Women's U19 finals: Players to watch
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Article summary
Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Switzerland and Norway came through the elite round to join hosts Slovakia. Our reporters highlight the players who stood out.
Article top media content
Article body
The UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship finals draw is held on Tuesday at 10.00CET and joining hosts Slovakia in the hat for July's tournament are seven strong contenders. UEFA.com's reporting team at the six elite round mini-tournaments assess the players who stood out.
Nina Ehegötz (forward, Köln)
Coming off the bench, Ehegötz turned round Germany's second match against Poland, scoring the equaliser and adding another late on in the 3-1 win. Defender Franziska Gieseke also made an impact and finished with three goals.
Viktoria Pinther (forward, Spratzern)
Having already made important interventions in the qualifying round, Pinther showed her worth with the opening goal in the decisive 2-0 win against Belgium. She also scored in a UEFA Women's Champions League tie against Verona this season.
Sippie Folkertsma (midfielder, PSV Eindhoven)
The overall top scorer in the competition with nine goals, Folkertsma netted six of them in the elite round. She had already caught the eye as part of the winning squad in 2014, aged just 17. Captain Michelle Hendriks ran the midfield and Vera ten Westeneind was not only a key defender but also a provider of accurate set pieces.
Maite Oroz (midfield, Athletic Club)
The skilful Oroz, outstanding in the Liga at the age of 18, dazzled with her elegant dribbling and eye for a pass. She scored three goals, the pick of them being her second against Denmark when she nutmegged a defender before, from the edge of the box, curling the ball into the top corner. Central midfielder Sandra Hernández controlled much of Spain's play while also adding three goals and an assist.
Théa Greboval (defender, Juvisy)
France kept a perfect six clean sheets on their way to Slovakia, and Greboval was at the heart of that effort. In her 20 caps at Under-16 and U19 level, she has enjoyed 19 wins, with a solitary draw coming in the penalty shoot-out loss to Spain in last year's semi-finals.
Cinzia Zehnder (midfielder, Freiburg)
The playmaker has been part of the U19 set-up since the age of 15 and was a senior international when she was 16. Zehnder chipped in with four goals and provided drive and energy to the side. After important contributions against Norway and Hungary, Zehnder was an ever-willing link between midfield and attack in the final match against Russia and scored the only goal, finishing coolly from the edge of the box.
Nora Eide Lie (midfielder, Grand Bodø)
An all-action midfielder who scored a stunning long-range goal against Switzerland. Always in the thick of the action, she is a real threat from dead-ball situations.