England aim to launch Euro 2022 in style
England and Austria will raise the curtain on Euro 2022 on Wednesday for a tournament aiming to take the women's game to another level over the next month.
Over half a million tickets have been sold to fans in 100 countries, including sell-outs for the opening game at Old Trafford and the final at Wembley on July 31.
"This is a huge moment for us – the biggest ever – but it also gives us the platform to kick on and really take the game to another level," said UEFA's head of women's football Nadine Kessler.
"These big strides the game is taking will continue to positively shift perceptions of women's football, but we want to do more.
"Continue to raise standards in our competitions, from youth level up, increase visibility worldwide and deliver top-class tournaments such as this one."
Initially scheduled for 2021, UEFA moved the tournament back a year after the men's Euro 2020 had to be delayed 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aided by a rare space in the men's football calendar due to the later start to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the stars of the European game on the women's side have the chance to take centre stage.
UEFA estimate a television audience of 250 million for the tournament.
The five years since the last women's Euro, won by the Netherlands on home soil, have been transformative for the sport.
Money has flowed in from new sponsors, television rights deals and major clubs now prepared to spend big on improving the standards of their women's teams.
Yet, prize money of 16 million euros ($17 million) still pales in comparison with the 331 million euros on offer to competing nations at the men's Euro last year.
In defending that gap, Kessler admitted that European football's governing body will burden a "significant loss" in hosting the tournament due to a five-fold increase in spending on facilities compared to the last women's Euro.
England expects
That investment is expected to be reflected on the field in the most competitive women's Euro to date, with half of the 16 teams regarded as realistic contenders.
After losing three consecutive semi-finals, England have to handle the weight of expectation to win a first major tournament on home soil.
The Lionesses have Euro-winning experience on their side, though, in the form of manager Sarina Wiegman, who led the Dutch to the title in 2017.
"The level is so high now, it's really difficult to predict what it will look like at the end of the tournament," said Wiegman on Tuesday.
"Lots of countries are in a good position, we are too. In tournaments strange things can happen and we hope we can take advantage."
Norway are expected to post the biggest threat to England in Group A, with former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg back after a self-imposed five-year exile from international football.
Spain are the bookmakers' pre-tournament favourites thanks to the backbone of talent that has turned Barcelona into a dominant force of the club game.
But La Roja have been rocked by a knee injury to reigning Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas that has ruled her out of the tournament.
Spain also have to get out of the group of death featuring eight-time winners Germany and 2017 finalists Denmark along with Finland.
The clash between holders the Netherlands and Olympic silver medallists Sweden in Group C is another highlight of the group stage.
France, Italy, Belgium and Iceland make up what appears the most balanced section in Group D.
Stadium balance 'right'
However, the selection of the 4,400 capacity Manchester City Academy Stadium for three matches in that group was lambasted as "embarrassing" and "disrespectful" by Iceland midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir.
The 7,800-capacity Leigh Sports Village will also host four matches, including a quarter-final.
But organisers have defended their choice of venues with Brighton, Brentford, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield and Southampton the other hosts.
"We think we've got the balance about right," said the English Football Association's director of women's football, Sue Campbell.
The opening game will break the 41,000 attendance record for a game at the women's Euro by over 30,000, with a near 90,000 crowd for the final.
-
21 Unexpected Wonders in Colorado’s Vibrant Cities and Small TownsBoomers killed the Facebook statusFM holds phone talks with US climate envoy on cooperation for carbon neutrality goalFBI denounces Nunes memo in statement.Sinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free工行发布“工银智能卫士” 全面升级账户智能防护服务Facebook adds Boomerangs, portrait mode, AR stickers to MessengerUnification minister renews support for private sector efforts to resume aid to N. KoreaSpaceX Polaris Dawn mission: How to watch the launchSouth Korea, US agree to closely coordinate on inter
下一篇:Best Labor Day headphones deals: Apple, Bose, Beats, and more on sale
- ·DNC 2024 speech: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have a superpower no other Democrat has.
- ·开展专项检查 排查商家火灾隐患
- ·North Korea's main
- ·South Korean journalist offers rare peek into hermit NK newsroom
- ·科创筑梦树立远大志向 蓄势赋能培养科技人才
- ·US slaps sanctions over North Korea overseas workers
- ·Krejcikova pays tribute to Novotna after French Open triumph
- ·Americans 'waiting' for North Korea's gift
- ·Ford can make your Mustang Mach
- ·Today in Conservative Media: A real constitutional crisis is if Congress tries to protect Mueller.
- ·这个中秋,到佛山禅城乡村振兴示范带看火龙逐月
- ·Kim calls for communication, unity with China against 'hostile forces' all
- ·18 Places for Epic Outdoor Adventure Across Colorado
- ·Capacity for Euro 2020 finale raised to 40,000
- ·工行发布“工银智能卫士” 全面升级账户智能防护服务
- ·遗嘱形式上存在严重缺陷 不具有法律效力
- ·Abrar Ahmed returns as Pakistan names squad for second Test against Bangladesh
- ·California atmospheric rivers to intensify, make billion
- ·US slaps sanctions over North Korea overseas workers
- ·US slaps sanctions over North Korea overseas workers
- ·评论丨农事运动会:一场农民的盛会、新农人风采展现的盛会、城乡双向奔赴的盛会
- ·第三批四川省森林康养基地名单公布 雅安8家上榜
- ·Greta Thunberg arrives in Portugal on her way to climate talks
- ·Alito denies Pennsylvania Republicans‘ request to preserve partisan gerrymander.
- ·How do you make safe, cheap nuclear reactors? Bury them a mile deep
- ·North Korea expected to test ballistic missile soon: experts
- ·NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- ·This Tesla Cybertruck sculpted out of mashed potatoes is a mashterpiece
- ·中国电信光纤通到悬崖村 古路村进入信息新时代
- ·Killer Mike apologized after the NRA used his words to bash the March for Our Lives
- ·11 Telescopes Exploring The Magic of Space
- ·Trump warns N. Korea not to interfere with his reelection bid
- ·我市13件作品入选省“我的最美家庭”优秀作品
- ·S. Korea, US set to wrap up springtime combined exercise amid COVID
- ·Discover Secret Swimming Holes and Hidden History in Crystal River, Florida
- ·Gov't under fire for standing idle over deportation of NK defectors in Vietnam