UEFA Olympic Playoffs

Here are the Stadiums used for the qualifiers :

Woensdag 2 maart

Noorwegen – Zweden (Stadion Woudestein, Rotterdam)
Zwitserland – Nederland (Kyocera Stadion, Den Haag)

Zaterdag 5 maart

Noorwegen – Nederland (Het Kasteel, Rotterdam)
Zweden – Zwitserland (Stadion Woudestein, Rotterdam)

Woensdag 9 maart

Zwitserland – Noorwegen (Stadion Woudestein, Rotterdam)
Nederland – Zweden (Het Kasteel, Rotterdam)

 

I would say, so what no Algarve? all four teams are playing at their peak right now and their very equal too each other. You might say this group is more balanced & stronger/quality than you'll see in anything in a WC or Olympic group(as they usually come with a few bottom feeders).

The only thing is that there's no championship type final game, so look for all teams to play a more defensive/counter attacking type game(which means that we're not going to see the more exciting, come out and firing from the hips) Even though the Netherlands have the home field, they might be in a disadvantage as they would be the once expected to attack more(which could lead themselves open in the back)

right now it be hard to choose a favorite;

Netherlands just came off an upset win over #3 France, plus another upset from their club team, Twente over Bayern Munich(all though they make only 2 starters on the NT, you'll think the Dutch coach will take a better look at Twente players)

Switzerland though incredibly underrated at #21, just came off impressive wins over Italy, 3-0 & 4-1 over Denmark(though that was a friendly)

Sweden has probably has the best record over the last decade or so, and they always show strongly up when they have to do. Its how much impact they're newer players going to be as they won this year's u19 Euro championship

Norway would be my slight faves but one condition, Carole Graham Hansen has to play! That's easier said than done as she has been skirting NT duty(while still playing in Wolfsburg games). Hansen at 100% in my book is one of the ten best players in the world! Now add Hegerberg who's become an incredible goal scoring this season at Lyon, and you have the best one, two punch in the game. And still, Norway still has decent defenders in Berge & Mindje.

4 months is still a ways to go, so we'll see what significant changes or injuries occur to make an absolute prediction

 

I think we've "known" that since the WWC R16 ended, when UEFA fixed the WOQ playoff date. The Algarve/Cyprus window is basically the only available calendar slot (??) for a four-team playoff, so it had to coincide.

It will be a fun week

 

yes it will. We'll have the UEFA play-offs, the AFC Olympic Finals, Algarve Cup, Cyprus Cup & Istria Cup all in the same week.

 

the round robin tourney for the last Euro spot in the Olympics is just a month & half, featuring four equally strong & exciting teams in Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland with some of the best players in the world. In this thread we'll examine who will make the difference to win that trip to the sun baked beaches of Rio
Could it be Ramona Bachmann & Switzerland? Watch Bachmann Turn into Overdrive as she Takin Care of Business, the Swiss way

 

Been feeling good about the Netherlands here.
Just a hunch.

But realistically, any of these 4 teams can get there.
Neither of them will medal.

 

They do have home filed advantage and they and Switzerland are mid season while Sweden and Norway haven't started their yet.

 

Wasn't there another thread dedicated to that (maybe in the Olympics sub-forum)? Wouldn't be worth merging them?

 

I think any of these teams can finish at any spot in this round robin. I wouldn't be surprised if every single game is decided by a single goal. However, I will say that in the Olympics, I think Norway and Sweden would fair better than Netherlands and Switzerland. If I had to bet, I would say Norway will qualify based on current form and Hederberg but Switzerland who are probably least favored are not exactly underdogs.

 

Sweden was a major disappointment at the WC, but then went on to win the Euro u19 title. With her job surely on the line, perhaps it's time for Pia to put some of her vets like Schelin out to pasture and instead, bring in the u19 mvp, Stina Blackstenius?

 

I agree with blissett. Discussion was already started in the Olympic sub-forum (which is a place this thread would better fit anyway). Can we do a merge, mods? @Lusankya

 

here is a video on the Swiss NT. It's a solid side with as many as 4 starters(Bachmann, Martiz, Dickerman & Bernhuaser)from the powerful club team, Wolfsburg as as several other Bundesliga teams including league leader Bayern Munich's cb, Abbe & Turbine Postdam's captain, Wahti/ And perhaps the tallest female player in the world, Kiwic from Duisburg(though fans of Renard & the big Japanese gk, might disagree with that), yet the shortest gk of any of the major NT;s in Thallmann. They're are coached by a Prussian aristocrat(or at least, sounds like it) in Voss-Tecklenburg. And here with any further ado, are those wacky Swiss with apparently their own catchy jingle song

 

"The big Japanese GK"'s name is Erina Yamane. And, anyway, is not a question of being a fan or not : even according to just Wikipedia, Rahel Kiwic is 1,85 m tall, while Erina Yamane is 1,87 m tall!

 

great footy @ SUI-NED

 

[Norway - Sweden]
03' 0-1 Sweden #12 chases down box left, backpass to arc top box left. #6 one-touch chip to 6-top left post, Dahlkvist jumps between 2 and snaps sidehead down to center low, past GK covering near post.

FT 0-1! It stood up.

[Switzerland - Netherlands]
05' 1-0 Fabienne Humm, roundhouse volley 8m center

29' 1-1 Manon Melis, pk
56' 1-2 Miedema, a-maz-y dribble
61' 1-3 van den Berg, fk header scrum?
62' 1-4 van den Sanden, fast break dunk

74' 2-4 Kiwic
83' 3-4 Netherlands nursing a 2-goal lead, caught with both CBs at circle back and both FBs past midfield Ramona Bachmann gets behind them, 5m alone to 7m 6-right, power-chips the sliding GK. +4'.

90+4' (of +4') 3-4 Switzerland long pass to 14m arc left, GK dives and wins race, blocks ball away, takes laces across her face(?). Stoppage, and --

FT 3-4.

 

looks like that Olympic berth could be won by any of the four. Very close matches today.

 

Yes, a 3-goal lead is never safe

 

Any highlights?

 

Full match Switzerland - Netherlands

 

Full match Sweden vs. Norway

 

Any abridged version of those? I would gladly watch some extensive highlights of both games, but I don't have the time to watch full matches right now.

 

From the Netherlands' thread, highlights of the game, for those who don't have the time to watch the full match: