Irene Paredes celebrates her superlative own goalSo much for Vault - the home of the Women's Euro's! Sadly, the wheels seem to have come off our coverage when i had an unscheduled 'episode' after watching the France V Spain game (the two were not connected, I hasten to add). I still continued to catch as many games as possible, just that some were viewed through a haze and my scrawled notes are for most part unintelligible. Must say, i thoroughly enjoyed the tournament, in particular those matches featuring Sweden, Denmark, France and Norway. When the latter overcame Germany in the group stages, it even seemed possible we'd see a new name on the trophy, but full credit to Silvia Neid's girls for getting the job done - yet again. For all the talk of poor goalkeeping earlier in this thread, I can't remember so many saved penalties in a competition. Two years on from now, it's the Women's world cup, so will try do a better job!
In the meantime, here's as near to a full round up as i'm capable. Better late than never? You must be out of your tiny mind ....
Group stages: continued.15 July Group C
England 1 Russia 1
France 1 Spain 0We hate to say it, but England were every bit as embarrassing as their male counterparts during the South Africa World Cup. Russia, the lowest ranked team in the tournament (i.e., even Iceland are considered more of a superpower) went ahead with a scrappy one from Nelli Korovkina on 40 minutes and could consider themselves unfortunate not to have won. With us at our most rubbish, Hope Powell's last throw of the dice was to bring half-fit Kelly Smith off the bench and for the final ten minutes England actually looked half decent. When Toni Duggan hit the bar in the closing stages, that seemed to be it, but she popped up again moments later to squeeze home a shot in stoppage time.
16 JulyGroup A
Italy 1 Sweden 3
Denmark 1 Finland 1Sorry, was on a pilgrimage to Harrow Weald and didn't get home in time to see either of these.
17 JulyGroup B
Germany 0 Norway 1
Iceland 1 Netherlands 0
Historic moment. Ingvild Isaksen becomes the first woman to score against the Germans in 178 years.The first Women's Euro's match Germany have lost a in 20 years - and the Norwegians rested six of their regular starts, too! A real scare for Norway when Saskia Bartusiak's thunderbolt clearance from inside her own half very nearly dipped over keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth head, but, with seconds to go until half time, Ingvild Isaksen let fly a scorcher which struck strike partner Elise Thorsnes to deflect the ball past a wrong-footed Nadine Angerer. Tellingly, it would be the only goal the German keeper would concede in the entire tournament.
To complete a day of shocks, tiny Iceland who, until this tournament, had never taken a point from the competition, did for the Dutch who'd so impressed in their opening match. Afraid I either didn't even catch the highlights of this or was too mangled to take them in.
18 JulyGroup C
England 0 France 3I'm still trying to figure if it was a case of France being brilliant or England being terrible. So comprehensive a scoreline didn't flatter
Les Bleus, that's for sure. An early strike from Eugénie Le Sommer steadied the nerves of a side resting six players and Louisa Necib celebrated her 100th cap with a marvelous curling shot past Karen Bardsley on the hour.
Russia 1 Spain 1
Life's lottery winners. The Danes leapfrog the Russians.Russia's point against Spain was almost enough for them to grab the second 'best third place team' passport to the last eight, but, having finished on the same points as Denmark, incredibly it was decided that the two countries should draw lots to see which of them would face Spain in the next round, with the loser packing their bags for home. And people think penalty shoot outs are unfair!
Quarter finals21st JulyIceland 0 Sweden 4
Germany 1 Italy 0 The Swedes at their irrepressible, attacking best made short work of the tournament's giantkillers. Three minutes on the clock and Marie Hammarström had already put the hosts in front, signalling as one-sided a half since Sweden did exactly the same to Finland in the group stages. Golden girl Lotta played a blinder, helped herself to another brace, but it was her selfless strike partner, Kosovare Asllani who again caught the eye. Cast your mind back to Eurovision 1991 (England's representative that year was Samantha Janus with
A Message To Your Heart) when Sweden's Carlota romped home with "Fångad av en stormvind" (Captured by a storm wind"). Well Pia Sundhage's girls' performance tonight was closer to Abba's 1974 triumph,
Waterloo.
Only caught the highlights of the favourites' narrow win over Italy, and, on the meager evidence provided, it looked a slog. Simone Laudehr's scruffy close range effort proved enough.
22nd JulyNorway 3 Spain 1
Denmark 1 France 1 (aet: Denmark win 4-2 on penalties). We are sure the English (and Scottish) players enjoyed a wicked giggle at Irene Paredes's embarrassment in scoring a glorious own goal, slicing a neat flick-on from Norway's Caroline Hansen over her keeper and into the net. Match also notable for an absolute screamer from Ada Hegerberg to make it 3-0 on the hour, after which the Norwegians saw the game out at leisure, Jennifer Hermoso netting a consolation in added time. France could consider themselves hard done by - going home having played four, won three and lost none, while Denmark had progressed to the semis having yet to win a game.
Semi finals24 July/ 25thGermany 1 Sweden 0Denmark 1 Norway 1 (aet: Norway win 4-2 on penalties).
I was more gutted to see the Swedes exit the tournament than I was England. The hosts gave everything, could, and, arguably should have won, but a combination of profligate finishing and a keeper who is only ever beaten by flukey deflections kept their free-scoring frontline at bay. From the marvelous ovation afforded them on the final whistle, you'd have sworn they'd won. That Norway stumbled over the line was due in no small part to the heroics of keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth who saved two in the penalty shoot-out. Leading through the superb Marit Christensen after only three minutes, Norway found themselves fighting a rearguard battle for much of the game and Mariann Knudsen's late headed equalizer was the least the Dane's deserved. They dominated extra time, too, but this time, the shoot-out proved beyond them. Had they made it all the way, they'd have done so on a record of played five, drawn four, lost one which, to be fair, England and the Netherlands would have settled for.
Final28th July Germany 1 Norway 0 And so to the final in the lovely new Friends Arena, Solna, (capacity: 50,000) where Big Zlat netted four past England last November. Had the hosts made it through the semi's there's no doubt it would have sold out but 41, 300 is still a very decent crowd. No question, Nadine Angerer's two penalty saves were the story of the day. The German's dominated the first ten minutes, after which Norway battered 'em, but just couldn't find a way past the big keeper. The first penalty was dead soft: the politest way of putting it is that Cathrine Dekkerhus did a Michael Owen, went down when she felt the slightest brush of Miss da Mbabi's shoelace against her sock. The rather more cynical verdict is the young lady's theatrical fall was the most outrageous dive of 2013 to date. It didn't matter. Trine Rønning didn't look overly confident when she stepped up to the spot but her subsequent blast straight down the middle almost paid off. Angerer, already flying to the left, stuck out a leg and deflected the ball over.
The second half was only just underway when sub Anja Mittag scored what proved to be the decider with her first touch of the ball, nonchalantly tapping home after a lightening breakaway by her colleagues. Norway kept pressing and copped a second penalty on the hour after Jennifer Cramer upended Caroline Hansen (no controversy about this one). Solveig Gulbrandsen hit it well enough, but Angerer guessed right and got a hand to the ball. Still time for Ada Hegerberg to have a goal chalked off for offside (you don't get one past eagle-eyed Sian Massey!), while, for the Germans, Nadine Kessler hit a post late on when it looked easier to score.
That Germany lifted the trophy with six of their first choices absent through injury says everything about their character and strength in reserve. They were far from easy on the eye, and I'd rather watch the goal-crazy Swedes any day of the week, but goodness, are they resilient!
