Group B teams: England, Germany, Spain, Norway
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Article summary
Who had three of the top five scorers and which side profited from an own goal in every game during qualifying? Which team will be led by a new coach for the first time in 15 years?
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Schedule (KO CET, local time is one hour ahead)
15 July: England v Germany (Rishon Le-zion, 18.30), Spain v Norway (Ramla, 18.30)
18 July: England v Spain (Ramla, 18.30), Germany v Norway (Lod, 18.30)
21 July: Norway v England (Ramla, 18.30), Germany v Spain (Rishon Le-zion, 18.30)
ENGLAND
Coach: Mo Marley
Best performance: winners 2009
Final tournament appearances: 11
What is their pedigree?
A refereeing error meant that Leah Williamson had to retake a penalty three days after it was initially awarded against Norway – miss and England were out; score and they were through. Williamson converted that spot kick at Seaview Stadium in Belfast – her second penalty of the day, having also struck against Switzerland – to earn Mo Marley's team a 2-2 draw and top spot in the section.
Route to the finals
Elite round: 2-2 Norway, 9-1 Northern Ireland, 3-1 Switzerland
Key players
Kirstie Levell (Everton LFC), Carla Humphrey (Arsenal LFC, forward), Coral-Jade Haines (Birmingham City LFC, forward), Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa FC, forward).
How's stat?
England did not concede a single goal en route to winning the title in 2009.
GERMANY
Coach: Maren Meinert
Best performance: winners 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011
Final tournament appearances: 12
What is their pedigree?
Opponents in Israel beware: the two previous occasions there was a three-year break, they promptly triumphed. Unlike those spells, Germany failed to even qualify for the finals in 2012 and 2014, yet the manner in which they qualified this year was impressive. A talented side, well-marshalled by Rebecca Knaak, had won three out of three, scoring 18 times in the process.
Route to the finals
Elite round: 6-0 Scotland, 9-0 Ukraine, 3-1 Belgium
Key players
Rebecca Knaak (defender, Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Lea Schüller (midfielder, SGS Essen), Nina Ehegötz (forward, FSV Gütersloh 2009), Laura Freigang (forward, TSV Schott Mainz)
How's stat?
Germany profited from an own goal in every game during qualifying.
SPAIN
Coach: Jorge Vilda
Best performance: winners 2004
Final tournament appearances: 10
What is their pedigree?
The free-scoring side won six out of six in getting to Israel, scoring 36 goals while a defence marshalled by Marta Turmo conceded only one. Three of the top five scorers in qualifying were Spanish – Nahikari García and FC Barcelona pair Andrea Sánchez and Mariona Caldentey – and the side were the first to book a finals spot.
Route to the finals
Qualifying round: 7-0 Croatia, 14-0 Lithuania, 2-1 Iceland
Elite round: 2-0 Portugal, 5-0 Turkey, 6-0 Finland
Key players
Andrea Esteban (forward, Levante UD); María Caldentey (midfielder, UD Collerense); Marta Turmo (defender, FC Barcelona).
How's stat?
Spain's 14-0 victory over Lithuania was the biggest win in qualifying.
NORWAY
Coach: Nils Lexerød
Best performance: runners-up 2003, 2008, 2011
Final tournament appearances: 10
What is their pedigree?
Norway started life without long-time coach Jarl Torske in sure-footed fashion, edging out Scotland to finish top of their qualifying group, and then opening their elite round campaign with an impressive performance against England. The match eventually ended in a draw after England's 94th-minute penalty was retaken and converted five days later following a refereeing mistake but Norway were already through – as best runners-up.
Route to the finals
Qualifying round: 3-0 Poland, 11-0 Albania, 0-0 Scotland
Elite round: 2-2 England, 2-0 Switzerland, 8-1 Northern Ireland
Key players
Marit Clausen (defender, SK Trondheims-Ørn), Cecilie Fiskerstrand (goalkeeper, FK Fortuna Ålesund), Vilde Bøe Risa (midfielder, Arna-Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (forward, LSK Kvinner FK).
How's stat?
This is the first season in 15 years that Norway have been led by anyone but Torske.