A look at the quarter finals

The group stage is finsihed and eight teams are now remaining for the knockout stage in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland.

Two qaurter finals will be played on thursday and two on friday. Let´s have a look at the match couples:

Thursday:

Finland-England

The host nation got off well with two wins, but lost their last insignificant game against Ukraine, while England lost to Italy, beat Russia and drew with Sweden. According to head coach Michael Käld Finland´s strongest part is their aggresiveness, something he missed in the game against Ukraine. The team´s defense look vulnerable, while there seems to be potential up front.

England´s defense was solid against Sweden, but five goals conceded in three games tells something else. Both teams play with a lone striker and one key to the game is which team will get better support to the striker. Another decisive issue will be who gets control on the midfield.

Finland might have an advantage in the home soil and the home crowd.

Netherlands-France

I haven´t seen Netherlands play in the tournament so it´s therefore hard to tell about their team, but wins in two of the three group stage games tells about a team with a winner´s instinct.

France showed something of what they are capable of against Norway. This is a team with some skilfull players. The defense seems to be the most questionable part of the team. They managed to beat Iceland thanks to two penalties, got demolished by Germany 1-5 and drew with Norway.

The impression is that this too will be a thight game between two teams who try to play football on the ground. France is the more experienced team, while the feeling is that Netherlands is the team more in form.

Friday:

Germany-Italy

With three wins in the group stage Germany seem like the clear favourite here. Two big wins, 4-0 against Norway and 5-1 against France, underlines this. The midfield seem to be the teams strongest part. Despite nine goals forward there are some question marks over the teams forward line. The defense it feels has not yet been seriously tested.

Italy is another team I haven´s seen, but wins against England and Russia shows that there is potential in the team. A loss against Sweden is not much to say about.

Anything else than a victory for Germany in this game would be a surprise, that is the simple reality.

Sweden-Norway

The fourth quarter final will see two neighbours up against each other. Sweden won their group with convincing victories against Russia and Italy and a draw, enough to secure first place in the group, against England. Especially the defense has made an impact in the Swedish team. The midfield and attacking line has yet to show their real skill.

Even in Norway the defense has been the strongest part so far. What the team lack in skilfulness with the ball they compensate with the spirit in their hearts. They held Germany to a one goal lead all the way to the very last minutes of the game, got on with a slight one goal win over Iceland and finished the group stage with a draw against France.

With the experience of the tournament so far Sweden has seemed much more capable than Norway, but the Norwegians fighting spirit might surprise the Swedes. And Norway won the friendly game between these teams just before the tournament. Nevertheless Sweden are the favourites.

On friday night we know which four teams will continue the tournament and which four teams will have to pack their bags. One thing is for sure and that is that there will be four close quarter finals and that the teams with most will to win are the teams which will go on to the semi finals.