A Quick Rundown of UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 Qualifying

posted by All White Kit
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 12:45am EDT

All White Kit offers coverage of women's soccer around the world from a fan's perspective. AWK will feature the latest news, analysis, and commentary on the women's game. Match reports, scores, schedules, standings and opinion pieces will be on share. We aim to become a resource for any follower of women's soccer.

The qualifying draw for Women’s Euro 2013 was conducted today. Group winners and the best runner-up will qualify automatically for the final stage, with the remaining six teams playing in a home-and-away playoff in October 2012. Fixtures will begin on September 2011 and will continue for the next 12 months. The groups and a brief breakdown of each:

Group 1: Italy, Russia, Poland, Greece, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Italy and Russia faced each other in Group C of Euro 2009 and both stand a fair shot at advancing out of the initial qualifying stage. Poland just missed out on getting out of the group stage of 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying, losing out to Ukraine by a lone point. The competition will be stiff between these three.

Group 2: Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, Turkey, Kazakhstan

This is certainly the most interesting group of the bunch. Germany are, well, Germany and could very well be three-time defending world champions by the time qualifying rolls around. Spain were narrowly thwarted by England in 2011 UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying. It wasn’t the first time, as England denied them by a thin margin in 2009 Euro qualifying. Spain will be gunning for the runners-up position but will have to contest with an enigmatic Switzerland. The Swiss very nearly qualified out of the UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying playoffs but were humiliated at this year’s Cyprus Cup. Turkey continues to be an emerging force in women’s soccer, as Tim Grainey explains on The Equalizer. Turkey will be looking for some redemption after failing to advance out of the preliminary stage of Euro 2009 qualification. Romania put up a decent showing at the 2011 Algarve Cup, despite falling to Chile in penalties in the 11th place match.

Group 3: Norway, Iceland, Belgium, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria

Norway’s progress has seemingly plateaued in recent years, as demonstrated in a disappointing group stage elimination in Euro 2009 and a fifth place finish in the 2011 Algarve Cup. Norway got through World Cup qualifying with little incident, as they faced Poland – easily the weakest in the mix - in the play-off round. Iceland will hope to capitalize on the ridiculously good vein of form the team discovered in the 2011 Algarve Cup. Iceland stormed through the group stage and nearly upset the U.S. in the final. Belgium, Hungary, Northern Ireland and Bulgaria will use qualification as an ideal way to gain experience on the international stage.

Group 4: France, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Israel

Prognosticating about France is best reserved until after the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s then that we’ll know if France’s potential can produce anything worthwhile. The two British sides plus Ireland provide what is likely the most cost-effective group in qualifying as travel costs between the three countries should be minimal (how’s that for some laser-sharp analysis). For once, Scotland showed they’re a true team of the future after an excellent 2011 Cyprus Cup run. Much seems to be stacked against Israel in the way of the country’s development of women’s soccer but it will be an interesting group, nonetheless.

Group 5: Finland, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, Estonia

Anyone’s guess, really. Finland remain stagnant and Ukraine’s advancement through 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying was very much down to a favorable group draw. As for Belarus, Slovakia and Estonia, well, I’ve got nothing.

Group 6: England, Netherlands, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia

Much like Group 4, judgment should be doled out after the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. England and the Netherlands met in the semifinals of Euro 2009 and the suspenseful match nearly went to penalties. The Netherlands have seemingly come on in leaps and bounds since then, rolling over their competition (excluding Canada) in the 2011 Cyprus Cup. England, meanwhile, will be looking to return to the finals of the European Championship.

Send to Facebook

Tweet This Post

Filed Under:

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com | View jennaawk's Full Profile

No one has commented on this yet. Be the first!

SIGNUP FOR A WOMEN TALK SPORTS ACCOUNT:

A Women Talk Sports account allows you to maintain a profile at www.womentalksports.com and login to comment on posts using your WTS identity.

Fields marked with a * are required.

Your First Name*:

Your Last Name*:

Your E-mail*:

Your Website:

Your Location:

Your Twitter Username:

Create a WTS Username*:

Create a Password*:

Confirm Password*:

Check here to receive bi-weekly emails from Women Talk Sports and partners highlighting discussions on our site and upcoming women's sporting events, as well as informing you of new products, services and special offers.

I accept the Terms & Conditions for joining Women Talk Sports

A Quick Rundown of UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 Qualifying

More from this author: