With October’s fixtures all done, it’s time to take a look at the way Euro qualifying is shaping up.
*England have already qualified as the host nation.
Group A
The reigning champions – the Netherlands have taken control of their qualifying group.
The Flying Dutchwomen have started their campaign with four straight victories. They beat both Slovenia and Russia this international break.
Vivianne Miedema and Sherida Spitse both scored twice as they continued their perfect start.
Group A is the only group in which every team has earned at least one point so far. Turkey and Estonia both won their solemn points against each other in a 0-0 draw last week.
Group B
Both Denmark and Italy have started their campaigns in the same fashion as the Dutch – four wins in four.
It could remain this way right to the end as Denmark and Italy do not play each other until the last two match-days of qualifying.
Three teams are without points here as the fixture list has played havoc with the chances of Isreal, Malta and Georgia. They’ve definitely had the hardest of their games right at the start of the Euro campaign.
Group C
Norway have taken control of Group C as Wales faltered against Northern Ireland in early September. The Norwegians have won all three of their games so far with an aggregate score of 26-1.
That includes a 13-0 win over the Faroe Islands and two 6-0 wins over Belarus and Northern Ireland.
Two different players scored hat-tricks in the win over the Faroe Islands. Both Isabell Herlovsen and Caroline Graham Hansen scored three as Norway ran riot.
Wales managed to keep the pressure on the group leaders with a 1-0 win over Belarus. The Welsh will hope to at least qualify as one of the best second-place finishers.
Group D
Group D is still yet to really get going. In total, there have only been three games played in this group so far.
Spain have the early hold on things with two wins in two, with Czech Republic in second as the only other team to play twice. Barcelona midfielder, Aitana Botmati scored a brace for Spain against Azerbaijan in a 4-0 win.
She also got one as Spain beat the Czech 5-1, stamping their authority on the group.
Poland are yet to play a game at all in the group and will be hoping to qualify for their first-ever major tournament.
Group E
Another group that hasn’t really took off yet, Group E features the third of our home nations vying for Euro qualification.
Scotland put themselves in good stead with their first and only game so far. The Scots beat Cyprus 8-0 way back in August with Arsenal captain Kim Little scoring five.
Albania – the only side to play three games so far, have lost all three. They’ve already played Finland twice and lost to a combined score of 11-1.
Group F
In what could be one of the tighter Euro qualifying groups, both Sweden and Iceland have started with perfect records.
Both sides have won all three of their opening games and Slovakia are the only other side in the group with points.
Sweden will still be expected to win the group. The Swedes are coming off the back of a good performance at the World Cup, finishing third, and would like to follow that up with a decent showing at the Euros.
The joint-fifth ranked side in the world won the inaugural Women’s European Championship and this Swedish side may be in the best place of any since to replicate that.
Slovakia beat Latvia 2-1, leaving them in third and the Latvians rooted to the bottom of the table.
Group G
Austria lead the way in Group G early. However, France are lurking in the shadows ready to strike.
The French have only played one game so far – a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan. Lyon forward Eugenie Le Sommer scored the pick of the goals as France won without too much trouble.
The other sides in the group have shared points relatively equally. Prior to this qualifying campaign, North Macedonia had only won two competitive games.
They made that three with an emphatic 4-1 win over Kazakhstan.
Group H
Switzerland are currently top of Group H and are a team that has been constantly on the rise in recent years.
After making their first Euros in 2017 and their first World Cup this year, Switzerland look set to make it three tournaments in a row if they can continue their perfect start to qualifying.
Belgium are in second, winning both of their games so far. Anderlecht defender Laura de Neve scored the only goal as Belgium beat Romania 1-0 to keep that record up.
Croatia in third have lost to Belgium and Switzerland already, putting them in a precarious position in the long run.
Group I
When you look at the sides in this group it comes with little surprise that Germany are running out on top.
The Germans have won four of four and are already six points ahead at the top of the table.
To be fair, the Republic of Ireland have also won all of their games but have only played twice. The Irish have beaten Montenegro 2-0 and narrowly beat Ukraine 3-2, all thanks to a Lyubov Shmatko own-goal.
Greece are also in this group but are another of those teams to only play one game so far.
That’s it for this months look on the Euro qualifying battle. International teams will be back in action of November 6 with Greece vs Montenegro.
