And as a perhaps not unrelated fact the only top two top teams in a group that haven`t played each other even once yet is France and Austria.
Norway have qualified for a record 12th Euro. Ever-present since 1987. No team has been at every Euro since the inaugural tournament in 1984. Germany are ever-present since 1989. Sweden missed 1991 and 1993, but Italy can also make it 12 if they qualify this time. They missed the much overlooked 1995 edition, held in the spring before the World Cup.
Wow, I wasn't following women's football, back then: I just checked and I wasn't aware that the final phase had just 4 teams!!! No wonder so few teams made it to most editions. I wonder how high the chance is that Italy can directly qualify as one of the three best 2nd-placed team. Currently they're in, but I guess making points vs Denmark in December could be key. Any news about the postponed match vs Israel?
Since no one else has mentioned them yet, a couple other interesting results: - Finland goes atop their group also containing Scotland and Portugal after beating the former 1-0 at home. - Ukraine beat Greece 4-0 away, which isn’t all that interesting in and of itself; however, if they beat Montenegro on the last matchday and Ireland fails to beat Germany (both extremely likely), they finish second and go to the playoffs (I’m pretty sure their record is way too poor for the auto spots). Ukraine has only ever qualified for one other tournament (Euro 2009), so if they qualify that would be a great achievement.
Yup if N.Ireland (8pts, -5 GD) would win their last two games (with less than 5 goals scored in total) they still place above Wales and with negative GD
looking at the lineups Austria vs. France - 27 October 2020 - Women Soccerway Austria got a good defense with plenty of players with creds---Wenninger, Zinsberger, Schnaderbeck, but almost no fire power up front/Billa scored 15 goals last year for Hoffenheim, but almost all of them baby fed by that club's strong wing play, no such luck with thisquad Aschauer usually plays RB but they got her upfront/never heard of their CF. Don't expect them to score France pretty much got what you expect from the #3 team in the world; top strikers to a point where ELS has had to move a little further back/Asseyi 2nd leading scorer at Bayern Munich/Gauvin having an excellent season at Everton/Cascarino lately filing the prophesy that she'll be the next Marta & what I feel is the best CB combo in the game today. They should win sorry, can't find an streamed link
FRA-AUT turned to be very one sided match so far. Lack of finish from les Bleus is only thing keeping this game scorless. Austrian players pretty much aren't able to leave their own half - even when ball is in their possesion. Their fouls are starting to pile up... EDIT: French will have some words with ref Monzul aftermatch
If Iceland felt robbed at home, there were no complaints this time around. Sweden showed its quality and had a comfortable win in the end. The game started well for Iceland and there was even a claim for a penalty when Jensen seemed to be fouled inside the box, but there wasn't much to it. Iceland then gifted the Swedes a goal when Viggósdóttir headed the ball into the feet of Jakobsson who finished the ball coolly into the net. After that Sweden took over the match. The second goal was a beautiful strike by Olivia Scough from just outside the box. No chance for the keeper. In the end the Swedish team prooved to be too much for the young Icelandic team to handle. Iceland's chances to qualify directly to the Euros are though still looking good, thanks Denmark's win over Italy. Sweden on the other hand can already start to look forward to 2022.
Summary of Tuesday's action: GROUP A Russia 4 - 2 Turkey Korovkina 13, Chemomyrdina 22, 46, N.Mashina 49 -- Arhan 77, Karagenc 86 Kosovo 0 - 6 Netherlands Van de Donk 11, Snoeijs 31, 44, 90+4, Martens 34, Miedema 90+4 GROUP B Georgia 1 - 2 Israel Bakradze 70 -- Hazan 10, Shtainshnaider 61 RC: Pasikashvili (Geo) 79 Italy 1 - 3 Denmark Giacinti 60 -- Giuliani 6(og), Nadim 17, 47 GROUP C Wales 0 - 1 Norway Maanum 61 Belarus 0 - 1 Northern Ireland Furness 42 RC: J.Burnes (gk, Nir) 27 GROUP D Moldova 0 - 3 Poland Dudek 16, Achcinska 40(p), Kopinska 71 Czech Republic 3 - 0 Azerbaijan Cahynova 27, Krejcirikova 52, Szewieczkova 64 GROUP E Finland 1 - 0 Scotland Summanen 49 Portugal 1 - 0 Cyprus Charalambous 61(og) GROUP F Slovakia 2 - 0 Latvia Hmirova 8(p), 34(p) Hmirova (Svk) missed penalty 82 Sweden 2 - 0 Iceland Jakobsson 25, Schough 57 GROUP G Austria 0 - 0 France GROUP H Romania 0 - 2 Switzerland Sow 29, Crnogorcevic 79 Lithuania 0 - 9 Belgium Wullaert 12, 69, 82, Liuzinaite 14(og), Gedgaudaite 21(og), De Caigny 30, 40, 56, Minnaert 84 RC: Liuzinaite (Ltu) 45 GROUP I Greece 0 - 4 Ukraine Pantsulaya 5, Kravets 29, 55, Kunina 83
Update Group A NED 0 KVX(H) RUS 6 KVX(H),TUR(A) Group B DEN 0 ITA(H) ITA 3 DEN(A),ISR(H) Group C NOR 0 FRO(H),BLR(H) BLR 9 NIR(A),WAL(A),NOR(A) WAL 10 BLR(H) NIR 10 BLR(H),FRO(H) Group D ESP 2 MDA(H),POL(H),AZE(A) POL 7 ESP(A) CZE 8 MDA(H) Group E FIN 2 SCO(A),POR(H),CYP(A) POR 2 SCO(H),ALB(H),FIN(A),SCO(A) SCO 3 POR(A),FIN(H),POR(H),CYP(A) Group F SWE 2 SVK(A) ISL 5 SVK(A),HUN(A) SVK 8 ISL(H),SWE(H) Group G FRA 2 AUT(H),KAZ(H) AUT 2 FRA(A),SRB(H) Group H SUI 2 BEL(A) BEL 3 SUI(H) Group I GER 0 GRE(H),IRL(A) IRL 8 GER(H) UKR 9 MNE(H) I have added all remaining games. Lost points minimum for second placed team: 3 B 4 E,G 5 F,H 6 A 7 D 8 I 9 C Lost points maximum for second placed team: 6 H 8 G 9 B 10 D 11 F,I 12 A,E 13 C
Goal difference of teams that can finish second: RUS:+6 (if Turkey finish last: +11) DEN:+31 (if Malta finish last: +31) ITA:+13 (if Malta finish last: +13) BLR:0 WAL:+9 NIR:-5 POL:+14 CZE:+8 FIN:+15 POR:+5 SCO:+15 ISL:+17 SVK:-4 FRA:+29 AUT:+21 SUI:+18 BEL:+28 IRL:+3 UKR:-6
If Italy are lucky they can qualify even with a defeat in Denmark. Group G and H would likely be better but you can hope for Iceland losing points in Slovakia, Russia not scoring enough goals against Kosovo and Turkey and the second placed team from the balanced Group E could lose enough points. If Italy is unlucky a draw in Denmark will not be enough. Iceland will win their remaining games, Austria will lose in France and Belgium vs Switzerland ends in a draw. Iceland, Austria and Belgium would likely all beat Italy on goal difference. I guess Italy would be seeded for the Play-Offs and could hope to get a team like Northern Ireland or Czech Republic.