This week in Women's football, we continue our look at the rosters for the 2017 European Championships, this week featuring seven sides: Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Spain.
Seven NWSL players were called into four national teams for the Euros and then we discuss the groundbreaking move of English international Toni Duggan from Manchester City to Barcelona and why this is such an important transaction, for her and her new club.
Portugal Announces Euro 2017 Roster
The leaders for Portugal in their first ever Euros Finals are expected to be foreign-based midfielders (and former Tribal Football.com contributor) Amanda da Costa of Boston Breakers in the NWSL and Claudia Neto of Swedish Damallsvenskan reigning champions Linkopings.
Another foreign-based player with experience in the States is Monica Mendes, who is based in Switzerland with Neunkirch after spending time in Cyprus and Norway. Mendes attended college at the University of Texas-Brownsville and suited up for D.C. United and Washington Spirit Reserves in the now defunct USL, where she won a league title in 2015.
She also won league crowns at home prior to moving to the States at S.U. 1 Dezembro. Suzane Pires, now with Santos, played with the Boston Breakers in 2015 after attending college at Southern Connecticut State University. She was born in Brazil but decided to play for Portugal.
Forward Ana Cristina Leite played in Germany for many years before joining Sporting in Lisbon for this coming season, along with Ana Borges, who has left Chelsea where she won a league crown in 2015.
Other imports in the 23 member squad come from Germany (3), Iceland (1) and Spain (1). For their first senior international level tournament ever (Euros, Women's World Cup or Olympics), a point or two is a viable objective in a tough group with England and Spain favorites to advance, while Scotland has the pedigree to possibly upset the two favorites in Group D.
Goalkeepers:
Rute Costa—SC Braga
Patricia Morais—Sporting CP
Jamila Martins—CF Benfica
Defenders:
Carole—BV Cloppenburg (Germany)
Matilde Fidalgo—Sporting CP
Monica Mendes—FC Neunkirch (Switzerland)
Silvia Rebelo—SC Braga
Raquel Infante—Levante (Spain)
Midfielders
Amanda da Costa—Boston Breakers (U.S.)
Andreia Norton—SC Braga
Claudia Neto—Linkopings FC (Sweden)
Dolores Silva—USV Jena (Germany)
Tatiana Pinto—Sporting CP
Fatima Pinto—Sporting CP
Melissa Antunes—SC Braga
Vanessa Marques—SC Braga
Forwards:
Ana Leite—Sporting CP
Ana Borges—Sporting CP
Carolina Mendes—Grindavik FC (Iceland)
Diana Silva—Sporting CP
Jessica Silva—SC Braga
Laura Luis--USV Jena (Germany)
Suzane Pires--Santos FC (Brazil)
Italy 2017 European Championship Roster
Coach Antonia Cabrini—a legendary defender with Juventus (6 league titles) and three time World Cup team member, winning the title in 1982—brings a squad with 22 home based players and only one—goalkeeper Laura Giuliani of Koln in Germany—based with a club abroad. Cabrini will rely for the bulk of his squad on top Italian sides Brescia (8), Fiorentina (5) and Verona (4), which each has won a league championships in the last three years, while Fiorentina is the current league champions. With Group B opponents Germany and Sweden massive favorites for the quarterfinals, it seems likely that Italy will battle Russia for third in their group.
Goalkeepers (3):
Laura Giuliani—Koln (Germany)
Chiara Marchitelli—Brescia
Katja Schroffenegger—Unterland Damen
Defenders (7):
Elisa Bartoli—Fiorentina
Linda Tucceri Cimini—S. Zaccaria
Frederica Di Criscio—AGSM Verona
Sara Gama—Brescia
Alia Guagni—Fiorentina
Elena Linari—Fiorentina
Cecilia Salvai--Brescia
Midfielders (8):
Barbara Bonansea—Brescia
Marta Carissimi—Fiorentina
Valentina Cernoia—Brescia
Laura Fusetti—Como 2000
Aurora Galli—AGSM Verona
Manuela Giugliano—AGSM Verona
Martina Rosucci—Brescia
Daniela Stracchi--Mozzanica
Forwards (5):
Melania Gabbiadini—Verona
Cristiana Girelli—Brescia
Sandy Iannella—Cunco
Ilaria Mauro—Fiorentina
Daniela Sabatino—Brescia
Austria takes a heavily German Bundesliga-based squad to the 2017 Euros.
The majority of head coach Dominik Thalhammer's Austrian side play in neighboring Germany (14), with one based in the U.S.—Sophie Maierhofer of the University of Kansas (U.S.). The centerback will be in her second year at Kansas in the fall. Maierhofer played with Werder Bremen in Germany for one year and won a league title and cup double at home with St. Polten in 2014-15.
With this experienced side, they could make it to the knock out stage out of Group C, behind favorites France, with Iceland and Switzerland both considered a toss-up with Austria for the second sport in the group. Thalhammer hopes that Austria—a debutant at the Euros for their first ever senior international tournament—hopes that this tournament will increase the number of female players at home and inspire top men's side such as Rapid and Austria Vienna to start female teams.
Thalhammer told FIFA.com two years ago that there were only 18,000 registered female players in a country of 8.5 million. Gaining a few points or even a quarterfinal berth would be a big boost to the game at home.
Goalkeepers:
Carolin Crobinger—FC Bergheim
Jasmin Pfeiler—SKV Altenmarkt
Manuela Zinsberger—FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
Defenders:
Marina Georgieva—1 FFC Turbine Potsdam (Germany)
Virginia Kirchberger—MSV Dusibuig (Germany)
Sophie Maierhofer—University of Kansas (U.S.)
Katharina Naschenweng—SK Sturm Graz Damen
Katharina Schiechtl—SV Werder Bremen (Germany)
Viktoria Schnaderbeck—FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
Carina Wenninger—FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
Midfielders:
Verena Ascher—SC Sand (Germany)
Barbara Dunst—MSV Duisburg (Germany)
Jasmin Eder—SKN St. Polten Frauen
Jennifer Klein—NOSV Neulengbach
Nadine Prohaska—SKN St. Polten Frauen
Sarah Puntigam—SC Freiburg (Germany)
Sarah Zadrazil—1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (Germany)
Forwards:
Nicole Billa—TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)
Nina Burger—SC Sand (Germany)
Stefanie Enzinger—SK Sturm Graz Damen
Laura Feiersinger—SC Sand (Germany)
Lisa Makas—MSV Duisburg (Germany)
Viktoria Pinther—SKN St. Polten Frauen
Dominik Thalhammer Austria coach
Germany goes to the Netherlands as a favorite to repeat as champions.
Forward Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg) was a late scratch due to a training injury to her knee last week which will sideline her for weeks, missing the Euros. Two on the quad play in France and one is in Sweden, while Lyon's Pauline Bremer was called into a 29-player pre-camp but did not make the final 23.
Lena Petermann went to school at the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 2013 but then turned professional and was part of Germany's U-20 Women's World Cup championship side in 2014 in Canada as well as the senior side at the World Cup the following summer. This could be Lena Gossling's last tournament; after winning Olympic Gold last summer, expect her to have a major impact on Germany's fortunes.
Head Coach Steffi Jones, who played with the Washington Freedom in the WUSA and won three Euros, two Olympic Bronze Medals and a Women's World Cup title in 2003, will be under considerable pressure to capture a seventh consecutive Euro title for Germany in her first major tournament as head coach. Jones was also the President of German's very successful 2011 Women's World Cup host committee.
Goalkeepers:
Laura Benkarth—SC Freiburg
Almuth Schult—VFL Wolfsburg
Lisa Weiss—SGS Essen
Defenders:
Anna Blasse—VfL Wolfsburg
Kristin Demann—1899 Hoffenheim
Katherine Hendrich—1 FFC Frankfurt
Josephine Henning—Olympique Lyon (France)
Isabel Kerschowski—VfL Wolfsburg
Babett Peter—VfL Wolfsburg
Carolin Simon—SC Freiburg
Midfielders:
Sara Dabritz—Bayern Munich
Linda Dallmann—SGS Essen
Sara Doorsoun—SGS Essen
Lena Goessling—VfL Wolfsburg
Tabea Kemme—1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Lina Magull—SC Freiburg
Dzenifer Marozsan—Olympique Lyon (France)
Forwards:
Svenja Huth—1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Mandy Islacker—1 FFC Frankfurt
Hasret Kavikei—SC Freiburg
Anja Mittag—FC Rosengard (Sweden)
Lena Petermann—SC Freiburg
Sweden looks for a successful sendoff for Pia Sundhage's last tournament in charge
Head Coach Pia Sundhage's last tournament as Swedish national team head coach has few surprises in her squad, where they meet Germany, Italy and Russia in Group B and are expected to advance to the last eight at least, though expectations are high for at least a semifinal spot, which they have achieved in five of the last six European tournaments.
Two squad members play in England: starting goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl of Chelsea and attacking midfielder Kosovare Asllani of Manchester City.
Three play in France, two are in Germany and the remaining 16 play at home in the Damallsvenskan. Besides Sundhage, who is stepping down after this tournament, this may be the last international tournament for Caroline Seger, who now plays for Lyon and was a very impactful player in the U.S. during the WPS days.
Goalkeepers:
1. Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea Ladies FC)
12. Hilda Carlén (Piteå IF)
21. Emelie Lundberg (Eskilstuna United)
Defenders:
2. Jonna Andersson (Linköpings FC)
3. Linda Sembrant (Montpellier Hérault SC)
4. Emma Berglund (FC Rosengård)
5. Nilla Fischer (VfL Wolfsburg)
6. Magdalena Eriksson (Linköpings FC)
15. Jessica Samuelsson (Linköpings FC)
16. Hanna Glas (Eskilstuna United)
Midfielders:
7. Lisa Dahlkvist (KIF Örebro)
9. Kosovare Asllani (Manchester City FC)
10. Julia Spetsmark (KIF Örebro)
13. Josefin Johansson (Piteå IF)
14. Hanna Folkesson (FC Rosengård)
17. Caroline Seger (Olympique Lyonnais)
22. Olivia Schough (Eskilstuna United)
23. Elin Rubensson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC)
Forwards:
8. Lotta Schelin (FC Rosengård)
11. Stina Blackstenius (Montpellier Hérault SC)
18. Fridolina Rolfö (FC Bayern München)
19. Pauline Hammarlund (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC)
20. Mimmi Larsson (Eskilstuna United DFF)
Denmark brings two players from NWSL for the Euros
Denmark have been drawn into Group A, alongside the hosts Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. Denmark has two players based in NWSL, including potent forward Nadia Nadim (4 goals and 1 assist in 9 games) from Portland and midfielder Line Sigvardsen Jensen with the Washington Spirit, who has been productive in her first season in D.C. for a struggling team with 1 goal and 1 assist. In addition, Denmark has 4 players based in Sweden, 2 in Germany, 1 in Norway and 1 in Spain, with the other 13 based at home.
Denmark Squad for EURO 2017
Line Geltzer Johansen (Vejle BK)
Maria Lindblad Christensen (Fortuna Hjørring)
Stina Lykke Petersen (KoldingQ)
Cecilie Sandvej (SC Sand--Germany)
Janni Arnth Jensen (Linköpings FC--Sweden)
Line Røddik Hansen (FC Barcelona--Spain)
Luna Gevitz (Fortuna Hjørring)
Mie Leth Jans (Brøndby IF)
Simone Boye Sørensen (Brøndby IF)
Stine Ballisager Pedersen (IK Skovbakken)
Theresa Nielsen (Vålerenga IF--Norway)
Katrine Veje (Brøndby IF)
Line Sigvardsen Jensen (Washington Spirit--USA)
Maja Kildemoes (Linköpings FC--Sweden)
Nanna Christiansen (Brøndby IF)
Nicoline Sørensen (Brøndby IF)
Sanne Troelsgaard (FC Rosengård--Sweden)
Sarah Dyrehauge Hansen (Fortuna Hjørring)
Sofie Junge Pedersen (FC Rosengård--Sweden)
Frederikke Skjødt Thøgersen (Fortuna Hjørring)
Nadia Nadim (Portland Thorns--USA)
Pernille Harder (VfL Wolfsburg--Germany)
Stine Larsen (Brøndby IF)
Spain's Euro squad is primarily domestic based
Spain are in Group D with England, Scotland and Portugal and are favored to advance to the knock-out stage. We featured Spain's domestic league last month and only three of their 23 roster players are based abroad, two in France and one in college in the States—Celia Jiménez (University of Alabama Crimson Tide)—who played on Spain's 2015 Women's World Cup team. Nine of the side are with Barcelona and 8 play for 2017 champions Atletico de Madrid.
Spain squad for EURO 2017
Goalkeepers:
Lola Gallardo (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Sandra Paños (FC Barcelona)
Mariasun Quiñones (Real Sociedad)
Defenders:
Marta Torrejón (FC Barcelona)
Irene Paredes (PSG--France)
Andrea Pereira (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Mapi León (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Leila Ouahabi (FC Barcelona)
Celia Jiménez (Alabama Crimson Tide--USA)
Paula Nicart (Valencia CF Femenino)
Alexandra López (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Midfielders:
Silvia Meseguer (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Virginia Torrecilla (Montpellier HSC--France)
Amanda Sampedro (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Mariona Caldentey (FC Barcelona)
Vicky Losada (FC Barcelona)
Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona)
Forwards:
Jenni Hermoso (FC Barcelona)
Olga García (FC Barcelona)
Bárbara Latorre (FC Barcelona)
Maripaz Vilas (Valencia CF Femenino)
Marta Corredera (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
Esther González (C. Atlético de Madrid SAD)
NWSL Sends Seven Players to the Euros
Four NWSL teams are supplying seven players for this summer's European Championships, which begins this week. Portland Thorns—traditionally a squad packed with internationals from North America and elsewhere—has released midfielders Amandine Henry to France and Dagny Brynjarsdottir to Iceland, along with leading goalscorer Nadia Nadim to Denmark.
Boston Breakers have sent midfielder Amanda Da Costa to Portugal and forward Emilie Haavi to Norway. Line Sigvardsen Jensen joins Nadim on the Denmark side, leaving Washington Spirit in the middle of her first season in the league. Defender Rachel Corsie of Seattle, a three year veteran in Seattle, is also off to help Scotland try to advance.
English International Toni Duggan leaves Manchester City for FC Barcelona
Toni Duggan, who won a World Cup Bronze Medal with the Three Lions in 2015, last week announced that she is signing for FC Barcelona, leaving Manchester City after three and one-half seasons. This is a significant signing with huge significance for the women's game and could be a landmark move both for Duggan, for FC Barcelona and the Spanish Women's League.
Barcelona and the Spanish League has long been a prestige destination for men's players, but Spain's Women's League (featured in this column last month) has been seen as primarily a domestic-based league, with some imports from Portugal and Latin America. Duggan is an experienced international and won a Super League title with City WFC in 2016; she moves from a top European club to another side with huge aspirations.
Duggan explained her move from her home country: "For me, FC Barcelona is the biggest club in the world and naturally I wanted to come here and be part of it. I have had a lot of success in England but I want to have even more. I think I need another trophy in my list and I know that Barca's ambition is to win the Champions League—this is my goal too. I am really looking forward to the new season; it's going to be a challenge for me but one that I will relish.
Obviously, FC Barcelona are known worldwide for playing attractive football and I think it will suit my style. After seeing the facilities and meeting the people here, I'm really looking forward to getting started." The 25-year-old Duggan will learn a different style and bring back skills and understanding of the Iberian game to her national team duties.
Duggan's signing, along with Barcelona's announcement earlier this year that they planned to purchase a NWSL franchise for 2018, shows that the side is serious about becoming a major leader in the global women's game, building off of their first semifinals appearance in the European Women's Champions League this past season, falling to Paris St. Germain, 5-1 on aggregate.
Duggan will join a squad with some top international talent, much of it joining the side this summer, such as French international midfielder Elise Bussaglia—who moves from Wolfsburg this summer after previous stints at Lyon, PSG, Montpellier and Juvisy—Dutch midfielder Lieke Martins who is leaving Rosengard in Sweden this summer, Brazilian midfielder Andressa Alves (who joined Barcelona last season), Danish defender Line Roddik Hansen and potent 23-year old Macedonian scorer Natasa Andonova, who played with Rosengard in Sweden, Tubine Potsdam of German and PSG in France for a short time this spring.
Barcelona is not the only side in southern Europe who are aggressively supporting women's football of late. Sporting Portugal has brought home experienced stars Ana Cristina Leite from Germany and Ana Borges from England, where she played at Chelsea.
In Italy, Juventus Women's Football Club launched after acquiring Serie A side Cuneo Calcio Femminile ASD. New coach Rita Guarino comes from the Italy U-17 National team and was a senior international for Italy, scoring 35 times in 99 appearances.
When a major club such as Juventus purchases an existing franchise—albeit one typically not among the leaders in the league table—and hires an experienced women's coach, they are serious and a good sign for Serie A, which was an international destination in the 1990's for players but has since primarily been domestic-based in their focus. These are all interesting developments for women's football in southern Europe and bode for more positive things to come from the region.
Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey
