Thank you so much for joining me today in the build-up to an unprecedented tournament!
Gregg Bakowski will take things from here as he countdowns the clock to kick-off and sees you through the match.
You can catch his blog here:
Women’s Euro 2022: England prepare to kick off tournament against Austria – as it happened
This article is more than 1 year old
The build-up to Euro 2022 which kicks off with a match between hosts England and Austria at a sold out Old Trafford
Updated
Wed 6 Jul 2022 13.03 EDT
First published on Wed 6 Jul 2022 05.06 EDTKey events
Live feed
Key events
Fans have started to arrive and I have just got emotional seeing the support at a sold out Old Trafford!
Take a look:
England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has shared his well wishes to the Lionesses ahead of the Euros opener this evening.
Rooney has 53 goals for his country and Ellen White could potentially break the record this summer. She has 50 to her name and has at least three matches to conquer the target.
Good luck to @Lionesses who kick off @WEURO2022 tonight. Looking forward to watching. Enjoy it. We’re all behind you 🙌🏼🏴🦁#England #Lionesses #WEURO2022 https://t.co/ZSSsXt8vYd
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) July 6, 2022
Chris has got in touch on Twitter and said: “I’m a US fan excited for the Euros to start but I’ve not watched the England team play very much. What would you suggest a newcomer pay most attention to during this initial game?”
Of course it depends on who is named in the team, with the line-up expected to drop at 7pm BST, but I would keep an eye on the impact of substitutions.
In England’s recent friendly against Belgium, Rachel Daly and Chloe Kelly had a huge impact on the Lionesses’ attack and re-energised the team when they were introduced.
The tactics in who Sarina Wiegman chooses to start and finish will be so interesting throughout the tournament, so I would say keep an eye on that.
Alexia Putellas cannot believe she has been ruled out of the Euros so close to the start of the tournament.
It was announced yesterday she had ruptured her ACL in training. The Spain captain has taken to Instagram to share her thoughts.
She said: “Why now? Why a day before the start of the Euros that I’ve been wanting and working for so long?
“I feel I have been privileged for a long time... Since I could I have never gone more than five days without touching a ball, training or competing. It was and is my passion and it will be quite a challenge this process.”
What a statistic for the home fans ...
Did you know?#Lionesses | @GoogleCloud_UKI pic.twitter.com/rQtxVIhMXa
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 6, 2022
Just a mention for the picture used for Miedema, it’s good to know she does celebrate some of her cracking goals.
Vivianne Miedema is part of the Netherlands team who will attempt to defend their title this summer.
The Arsenal striker says she is excited about the opportunities presented this July.
“This summer is probably one of the biggest chances to put women’s football on the map,” she told UEFA.
“I think this is hopefully going to be the tournament. I hate to say it, but I want to see England do well because it will get people to the stadium, it will make the country itself feel really alive and I hope from there that we get our fan base coming to England because I do think that we’ve got the best fans in the world.”
Beth Mead has had a great season with Arsenal and England. She became the highest England scorer in a season with her goals against the Netherlands last month taking her past Jimmy Greaves’ record.
Former England star Gemma Davison has backed the Gunner to extend her good form into the Euros.
“England are on form,” she told talkSPORT. “Look at their build-up, the games they’ve just had, Beth Mead is on fire, like another level at the moment.
“I don’t know what planet she’s on at the moment, she’s unbelievable.”
So who could win Euro 2022? Spain, Norway, Sweden and England are among the nations being named as favourites and our very own Suzy Wrack has broken down different team’s chances.
Give it a watch:
Old Trafford is the destination for England’s Euros opener against Austria and goalkeeper Mary Earps has spoken about how special it will be.
Earps is Manchester United’s stopper and so there is an added air of playing at home for the star.
“England is just amazing and I can’t wait to see the fans show up in numbers,” she said.
“But definitely, I know the United fans will be coming strong as they always do at Old Trafford, they take that stuff very, very seriously so for us to have kind of been in there, been in the stadium before, I think it just gives us that little bit of a familiar feel.”
Alexia Putellas receives support from Barcelona manager Xavi.
From one Barcelona legend to another 💙❤️
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 6, 2022
Xavi 🤝 @alexiaputellas pic.twitter.com/SYw1VvzwQK
Transfer claxon! Yep, there’s another one.
Racing Louisville have signed South Africa international Thembi Kgatlana from Atletico Madrid in a two-year deal.
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to return to the NWSL with Racing Louisville,” Kgatlana said. “It has always felt like there is unfinished business for me in the league.”
@NWSL defenders: Look out. 👊
— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) July 6, 2022
We’ve signed Thembi Kgatlana, the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament, on a transfer from Atlético Madrid.
There has been a strong focus on the importance of family in the Lionesses camp.
The players’ family were invited to St George’s Park for a BBQ and now captain Leah Williamson has spoken on the impact her family has had on her.
“I’ve told them I can never repay the investment they’ve made in me; the money, the time and everything,” she told England’s website.
“I can never ever repay that, other than giving them experiences, whether it’s them coming into the indoor games to watch me or coming to Old Trafford with 70,000 fans so they can enjoy the day and really take it in.
“That’s the only way I can ever pay them back and I’m happy for them that they’re getting to experience that a little more now.”
Of course I shall continue to bring you the latest transfer news if and when it drops but for the rest of the window check out our transfer interactive.
So far there has been 169 transfers in the women’s summer window and there’s no sign of them slowing down! You can select a particular club to see who has left and who has been brought in, it’s a handy tool to keep up with all the movements.
Check it out below:
England may be favourites tonight but Austria will give them a difficult game. The particular threat to the Lionesses perfect start is striker Nicole Billa.
Austria teammate and Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger gave insight into the star when she told the BBC: “She’s the first to wake up and when the team is done, will always take a ball and shoot a bit more, shoot penalties, feel what she needs for the next game.
“She can shoot left and right, doesn’t need a lot of touches, is quick in turning, knows where the goal is, knows how to press as well - yeah, that’s Nici Billa.”
England manager Sarina Wiegman is yet to lose a match in her reign as Lionesses boss. As well as this great stat she also has the badge of being a reigning Euros boss champion, having led the Netherlands to glory in 2017.
She is aware of the pressure on the team but said: “We know the tournament starts tomorrow and we’ve waited a long time for that.
“It is an exciting moment, and it would be very strange if we didn’t feel excited. We just do the same things we always do: just focus on our style of play as individuals and as a team.”
Watch her remarks below:
England’s Nikita Parris is a role model for so many but she is hoping the Euros stage will present a pathway to representation for young girls.
“I know how young women, young black women feel growing up in today’s world because there’s not much representation at the highest level, where they see a pathway or they feel a sense of, ‘I can attain that dream’.,” she told the Reign with Josh Smith podcast.
“But for me, that’s the challenge off the pitch to help make sure that they do feel that there’s a pathway and they have an opportunity to have those role models to be able to look up to and to aspire to feel like they’re walking in the same footsteps.”
Are the excitement levels rising? There’s just under six hours until England’s opener against Austria kicks off!
I’m going to predict England win 2-0, what are your predictions? Let me know via email or Twitter!
Transfer claxon! I feel like DJ Khaled because there’s another one.
Former Atletico Madrid captain Amanda Sampedro, who left Atletico in May, has signed for Sevilla.
Sampedro was with her former club for 20 seasons!
Transfer claxon!
Two of Barcelona’s B team starlets María Molina and Rocío García have been snapped up. Valencia have signed Molina and Villarreal have agreed a contract with García.
It’s a busy old window this!
Everton player Izzy Christiansen has said it is the “worst possible thing” for Alexia Putellas to be out of the Euros.
The Spain captain has ruptured her ACL and so will not compete this summer.
“It is the worst possible news on the eve of the tournament,” Christiansen told the BBC. “The Ballon d’Or winner, the most incredible player to watch, is not going to be performing. It’s devastating for all of the fans coming over, not just in Spain, but all the nations.”
We have an answer to the start time of the ceremony, if the tournament website is correct.
It says it begins at 7.50pm, ten minutes before kick-off. Not as long as I thought it would be but hopefully that helps fans attending this evening!
Matthew has got in touch via email and said: “I’m attending the game tonight - has the press been briefed about opening ceremony times, or anything else?
“As no-one who is actually going to the game has been told anything!”
All I know is the BBC coverage begins at 7pm, so I’m guessing it will happen around then, but I will get in contact with a few colleagues and see if they know anything further.
Transfer claxon! I feel I’ll be writing that a lot today.
Liverpool have signed Emma Koivisto from Brighton but they haven’t stipulated how long the deal is.
Manager Matt Beard said: “She’s a good one-v-one defender, technically she’s very good on the ball, very athletic, quick and can get up and down.
“I just think the way that we play, she’s going to fit in perfectly with her attacking attributes.”
Our first signing of the summer is here… 🇫🇮🔴
— Liverpool FC Women (@LiverpoolFCW) July 6, 2022
Tervetuloa, @emma_koivisto 👋 pic.twitter.com/UqqzQObn3a
The wait is almost over for Northern Ireland. They are about to embark in their first ever major tournament and player Chloe McCarron cannot wait to get going.
“It seems like such a long time ago since we qualified that night against Ukraine,” McCarron told the Belfast Telegraph.
“We have been quite occupied with the World Cup qualifiers, we were in Marbella in February and the start of the full-time programme – that’s all been quite intense – but everybody will be glad to see the tournament come around.”
It hasn’t only been fans who scrambled to get Euros tickets, the players have too.
England’s Ella Toone bought 24 for the Lionesses opener for family and friends so they could see her at one of her favourite stadium - Old Trafford.
A long-time Manchester United fan and player she is excited to run out at the famous stage.
“Stepping out for England at our home Euros, opening the tournament at Old Trafford, is going to be amazing,” she said. “For me it’s just excitement. I’m just so proud to be able to go there and represent England at a major tournament at my home stadium. I just can’t wait.”
We were talking about Moving the Goalposts earlier on and the latest instalment has now dropped!
Sophie Downey has written about her dream of covering women’s football coming true (and what a cracking job she does).
She writes: “It has been a long journey but here we are, in 2022, with a Women’s European Championship about to start in England at a sold-out Old Trafford – and it is my job to write about it. When I grew up, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, that seemed an impossible dream.”
Read the full piece here:
Spain have announced Amaiur Sarriegi has been called into the squad a day after Alexia Putellas was ruled out of the competition.
The forward was involved in the preparation camps but was not initially selected as a part of the Euros squad.
Spain’s first match of the tournament is on Friday against Finland.
Transfer klaxon!
Aston Villa have signed Northern Ireland international Simone Magill on a two-year deal.
The contract still needs FA approval but what a move for Carla Ward’s side!
The boss said: “Simone is someone we have tried to bring in during the last two transfer windows, so to get it over the line is something I’m delighted with.”
We are delighted to announce the signing of Northern Ireland international, @SimoneMagill! 🔊
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) July 6, 2022
In Christine’s email she gave a shout out to our writer Jonathan Liew for his pieces in the build-up to the tournament.
In one of his latest he wrote: “For the next 25 days, as Sarina Wiegman’s team and their 15 rivals serve up a feast of football on prime-time television, it may be hard to avoid them.
“Now – and with the greatest of respect to the Commonwealth Games, Wimbledon and the rest – comes the real jewel of the British sporting summer.”
Read the full piece here:
Supporters may have their predictions on who is going to win but Norway’s Ada Hegerberg can’t nail down who will take the crown.
The star believes there will be some surprise results at this year’s tournament, telling UEFA: “I obviously want to see us lifting the EURO [trophy], but there are a lot of steps before that and predicting the winner of the EURO is very hard. Obviously, you have England, France... Sweden are always a strong team to count on.
“It’s a long tournament; it’s a tough one. It’s all about taking it step by step. There are going to be some surprises for sure, but I can’t tell you who is going to win it.”
“It would not just be a surprise, but a sensation”, those are the words of Austria’s head coach Irene Fuhrmann on what it would mean to stop England winning this evening.
The Lionesses are heavy favourites heading into the match and the last time the two sides played one another, in November, England won 1-0. Austria’s boss is aware of what her team need to do to come away with points.
“On paper, anything but a win by England would not just be a surprise, but a sensation,” Fuhrmann said. “England are very robust, determined, have high offensive quality and are the top favourites for the European Championship title for me.
“But we are happy that we were given this fixture because it will be a unique experience. We want to draw as much energy as possible from this atmosphere.”
Christine has got in touch via email and said: “I love the way images of the key players are being lit up on buildings in London.
“Have an enjoyable time!”
I have also been loving that! The one with loads of players on the cliff of Dover was a particular highlight for me. Take a look at a few:
Have you subscribed to our weekly women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts, yet?
If not do so below! There are cracking interviews, thought pieces and guest columnists. One of my favourites so far has been Anita Asante writing about her retirement.
The latest one, written by Júlia Belas Trindade, is all around France’s chances at the Euros and whether they can overcome infighting and Henry’s absence.
I’d love to hear from you!
From thoughts on the Euros, including potential Golden Boot winners, to what you are up to on this cloudy Wednesday. Get in touch! You can do so by Twitter or email.
In my predictions I said Alexia Putellas would get the Golden Boot but now she is injured I’ll need to select a new pick. Maybe Millie Bright ...
Did anyone else just get goosebumps?
This year means more.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 5, 2022
To you. To us. To all of us.
Our family. Our time. pic.twitter.com/6FqfmF1IqT
Transfer klaxon!
Tottenham Hotspur have announced the signing of Ellie Brazil, who left Brighton earlier this month. The forward has agreed a deal until 2024 and Spurs boss Rehanne Skinner is delighted.
The manager said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Ellie to Spurs. Having had significant experience across the England youth teams and played club football at home and in Europe, she has a vast experience base that will enhance the team, but has years ahead of her in her career as well.”
We are delighted to announce the signing of Ellie Brazil 🤝
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) July 6, 2022
Fans may be excited for the tournament to get under way but England captain Leah Williamson says she and the team will experience nerves.
The Lionesses start their campaign to their first major tournament trophy this evening against Austria, kick-off coming at 8pm.
“There are going to be nerves,” the skipper said. “We’re aware of the expectation but from within the camp it’s all about enjoying it.” And she added: “We know what it is, we know what to expect and we’re ready for it. Everyone has their own things in place to be able to deal with it.
“Pressure is a privilege so it’s something we’re embracing and it comes with it – it’s part of the job.” Read the full piece:
In a blow for Spain, just a day before the Euros is due to start, their star player Alexia Putellas was ruled out through injury.
She ruptured her ACL in training and is due to be out for several months. The Spain captain joins Jennifer Hermoso on the sidelines, who is also out through a knee problem.
It’s not only a sad moment for Spain but for the tournament as a whole who will miss out on watching one of the world’s best on the international stage.
Read the full piece:
Preamble
So the day is finally here. All the build-up, excitement and rivalries have led to this. Euro 2022 gets under way with hosts England taking on Austria at Old Trafford.
More than 500,000 tickets have been sold across the tournament with the competition set to bring unprecedented attendances and coverage.
The thousands of fans will be treated to some sublime football and some close results. There are a whole hosts of countries who are among the favourites. The Lionesses, Spain and Norway the ones in the bookies favour.
Jorge Vilda’s team have suffered losses with Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas ruled out through injury – we’ll look more closely at this shortly – so it will be interesting to see how they adapt.
So today, in the build-up to this evening’s match, we will be looking at injuries, what people have been saying, any breaking transfer news from the world of football and contributions from yourselves.
Get in touch with me via Twitter, my handle is @rendellx, or email. I’d love to hear what you are up to on this Euros opening day and any thoughts you have around the tournament.