The European Championships concluded earlier today with two surprising finalists: Netherlands and Denmark, with the Dutch triumphing in a rousing finish to a tremendous tournament.
We discuss some takeaways from this tournament and its impact on the next major event on the international calendar, the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, for which qualifying begins next month. The U.S. bounced back after their surprising loss to Australia in the Tournament of Nations with a fightback from the death win against Brazil (4-3) and then cruised comfortably to a 3-0 victory over Japan.
Australia's title crown after three consecutive wins, including a 6-0 win over Brazil, marks them as a serious contender to win the title in 2019. We also look at the teams currently in 6th-10th place teams in NWSL. We also have some news at the U-20 level, with New Zealand the first qualifier for next year's tournament in France.
EUROs Conclude with Two Surprising Finalists and a Tremendous Victory for the Dutch.
On August 6, the Netherlands won the 2017 EUROs with a 4-2 win over Denmark, with Vivianne Miedema scoring twice in front of a crowd of over 28,000 in Enschede. The 21-year-old is definitely one to watch as she joins Arsenal for the 2017-18 season, where she will play with her international teammate, midfielder Danielle van de Donk, who joined the Gunners in 2015 from Gothenburg of Sweden.
Denmark made it through to the 2017 EURO's final after five previous semifinal appearances. After pulling the shock of the tournament by sending Germany home in the quarterfinals 2-1, in a match delayed by a day for inclement weather, they faced the Cinderella story of the tournament—Austria in the semifinals. The Austrians and Denmark each had chances in 120 scoreless minutes, with the crucial moment being Austrian midfielder Sarah Puntigam (FC Freiburg of Germany and ex-Bayern Munich) botching her penalty kick in the 15th minute of the match awarded after a foul in the box; Puntigam skied the ball well beyond the frame of the goal. It was ironic since it was Puntigam's penalty kick that won the spot kick decider against Spain in the quarterfinals. The Danes won 3-0 in penalties and advanced to the Final, while Austria finished its debut European Championship undefeated in 5 matches—as the semifinal result goes in the books as a tie.
In front of a home crowd of 27,000 at the FC Twente Stadium in Enschede, the Netherlands made the final for the first time with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of England, who had played well in previous matches, but their goal scoring form 11 goals and 1 against in the 4 previous games deserted them. They still have made the final four of two major international tourneys (including WWC 2015) and Mark Sampson's side should again be in the hunt for the semifinals at the 2019 World Cup, as he likely will bring in some young talent from the English Super League during qualifying matches and friendlies over the next two years.
Thoughts on the Tournament
With The Netherlands vs. Denmark final, it meant that in 2017 we were guaranteed to have a new European champion, as previously only Germany, Sweden and Norway have won the event in eleven previous official tournaments, though Denmark finished second in an unofficial tournament in 1969 to Italy and won ten years later (1979), with both events held in Italy.
The Netherlands were a fantastic host and the games were held in a spirit of friendly competition and enjoyment. For the growth of the game, UEFA should seriously consider hosting the 2021 or certainly the 2025 tournament in Eastern Europe. Though the crowds might not be as solid for non-host team matches as in the Netherlands, we certainly are seeing much more parity in the finals' games and caliber of teams than ever before, certainly confirming the decision to expand the EUROs from 8 teams to 16 for the first time in 2017, though I would argue that it could have been done in 2013 successfully as well. An Eastern European finals—such as in Poland or Hungary, would still allow fans to travel and support their teams, plus Poland was a co-host with Ukraine for the 2012 men's European finals; for the 2020 men's finals—which will be hosted in 11 cities across Europe—St. Petersburg in Russia, Baku in Azerbaijan, Budapest in Hungary and Bucharest in Romania will hold matches. Russia, with its infrastructure in place for the 2018 men's World Cup, would also be a viable host, but a longer and more expense trip for supporters.The publicity of an Eastern European-hosted major women's tournament would further help the game grow in countries such as Croatia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Serbia, etc., which could drive in the future the types of positive results that we saw from debutants Austria and Portugal in this tournament. It must be noted that Russia was the only Eastern European side to make the finals, so the effort is needed for further development of the game in these countries, and a EUROs final in the region would assist greatly.
The Netherlands and Spain (though the latter lost in the quarterfinals on penalties to Austria) certainly seem to have momentum in building towards qualifying for their second consecutive Women's World Cup in 2019. The Netherlands will be favored in Group 3 which includes Norway, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Slovakia. The Netherlands, if they can keep playing attractive, attacking soccer, will have a large following of home fans for the world festival in neighboring France if they qualify, plus many neutrals after this play this summer. Sarina Wiegman, the head coach who spent a year with Rotterdam on the men's side, has proven that she is one of the top coaches in the game and it will be exciting to watch the progression of this team over the next few years. Spain seemingly has a more difficult path in Group 7, facing Austria again, Finland and improving Serbia and Israel.UEFA will have only nine representatives in France (including the hosts); just over half the number of teams in the Netherlands (16). Spain dominated possession statistics in their matches and their league is quickly becoming a destination for top international players. If they can continue to build their squad, a second consecutive World Cup and a chance to go beyond the knock out stage is a viable goal.
The one negative that was apparent at the EUROSs was that the goalkeeping in general could be improved, particularly as there were a number of gaffs that cost teams dearly, i.e. most glaringly was Switzerland's Gaelle Thalmann's failure to hold a ball on Camile Abily's shot that gave France a tie in the last group game and cost the Swiss a quarterfinal berth. Patricia Morais of Portugal struggled with goal kicks and overall shot-stopping at times, but even veterans like Sarah Bouhaddi of France and Chelsea's Hedvig Lindah of Sweden had errors that were surprising. This is a coaching and development issue that UEFA goalkeepers need to be challenged and given top quality individual training, including possibly scholarships to international goalkeeper camps in the U.S. and Canada. It was the one area of improvement that stood out in an incredible three weeks that proved that women's soccer continues to develop well in UEFA member countries.
Tournament of Nations Review
In Los Angeles, Australia won the inaugural Tournament of Nations title with a 6-1 dismantling of Brazil on August 3. Sky Blue FC forward Sam Kerr scored one goal and supplied two assists in Australia's last game, finishing the event also with wins over the U.S. and Japan. Kerr totaled 4 goals and 2 assists overall. Lisa DeVanna added a brace. Camila (Orlando Pride) scored the first goal of the game for Brazil in the 2nd minute. The U.S., after overturning a 3-1 Brazil lead in the final 10 minutes to win 4-3 last Sunday, continued the momentum with a 3-0 win over Japan in front to 23,161 fans at the StubHub center in suburban Los Angeles on August 3. Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Alex Morgan each scored for the Americans, with outside back Taylor Smith (North Carolina Courage)—previously an attacker in college at UCLA and with U.S. youth teams—adding two assists in only her third appearance with the national team. The U.S. Women are next in action in September to face New Zealand in Denver and Cincinnati.
NWSL Review
We continue our NWSL season to date review by featuring the five teams currently in the second half of the table.
Houston Dash—Sixth 6-2-7 for 20 points
Nine games into Omar Morales' tenure as head coach after Randy Waldrum was let go at the end of May, he has an outstanding 5-5-2 record and helped to revitalize this club that has quite often floundered during its three plus years in the league. The club has a six match unbeaten run at the international break, including road wins over Orlando (2-0), Kansas City (2-1) and a 1-1 tie in Portland. Carli Lloyd, returning from a FA Cup winning loan spell with Manchester City to coincide with Morales first game, has helped (1 goal), while Brazilians Poliana and Andressinha have 4 and 2 goals respectively. Canadian rookie Nichelle Prince has scored 3 goals as has English international midfielder Rachel Daly (along with 2 assists and has started in all 15 games), while rookie goalkeeper Abby Sullivan has started in goal during the 6 game unbeaten streak, surrendering 8 goals in 7 matches for 1.14 GAA. Campbell, a U.S. international, selection in January's college draft, was panned by many as a silly selection since Houston already had Australian international backstop Lydia Williams and Mexican international Bianca Henninger (who was released before the season started) on their roster, but now Sullivan's selection is looking like a brilliant strategic move. Interestingly, Henninger was re-signed this week on a short term contract as cover for Williams, who has a quadriceps strain she picked up playing for her country on the recent west coast tournament; Williams is expected to be out for a month. Kealia Ohai, who with 11 goals and 4 assists in 2016 and was able to secure a national team spot, needs to add to her 2 goals and 2 assists total so far but she is still the emotional heart of the side as an original draft pick in 2014 (#2 overall in the 2014 draft); she should have a better conclusion to the season. Canadian international Janine Beckie (1 goal and 1 assist) has the talent and pedigree to also break out during the stretch run of the season. The Dash needs to continue their positive play to make the playoffs and leapfrog past Seattle, Sky Blue F.C. and hold off the Marta-inspired Orlando Pride to make the playoffs for their first time ever.
Orlando Pride—Seventh 5-4-6 for 19 points
It took a while for Marta to get on track but almost under the radar she has vaulted up the scorer's table and now is fourth in the league with 8 goals. Orlando finally won a road game this season in Houston, then won on the road at Sky Blue FC and tied in Washington ahead of the international break—the win over Houston was only their second road victory (also at Houston) since entering the league in 2016. Audrey Bledsoe (ex-Wake Forest who played briefly for Bode in Norway and Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark), stepped in as goalkeeper for the injured U.S. international Ashlyn Harris and has done well, compiling a 1.55 Goals Against average. Camila Martins Pereira of Brazil has 3 goals and 4 assists while Monica has started 8 games in defense—both played for their country in the Tournament of Nations as well. American forward Jasmyne Spencer (who has played the last three years in Australia with Sydney FC and Canberra United and had brief stints in Cyprus and Denmark) has nailed down a starting spot in 10 of 14 games played, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists.
Boston Breakers—Eight—3-5-7 for 14 points
Though lagging behind most of the playoff chasing pack with only 3 wins, the Breakers started the season better than last year and their 14 standing points are 3 more than they registered all last season (11 points) but their 10 goals scored is the lowest in the league—4 behind the next lowest total by FC Kansas City. England's Natasha Dowie has done well (3 goals and 2 assists) and Canadian international Adriana Leon (3 goals and 3 assists) returned from FC Zurich to NWSL and has had a significant impact. Rookie Rose Lavelle in midfield should be a finalist for NWSL Rookie of the Year and has been outstanding at times while second year goalkeeper Abby Smith has been to full national team training and should receive her first cap soon. Smith has a 1.36 GAA in 11 games and has been a big part of their very strong defense, which has conceded only 16 goals—fourth best in the league and only 3 more than leaders Portland and North Carolina. Forward Emilie Haavi of Norway, who missed much of the season with injury received in the Breakers preseason camp, underperformed with Norway at the EUROs—as did most of her teammates—and she needs to start impacting the offense more or she probably won't be back for 2018. It may take another year for Matt Beard to straighten out the mess that has been the Boston Breakers throughout their NWSL days, though they could still catch fire towards the end, but may have left it too late for a playoff spot this season.
FC Kansas City—Ninth 3-4-7-13 points.
Losing 2015 World Cup winner Amy Rodriguez in the season opener for the season due to an ACL tear—after she just returned from maternity leave—was detrimental to the Blues' season. Fellow 2015 WWC winner Sydney Leroux has played well with 3 goals and 1 assist, after also coming back from maternity leave, but this team needs to improve drastically on the attack; their 14 goals scored is the second lowest total in the league. Despite steady defense (22 goals surrendered is tied for 5th best) and former international goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart remains one of the best keepers in the league with a 0.93 GAA, scoring is their biggest need. Shea Groom has only 1 goal and 2 assists after notching 8 goals in 2016 and former Bayern Munich forward Erika Tymrak has only 1 goal and 1 assist. Incredibly, head coach Vlatko Andonovski is in trouble according to some reports, though he won League titles in 2014 and 2015, both times as underdogs against the Seattle Reign. An international forward and midfielder to assist the attack would be welcome to this team and roster changes are permitted until the end of August, but it may be too late and too much ground to make up in 2017.
Washington Spirt—Tenth—3-3-8 12 points
Things are not as grim as they seemed early in the season when the Spirit went 1-1-5 to open the year since 19-year-old U.S. international phenom Mallory Pugh left UCLA for the Spirit, spurning an opportunity to plan in France. Pugh has definitely added bite coming out of midfield, scoring 3 goals in just 7 matches. Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe has done well, despite the team leaking 24 goals or a 1.7 average goals allowed a game—the second highest total to Sky Blue's 28 goals surrendered. In recent games before the international break, the Spirit had narrow 2-1 road losses at Houston and Portland. Havana Solaun, the ex-University of Florida Gator and U.S. youth international, has slipped under the radar, scoring 4 times with the Spirit, having previously played with Seattle Reign in 2016 after missing 2015 due to an injury. Nigerian international Francisca Ordega also has four goals. Argentinian forward Estefania Banini, a key part of last year's NWSL finals side with 5 goals and 1 assist, rejoined the team from Spain's Valencia and should help the side in the last few months of the season. Another import new for 2017, Denmark's Line Sigvardsen Jensen, has played every minute of her country's EURO run to the semifinals and would be a good player for the Spirit to hang onto for 2018—she has 1 goal and 1 assist in 9 NWSL games.
New Zealand Qualifies for 2018 U-20 World Cup
New Zealand was the first qualifier for next summer's 2018 U-20 Women's World Cup in France, which every four years has become a test run for the Women's World Cup hosts a year ahead of hosting the full tournament. New Zealand won their sixth straight Oceania Football Confederation U-19 title and will make their seventh consecutive appearance at the U-20 Women's World Cup (out of nine tournaments, which began as a U-19 FIFA World Cup in 2002 in Canada), making the quarterfinals in Canada in 2014. New Zealand won five straight games at the OFC tournament against their Oceania foes, with 8 goals scored and only 1 conceded. Emma Main of Upper Hutt City (11 goals), Sam Tawharu of Forest Hill-Milford United (9) and Hannah Blake of Three King's United (8) all also starred at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup last year in Jordan, while Blake—who scored a hat trick last summer in Jordan—also went on to appear at the U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
It was thought that Papua New Guinea, boosted by hosting the FIFA U-20 tournament last year (coached by American professional coach Lisa Cole) would seriously threated New Zealand's run of titles, but Fiji was the surprise, winning three of their five matches. Fiji had to overcome the loss of first choice keeper Francine Lockington, who had to pull out of the team with illness and sadly passed away last month. The 17-year-old won the Golden Glove at last year's regional tournament at the U-17 level and was the reigning Junior Women's Footballer of the Year in Fiji.
Final standings
New Zealand: 15 points
Fiji: 10 points
Papua New Guinea: 7 points
New Caledonia: 6 points
Samoa: 3 points
Tonga: 1 point
Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey
Source: tribalfootball.com