In just over a week, England will kick-off against Austria in front of a sell-out crowd at Old Trafford, getting Euro 2022 well and truly underway.

The hosts and Austria have been drawn in Group A alongside Norway and tournament debutantes Northern Ireland.

GiveMeSport Women previews the group, providing information on the team’s history, manager, best players and their chance of progression.

England

Manager: Sarina Wiegman

World ranking: 8th

History: England played their first international match in 1972, shortly after the FA ended its 50-year ban on women’s football.

The team have since played at five Women's World Cup five times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1995, 2007, and 2011, finishing third in 2015, and fourth in 2019.

They have featured at the European Championship nine times, finishing as runners-up in 1984 and 2009.

Key players: England will be captained by Leah Williamson, who plays in defence for club Arsenal but will likely feature in midfield for her country.

The 25-year-old’s lethal combination of no-nonsense defending and ability to create goal scoring opportunities makes her a force to be reckoned with.

In attack, England boast one of the best young talents in women’s football. Lauren Hemp is a speedy winger with the technical skills to match, and will torment every defence at Euro 2022.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City).

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Unattached), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal).

Forwards: Beth England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City).

How will they fare?: Group A winners

Tournament odds: 4/1 (SkyBet)

Norway

Manager: Martin Sjögren

World ranking: 11th

History: The Norwegian national team was established in 1978 and quickly became one of the most dominant forces in the world.

The side finished as runners up at the 1991 World Cup, before triumphing in 1995. They have played at six more World Cups.

Norway are also two-time winners at the European Championship, clinching the title in 1987 and 1993.

Key players: Norway are stacked with world class talent, including star striker Ada Hegerberg.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has returned to her national team set-up for Euro 2022, after ceasing to play for her country in 2017 due to poor treatment of the women’s side.

She will be supplied by winger Caroline Graham Hansen, one of the best attackers in the women’s game who rarely receives the credit she deserves.

At the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Graham Hansen completed more dribbles than any other player, an impressive statistic which is all the more noteworthy when considering Norway were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Guro Pettersen (Valerenga), Sunniva Skoglund (Stabaek), Aurora Mikalsen (Brann).

Defenders: Tuva Hansen (Brann), Maren Mjelde (Chelsea), Anja Sonstevold (Inter), Julie Blakstad (Manchester City), Maria Thorisdottir (Manchester United), Synne Skinnes Hansen (Rosenborg), Guro Bergsvand (Brann).

Midfielders: Vilde Boe Risa (Manchester United), Amalie Eikeland (Reading), Ingrid Syrstad Engen (Barcelona), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Elisabeth Terland (Brann), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Thea Bjelde (Valerenga).

Forwards: Anna Langas Josendal (Rosenborg), Karina Saevik (Avaldsnes), Sophie Roman Haug (Roma), Celin Bizet Ildhusoy (PSG), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona), Ada Hegerberg (Lyon).

How will they fare?: Group A runners-up

Tournament odds: 14/1 (SkyBet)

Austria

Manager: Irene Fuhrmann

World ranking: 21st

History: Austria started playing on the international stage in 1970, but took a while to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Euro 2017 was their first major tournament, and they stunned the world of football by reaching the semi-finals. Austria were then unable to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, but are back at Euro 2022 in the hope of being another surprise package.

Key players: Nicole Billa was in good company when she was named Women's Footballer of the Year in Germany in 2021. Pernille Harder, Dzsenifer Marozsán and Alexandra Popp have also received the accolade, showing just how highly-regarded Billa is.

The striker has been prolific for her country, scoring 42 goals in 77 appearances, and she will be crucial if Austria are going to have any chance of progressing from Group A.

Manuela Zinsberger will be equally important for Austria in goal. The shot-stopper starred for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League last season, and will be hoping to continue this form at Euro 2022.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Isabella Kresche (St. Polten), Jasmin Pal (FC Koln), Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal).

Defenders: Celina Degen (FC Koln), Marina Georgieva (Sand), Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt), Katharina Naschenweng (Hoffenheim), Katharina Schiechtl (Werder Bremen), Viktoria Schnaderbeck (Arsenal), Carina Wenninger (Roma), Laura Wienroither (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jasmin Eder (St. Polten), Laura Feiersinger (Eintracht Frankfurt), Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller (Hoffenheim), Marie-Therese Hobinger (Zurich), Maria Plattner (Turbine Potsdam), Sarah Puntigam (FC Koln), Sarah Zadrazil (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Nicole Billa (Hoffenheim), Stefanie Enzinger (St Polten), Lisa Kolb (Freiburg), Lisa Makas (Austria Wien).

How will they fare?: Third place in Group A

Tournament odds: 66/1 (SkyBet)

Northern Ireland

Manager: Kenny Shiels

World ranking: 47th

History: Northern Ireland played their first international match in 1973, losing 4-1 to the Republic of Ireland.

The side will compete in their first major tournament at Euro 2022. In fact, they will be the lowest UEFA-ranked team in the competition.

Key players: Rachel Furness is Northern Ireland’s all-time top scorer with 38 goals in 84 appearances, and was an integral part of the country’s qualification for Euro 2022.

She hit the back of the net multiple times as they reached the play-offs, before scoring to help her team to a 4-1 on aggregate victory against Ukraine.

Simone Magill was another to score in that historic win, and will be as crucial as Furness in Northern Ireland’s attempt to progress from Group A.

The 27-year-old is a speedy striker – she has the record for the fastest goal in a women’s international football match, scoring after just 11 seconds against Georgia in 2016.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (BK Hacken), Becky Flaherty (Brighouse Town), Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Defenders: Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville), Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville), Ashley Hutton (Linfield), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville), Sarah McFadden (Durham), Rebecca McKenna (Lewes), Julie Nelson (Crusaders Strikers), Laura Rafferty (Southampton), Demi Vance (Rangers).

Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran), Joely Andrews (Glentoran), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville), Louise McDaniel (Cliftonville), Rachel Furness (Liverpool).

Forwards: Simone Magill (unattached), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonvillle), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville), Lauren Wade (Glentoran), Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers).

How will they fare?: Fourth place in Group A

Tournament odds: 250/1 (SkyBet)

Find out everything you need to know about Euro 2022 here.