UEFA Women's EURO 2022: a chance to inspire

With the group stage fixtures finalised and the ticket ballot open for UEFA Women's EURO 2022, we look ahead to next summer's tournament and its potential impact on the future of the women's game.

We asked four of our draw ambassadors, who have amassed almost 750 international caps between them, to assess the sport’s progress in recent years and reflect on their own experiences of the competition.

UEFA Women's EURO 2022 will be a huge event for women's football. How much has the game grown since the last edition in 2017?

Katrine Pedersen (Denmark, 210 caps, 9 goals): "The championships are getting bigger every time – every four years the EURO is getting bigger, so it’s growing and it has taken massive steps over the last few years as well. It’s going to be huge and it’s going to be very exciting. All the players are looking forward to it and fighting for their spot in the squad, for the team.

Katrine Pedersen UEFA via Getty Images

"The game is constantly developing – it’s getting quicker, the quality of the passing, the speed in both the actions and decision-making, tactically and the flexibility within the team, just as we see in men’s football.

"We see the championships getting bigger, and my hope for the future is that that’s the way it continues We’re taking big steps at the moment and I hope the game will continue to take big steps. I think it’s going to be a great inspiration and it deserves its own stage. It won’t be in the shadow of a men’s competition or the Olympics, which is definitely a good thing."

Anja Mittag (Germany, 158 caps, 50 goals): "It’s huge. Also, that England is the host for the tournament and we see things happening in England, which is really, really great. A lot of countries are looking to England's example to do the same thing, and I think the football in England and the love [for the game] is great, so it’s a good host in my opinion."

Lotta Schelin (Sweden, 185 caps, 88 goals): "Last time the Women's EURO was in England, in 2005, there were just a few [teams] but now I feel like every team can attract people who want to go to see world-class football. Staging this tournament in England with huge stadiums like Wembley and Old Trafford is really, really important. We believe in what we can achieve in the women’s game, and you can see that in England. At the Olympics in 2012, you saw the stadiums full, and it’s kind of amazing to know that it’s possible for these capacities to be filled up."

Camille Abily (France, 183 caps, 37 goals): "I think that the standard of teams across the board is already much more consistent since 2017. In the past, there were fewer teams taking part, so the standard is much more consistent now.

Camille AbilyUEFA via Getty Images

"You had two rounds of matches involving eight teams. That then increased to 12 and now it’s increased to 16. That’s brilliant, and it’s really important in terms of development because, as I said, when you have a competition like that, it really showcases the national team within the country. So, naturally, it helps women’s football in Europe develop. I think the standard is ever more consistent and matches are much more interesting, but even though women’s football is developing well, we still need more public recognition in order for people to share our passion."

What does it feel like to represent your country at a Women's EURO?

Katrine Pedersen: "It makes you proud. I’ve always been very proud standing there singing when the national anthem comes on and you have butterflies in your stomach.

"When you’re an athlete, you have a goal, you work every day to perform well, to get to that maximum performance, and when you do that with a national team, you’re not only playing for the team, you’re playing for the nation. It makes you proud and you can inspire a lot of young boys and girls."

Camille Abily: "I have a memory of experiencing [European competition] with the Under-19s, and at that point it’s like a waking dream. It’s also like that later, of course, but you’re a little bit more mature and experienced then, you’re more professional. So it’s already different.

"But when you’re young, it’s amazing to be able to see new countries, to play for your country, and that means you’re able to acquire and stock up on some experience from a younger age, so that helps when you move up with the pros, to the senior team, and that leaves you with some great moments and unforgettable memories.

"I remember my first EURO in 2005, which was in England, funnily enough, and I almost remember more matches from my first EURO than from the ones in 2009 or 2013. They’re memories I’ll never forget.

"There's always happiness because you’re always proud to wear your national jersey. However, I’m disappointed that we never won anything – we didn’t win a medal or make it onto the podium. Our best result was always the semi-final, and that’s a bit frustrating, even though things have been going well for some time. But it is a little disappointing, so I hope France will be able to win a title one day."

Anja, you lifted the trophy three times – can you describe the emotion?

Anja Mittag UEFA via Getty Images

Anja Mittag: "It’s actually a relief besides all the happiness and emotions you go through. You work for it for so many years and so many times, off and on the pitch, so it’s a huge feeling and you have a big party afterwards. It’s a great feeling but it doesn’t last long. Sometimes, you go home, you might only have one week and then training starts for the next season, so it’s really a thing you have to enjoy and live in the moment, because the next thing is coming always up."

What kind of legacy do you hope EURO 2022 will leave for the women’s game?

Lotta Schelin UEFA via Getty Images

Lotta Schelin: "It’s a question of equality, of course, to know that whether you’re a young girl or a young boy, it doesn’t matter, you have the same opportunities to achieve your goals and to do something.

"I had always wanted to be a pro since I was little. I didn’t understand at that moment that it wasn’t possible. For me, it was just ‘play all the time’. So, of course, I was [naïve] in that way, I didn’t understand. But it’s important to just get these youngsters to understand that you can do anything.

"I look at myself and I know that I had more men’s players as idols when I was little, but still, even Pia Sundhage, who coached me for a while, I knew that she played, I knew that she was good. So she was kind of a role model and it’s so important to have that and to understand that you can reach goals. It’s as easy as that. But the more role models you can have, the better, because it attracts and makes these young girls believe that they can achieve their goals."