As we head towards the final stages of this year’s UEFA Women’s EURO, we look back on what’s been an incredible month of record-breaking moments and a showcase of amazing talent across the women’s game.
Ahead of this evening’s mouth-watering semi-final tie between England and Sweden in Sheffield, Arsenal and Lionesses legends Kelly Smith and Faye White have selected an all-time EURO XI in partnership with Betway Insider. The pair participated in three consecutive UEFA Women’s EURO tournaments (2001, 2005 and 2009) for the Lionesses in their successful international careers.
Here are Smith and White’s selections, do you agree with the players named in their ultimate team?
Nadine Angerer (GK)
Reliable German goalkeeper Angerer played for her nation for 19 years and represented her country at five consecutive EUROs from 1997-2013, winning them all. Unfortunately, for the first three, she didn’t play a single game in the competition as she was used as a reserve keeper. Despite that, when her chance did come, she was starting keeper as the Germans won the 2009 EUROs. She also saved two penalty kicks as captain in the final as Germany also lifted the trophy in 2013.
Lucy Bronze (RB)
Strong and powerful right-back Bronze has been a key member of the England squad for a number of years now, and despite being one of the older players, she is still one of the first names on the teamsheet for head coach Sarina Wiegman. Bronze first featured in the senior squad at UEFA Women’s EURO 2013. She then proved her quality at UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, in which her performances saw her named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. Bronze has gone on to play an integral part in the Lionesses’ success so far at this year’s tournament.
Ariane Hingst (CB)
With the Germans holding the record for the most EURO titles (8), it’s no shock that more than one player has been included in the XI. Hingst’s first EURO start was in the 1997 final at the age of just 17, where her nation Germany lifted the title. After featuring occasionally as Germany lifted the trophy again in 2001, Hingst won it in 2005 and 2009 with her country. She played a major part in the 19-game winning run in the EUROs which spanned from 1997-2009, making 17 appearances.
Wendie Renard (CB)
Physical presence Renard is one of those players who you would love to have on your team but would be a nightmare if you played against her. At the age of 32 and being over 6ft in height, she’s the perfect centre-back; experienced and a threat in all ariel battles. Renard has been with the French team for over a decade now and has captained her side in two EUROs. She was named in the Squad of the Tournament in 2013 when France got knocked out at the quarter-final stage.
Magdalena Eriksson (LB)
Goalscoring defender Eriksson has been a part of the Swedish national team since 2014 and was named in her first EUROs squad in 2017, where Sweden were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Now at the age of 28, Eriksson is enjoying her second UEFA Women’s EURO and she will be able to look back on some incredible performances from the centre-back position once the tournament has ended. Having only conceded two goals in the competition so far, Eriksson prides herself on helping her team to keep clean sheets.
Renate Lingor (CM)
Moving on to another German who has been chosen, Lingor represented her country at two consecutive competitions, winning them both in 2001 and 2005 in which she made 10 starts and scored three goals. She was a key component of a German team that dominated the international stage for some time.
Dzsenifer Marozsan (CAM)
Marozsan was able to be a part of UEFA Women’s EURO history when Germany lifted the title for a record-breaking eighth time in 2013 after sealing victory over Norway in the final. She scored the winning goal against Sweden in the semi-final, before helping her team defeat Norway to become winners again. She was deservedly named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament for her consistent performances throughout the competition. Marozsan made her 100th senior appearance for her country in a UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifying win against Montenegro before unfortunately sustaining an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury which prevented her from being in contention for selection for this summer’s tournament.
Hege Riise (CM)
A familiar name to many, formidable midfielder Riise was a key player for the Norwegian national team for just shy of 15 years. She helped Norway to a UEFA Women’s EURO title in 1993 in which she was named the Golden Player of the Tournament for the impact which she made at the age of 24.
Vivianne Miedema (RW)
Exciting attacker Miedema is currently one of the world’s top talents when it comes to international football. At the age of 26, she’s got a lot of her career ahead of her but has also already proved why she’s world-class. Selected for her first EURO squad in 2017, Miedema went on to win the competition on home soil, netting once against England in a 3-0 semi-final victory and twice in the final against Denmark. Miedema and the Netherlands couldn’t advance past the quarter-final stage this year and unfortunately, the attacker contracted COVID-19 in the group stage which restricted the impact that she could make.
Birgit Prinz (FW)
Prinz is a very well-respected German international having played an integral part in their success for over 15 years, helping them to five consecutive EURO titles. She made her international debut at 16, scoring in the 1995 final and being named Golden Player of the Tournament. She captained the side to two of the five victories that she played a part in and she shares the most goals scored across EURO competition alongside teammate Inka Grings, with 10.
Kelly Smith (LW)
Former England international Smith has made a real impact on the women’s game since making her England debut at the age of 16 in 1995. As indicated above, Smith participated in three consecutive EUROs between 2001 and 2009. The forward scored three goals as England finished as runners-up in the 2009 competition. She always made a real impact in any game that she played in.
As England face Sweden tonight in the first of two exciting semi-finals, the talent on display will be incredible. With a lot of exciting young talent having emerged over the past few years, the all-time XI discussed this tournament is certain to change in the future.
By Megan Garbutt
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