Chelsea and England defender Millie Bright. PICTURE GETTY IMAGES
As kickoff approaches in Europe's biggest women's football tournament this week, Chelsea FC's experienced 'spine' could prove crucial to the England women's team success.
Now expanded to 16 teams, the Women's Euros hosted in England will culminate in a final at Wembley at the end of July. Originally planned for July 2021 and postponed because of Covid, the competition's reigning champions are the Netherlands, who won the title under the managership of Sarina Wiegman.
While England are ranked eighth, having home advantage and noisy home support will help against deadliest foes Germany (ranked third by Fifa), Sweden and France. Also in England's group, apart from Austria, are Norway and Northern Ireland.
Group B features Germany, Denmark, Spain and Finland; Group C has Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal; while Group D features France, Italy, Belgium and Iceland.
Route to the finals
The Women's Euros are being given blanket coverage by the BBC as the popularity of the sport grows in the UK. Once the Wimbledon tennis is over, the broadcaster's sporting focus will switch to football.
After England have played Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July, they face Norway on 11 July at Brighton, then take on Northern Ireland at Southampton's St Mary's stadium on 15 July.
If all goes well, the Lionesses expect either Germany or Denmark in the quarter-finals, with the semis staged at Sheffield and Milton Keynes before Wembley beckons.
England's True Blues
England's women face Austria on Wednesday 6 July in the opening fixture of the Uefa Women's Euros, with Chelsea's Millie Bright pivotal at the heart of defence.
With 51 caps already to her name, Millie – who turns 29 in August – is a key part of manager Wiegman's strategy, with the up-and-coming Jess Carter, 24, likely to initially start on the subs' bench.
In midfield, the evergreen fellow Blue Fran Kirby (56 caps and 15 goals) – still a year shy of her 30th birthday – seems to have shaken off the mysterious injury worries which affected her at the end of last season. Her link-up play with Arsenal star Beth Mead and City's Lauren Hemp has proved so valuable to the national team.
Up front, her club teammate Beth England, with eight goals from her 18 appearances in a Three Lionesses shirt, is hungry for more action, although she's equally happy in a forward midfield support role. Her domestic record speaks for itself, with three Women's Super League titles, three FA Cups and a League Cup.
Other countries with a Blue streak
Norway includes current Chelsea winger Guro Reiten and national captain Maren Mjelde, plus former Blues defender Maria Thorisdottir.
Denmark can draw on the experience of their captain and Chelsea striker Pernille Harder (who has scored 68 goals for De Rod-Hvide in 134 appearances), while Germany have a safe pair of hands in Ann-Katrin Berger, the Blues first-choice netminder.
The Dutch defence is beefed up by Chelsea's Aniek Nouwen, while the Swiss still rely on 31-year-old Ramona Bachmann, an ex-Chelsea legend who has scored 53 times for her country.
But it's the Swedish team that may prove to be the most dangerous package in the 2022 Euros, with Blues captain Magda Eriksson in defence alongside ex-Chelsea left back Jonna Andersson, who has now returned to her homeland after winning two WSL titles. Also still performing between the sticks at the ripe old age of 39 is ex-Blues keeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Chelsea fans will be keen to see how France fare in the Euros as their defenders include new Blues signing Eve Perisset, a 27-year-old right back who had spells at Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain before her most recent stint with Bordeaux.
Local teams
While the current England squad is largely drawn from Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City, there are high hopes that, within a few seasons, Fulham FC Women may be challenging for a place in the top-flight.
After being the first women's football team in Europe to go full-time professional, 22 years ago, Fulham have had a chequered history because of variable levels of support from the parent club.
The players are currently in the fifth tier of women's football but, as support for the game grows, the expectation of advancement through the divisions increases too.
Meanwhile, QPR Women are now known as Hounslow Women FC, and play in the Women's National League. They have targeted advancing to the FA Women's Championship in the next couple of seasons.
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