Wendie Renard and rising star Selma Bacha. It’s true that the French team has consisted of Lyon regulars for previous tournaments as well, but what France didn’t have then was the firepower up top. For example, Renard, a centre-back, was France’s top scorer in the 2019 World Cup. 

That was until now. France have a brilliant striker in PSG’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who was weirdly left out of the 2019 World Cup. Katoto recently became PSG’s all-time top goalscorer at the age of 23. She scored 8 goals during the qualifying stages, along with 7 goals in the Champions league this season, and looks set to be a favourite for the golden boot. This mixture of rock solid defence and striking potency can see France go all the way.

According to SD information and French media reports, Marie Katoto's renewal with PSG is far from being done as the player’s conditions are not met. Lyon submitted a lucrative offer that is seriously considered by the striker.
A decision will be made soon.⏳#Katoto #PSG #OL pic.twitter.com/bxGKsEvU1s

— Soccerdonna (@soccerdonna) June 19, 2022

Next Best – England at 4/1 with Parimatch

You could argue Germany deserve a mention due to their past dominance of this competition, but they have been a bit shaky of late, recently faltering at the Arnold Clark Cup and losing to Serbia in World Cup qualifying in April. Therefore, England deserve a shout, considering they won the Arnold Clark Cup. With this edition of the Women’s Euros likely to have the biggest home support in the tournament’s history, that can spur on a talented group under Sarina Wiegman’s leadership. 

Since her arrival, England have been unbeaten, and with Wiegman’s experience of winning the last Euros with the Netherlands, things are boding well for the Lionesses to break their major tournament duck. Lauren Hemp, who had an amazing season with Manchester City, winning the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for a third year in a row, will be expected to be the star of the show. Her youthful exuberance on the wing will lend a helping hand to the experienced players up top in Ellen White and Beth Mead. The return of Chelsea legend Fran Kirby from injury can help a team that won’t be lacking in inspiration.

🗣 “We have experienced players, we have young players.”

England Women’s boss Sarina Wiegman says her squad has great balance ahead of the Women’s Euros. pic.twitter.com/LkEDDeEyhO

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 15, 2022

Outsiders – Norway at 16/1 EW with QuinnBet

Norway are a nice outside bet considering the talented players in their squad. One massive boost will be the return of Ada Hegerberg, a special player and one of the biggest names in women’s sport. Returning to the national team after a 5 year hiatus due to a dispute with the NFF, Hegerberg has slotted comfortably back into the team, recording 3 goals in her 2 games back. She is currently the all-time highest goalscorer in the Champions League, after recently guiding Lyon to the title with 6 goals. Caroline Graham Hansen, one of the game’s most creative players, was recently shortlisted for the 2021 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and will be bouncing with energy following her pivotal role in the Barcelona team’s domestic success. 

Norway are a team on the up, having put their 2017 Euro failure behind them with a nice run to the quarter finals in the 2019 World Cup. A flawless qualifying performance for this tournament sees momentum building, which is an all important factor in winning any sports tournament. Norway will have to contend with England in the group stage, which will most likely decide the top team in the group, but they should be able to comfortably beat Northern Ireland and Austria to advance to the knockout stages. They are a lively outsider and can challenge for the championship with their elite-level stars. Take an each-way bet to get a return if Norway reach the final.

L'Histoire. 🏆 #UWCL pic.twitter.com/DkNP4SSFaN

— Ada S Hegerberg (@AdaStolsmo) May 22, 2022

Odds updated as of 20/06/2022