Euro 2022 is inching ever closer and excitement levels are heightening by the minute.
England will kick off their campaign against Austria in Group A, but it’s Group B that looks to be the most competitive on paper.
Featuring the pre-tournament favourites, the competition’s most successful side ever and the runners-up from five years ago, it promises to be simply unmissable viewing.
GiveMeSport Women runs you through everything you need to know about the four teams in the group, including their history, manager, key players and their odds of lifting the Euros trophy.
Germany
Manager: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
World ranking: 5th
History: The German national team are one of the most successful sides ever to grace women’s football.
They have lifted the World Cup twice and won eight of the 12 Women’s European Championships, including six consecutively between 1995 and 2014.
Germany are one of two nations, along with the Netherlands, to have won both the men’s and women’s European Championships.
Key players: Germany will be without Lyon star Dzsenifer Marozsan after she sustained an ACL injury, as well as Chelsea’s Melanie Leupolz, who is due to give birth soon.
Nonetheless, striker Alexandra Popp has plenty of major tournament experience and has made more than 100 international appearances.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old midfielder Lena Oberdorf is a highly-rated youngster, who has starred for Wolfsburg across the past couple of seasons.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Merle Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt), Almuth Schult (Wolfsburg), Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea).
Defenders: Sophia Kleinherne (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kathrin Hendrich (Wolfsburg), Marina Hegering (Bayern Munich), Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich), Felicitas Rauch (Wolfsburg), Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Midfielders: Lena Lattwein (Wolfsburg), Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg), Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich), Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg), Sara Dabritz (Paris Saint-Germain), Linda Dallmann (Bayern Munich), Lina Magull (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Jule Brand (Hoffenheim), Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg), Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tabea Wassmuth (Wolfsburg), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich).
How will they fare? Group B runners-up
Tournament odds: 7/1
Spain
Manager: Jorge Vilda
World ranking: 7th
History: Spain have qualified for the Women’s World Cup on two occasions and the Women’s Euros three times.
Their best finish at the European Championships came in 1997 when they reached the semi-finals, before losing to Italy.
However, the rise of Barcelona in recent years has coincided with Spain breaking into the top 10 of the World rankings.
Their last defeat came way back in March 2020 and they are undefeated in 22 matches since.
Key players: Barcelona striker Jenni Hermoso will not play a part in the competition due to a knee injury.
However, all eyes will be on Hermoso’s teammate, Alexia Putellas, who is the current holder of the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Full-back Ona Batlle, who played a starring role for Man United last season, is another exciting name to watch.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sandra Panos (Barcelona), Lola Gallardo (Atletico Madrid), Misa Rodriguez (Real Madrid).
Defenders: Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Maria Leon (Barcelona), Leila Ouahabi (Barcelona), Andrea Pereira (Barcelona), Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester United), Laia Aleixandri (Atletico Madrid), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Sheila Garcia (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Irene Guerrero (Levante), Teresa Abelleira (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Lucia Garcia (Athletic Club), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Marta Cardona (Real Madrid), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Claudia Pina (Barcelona).
How will they fare? Group B winners
Tournament odds: 7/2
Denmark
Manager: Lars Sondergaard
World ranking: 15th
History: Denmark have qualified for the Women’s World Cup four times and the Women’s European Championships on nine occasions.
At the 2017 Euros, Denmark reached the final but lost to the Netherlands 4-2.
Their highest World ranking came back in March 2007, when they were sixth.
Key Players: Chelsea’s Pernille Harder is the captain of the side and her country’s all-time top goalscorer. Harder is considered one of the best players in the world and will be vital to Denmark’s chances of success.
Forward Signe Bruun, who has played for the likes of PSG, Lyon and Man United, could also prove to be a threat up front.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Katrine Svane (AGF), Laura Nielsen (Odense Q), Lene Christensen (Rosenborg).
Defenders: Simone Boye Sorensen (Arsenal), Katrine Veje (Rosengård), Luna Gevitz (Hacken), Rikke Sevecke (Everton), Sara Holmgaard (Turbine Potsdam), Sara Thrige (Milan), Stine Pedersen (Valerenga).
Midfielders: Sofie Svava (Real Madrid), Katherine Kuhl (Nordsjaelland), Janni Thomsen (Valerenga), Karen Holmgaard (Turbine Potsdam), Sanne Troelsgaard (Reading), Sofie Bredgaard (Rosengard), Sofie Junge Pedersen (Juventus).
Forwards: Pernille Harder (Chelsea), Mille Gejl (Hacken), Nadia Nadim (Racing Louisville), Rikke Marie Madsen (Madrid CFF), Signe Bruun (Manchester United, on loan from Lyon), Stine Larsen (Hacken).
How will they fare? Third place in Group B
Tournament odds: 28/1
Finland
Manager: Anna Signeul
World ranking: 29th
History: While they’ve never qualified for the World Cup, Finland have played at three European Championships.
Back in 2005, when the tournament was last hosted in England, the team reached the semi-finals.
However, the team is currently ranked 29th –– their lowest position since the rankings started in 2003.
Key players: Defender Natalia Kuikka plays for the Portland Thorns in the NWSL and has played with and against the best players in the world.
Tinja-Riika Korpela is another with bags of experience, having starred for the likes of Bayern Munich and Everton.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Katriina Talaslahti (Fleury 91), Anna Tamminen (Hammarby), Tinja-Riikka Korpela (Tottenham).
Defenders: Elli Pikkujamsa (KIF Orebro), Tuija Hyyrynen (Juventus), Emma Koivisto (Brighton), Anna Auvinen (Sampdoria), Nora Heroum (Lazio), Natalia Kuikka (Portland Thorns), Anna Westerlund (Aland United).
Midfielders: Ria Oling (Rosengard), Olga Ahtinen (Linkoping), Emmi Alanen (Kristiandstad), Essi Sainio (HJK) Eveliina Summanen (Tottenham).
Forwards: Adelina Engman (Hammarby), Sanni Franssi (Real Sociedad), Juliette Kemppi (IFK Kalmar), Amanda Rantanen (KIF Orebro), Jutta Rantala (Vittsjo), Jenny Danielsson (AIK), Heidi Kollanen (KIF Orebro), Linda Sallstrom (Vittsjo).
How will they fare? Fourth place in Group B
Tournament odds: 250/1
Find out everything you need to know about Euro 2022 here.