- The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden through to the EURO
- Important wins for Russia, Finland and Switzerland
- Next qualifiers to be played 26 November–1 December
The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have all now qualified for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, joining host nation England. Another ten spots are still up for grabs.
Situation in the groups
The Netherlands’ title defence campaign continues apace. A 7-0 thrashing of Estonia was enough for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ runners-up to book their spot at England 2022, and they followed that up by sweeping aside Kosovo 6-0. Russia are also celebrating after picking up crucial wins over Slovenia (1-0) and Turkey (4-2), securing second spot in Group A.
In Group B, Denmark have managed to hold off the competition in the battle for a EURO spot. In a showdown in Empoli, the Danes defeated Italy 3-1 to book their ticket for England. Nadia Nadim (2) and Nicoline Sorensen were the scorers as Italy fell to their first defeat on home soil for five years.
Norway can also begin to make plans to spend the summer of 2022 in England. The two-time European champions squeezed past Wales 1-0 in Group C and that was enough to secure their qualification, Frida Maanum getting the all-important goal. The defeat for Wales allowed Northern Ireland to close the gap on second spot with a 1-0 win over Belarus.
UEFA Women's EURO qualifiers (October 2020)
-
Sweden celebrate qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO
27 Oct 2020
Sweden celebrate qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO.
© imago images
-
Josephine Green of Wales speaks to Jessica Fishlock
26 Oct 2020
NEWPORT, WALES - OCTOBER 22: Josephine Green of Wales speaks to Jessica Fishlock after the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 Qualifier match between Wales and Faroe Islands at Rodney Parade on October 22, 2020 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Lily Woodham of Wales celebrates with Kylie Nolan and Josephine Green
26 Oct 2020
NEWPORT, WALES - OCTOBER 22: Lily Woodham of Wales celebrates with Kylie Nolan and Josephine Green of Wales after scoring her sides fourth goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 Qualifier match between Wales and Faroe Islands at Rodney Parade on October 22, 2020 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Natasha Harding of Wales is challenged by Birita Ryan of Faroe Islands
26 Oct 2020
NEWPORT, WALES - OCTOBER 22: Natasha Harding of Wales is challenged by Birita Ryan of Faroe Islands during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 Qualifier match between Wales and Faroe Islands at Rodney Parade on October 22, 2020 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Katja Snoeijs of Netherlands celebrates after scoring her team's seventh goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Netherlands and Estonia
23 Oct 2020
GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 23: Katja Snoeijs of Netherlands celebrates after scoring her team's seventh goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Netherlands Women's and Estonia Womens's at Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on October 23, 2020 in Groningen, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team's third goal
26 Oct 2020
SEVILLE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team's third goal with team mate Esther Gonzales during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Spain Women's and Czech Republic Women's at Estadio de La Cartuja on October 23, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Denmark celebrate qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO
27 Oct 2020
EMPOLI, ITALY - OCTOBER 27: Players of Denmark Women celebrate their victory after the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Italy Women and Denmark Women at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 27, 2020 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team's third goal
26 Oct 2020
SEVILLE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team's third goal with team mate Marta Cardona (L) during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Spain Women's and Czech Republic Women's at Estadio de La Cartuja on October 23, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Patricia Guijarro (C) of Spain celebrates her team's second goal
26 Oct 2020
SEVILLE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Patricia Guijarro (C) of Spain celebrates her team's second goal with team mates during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Spain Women's and Czech Republic Women's at Estadio de La Cartuja on October 23, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Jessica Fishlock of Wales and Angharad James of Wales
27 Oct 2020
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 27: Jessica Fishlock of Wales and Angharad James of Wales battles for possession with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 qualifier match between Wales Women and Norway Women at Cardiff City Stadium on October 27, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Barbara Bonansea of Italy Women in action during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match
27 Oct 2020
EMPOLI, ITALY - OCTOBER 27: Barbara Bonansea of Italy Women in action during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Italy Women's and Denmark Womens's at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 27, 2020 in Empo (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Manuela Giuliano of Italy Women
27 Oct 2020
EMPOLI, ITALY - OCTOBER 27: Manuela Giuliano of Italy Women in action during the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Italy Women's and Denmark Womens's at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 27, 2020 in Empo (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway battles for possession with Jessica Fishlock of Wales
27 Oct 2020
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 27: Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway battles for possession with Jessica Fishlock of Wales during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 qualifier match between Wales Women and Norway Women at Cardiff City Stadium on October 27, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Rachel Rowe of Wales battles for possession with Frida Maanum of Norway
27 Oct 2020
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 27: Rachel Rowe of Wales battles for possession with Frida Maanum of Norway during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 qualifier match between Wales Women and Norway Women at Cardiff City Stadium on October 27, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Caroline Seger celebrates scoring for Sweden against Iceland in UEFA Women's EURO qualifying
27 Oct 2020
Caroline Seger celebrates scoring for Sweden against Iceland in UEFA Women's EURO qualifying.
© imago images
-
The Denmark players throw coach Lars Sondergaard in the air after they secured qualification to the UEFA Women's EURO
27 Oct 2020
EMPOLI, ITALY - OCTOBER 27: Lars Sondergaard, manager of Denmark Women celebrates the victory after the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 qualifier match between Italy Women and Denmark Women at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 27, 2020 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Norway pose for a team photograph after their teams victory during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 qualifier match
27 Oct 2020
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 27: Norway pose for a team photograph after their teams victory during the UEFA Women's EURO 2020 qualifier match between Wales Women and Norway Women at Cardiff City Stadium on October 27, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
Maren Mjelde made her 150th appearance for Norway against Wales. Her debut for the Gresshoppene came all the way back on 27 October 2007, shortly before her 18th birthday, but she then had to wait until the Algarve Cup in March 2009 for her second cap.
A 3-0 win over Moldova saw Poland take over top spot in Group D, a point clear of Spain who bagged a crucial 4-0 victory over Czech Republic. Both Poland and the Czechs have played two more games than La Roja however. Everything is still up for grabs in this particular group, but Jorge Vilda’s team have their fate in their own hands as they host Poland on 1 December in Madrid. Czech Republic got their campaign back on track with a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan, and they can secure second spot on 1 December with three points over Moldova, provided that Poland do not win in Spain.
Things are also tight in Group E. Finland strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Scotland, who had previously not dropped any points in their campaign. It was a bittersweet result for Finland coach Anna Signeul, who was in charge of the Scotland team between 2005 and 2017. Portugal nipped in to take second in the group with a 1-0 win over Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Group F already has its first qualifier, with Sweden securing their place thanks to a 2-0 win over Iceland. Sofia Jakobsson and Olivia Schough got the goals for the Swedes, who have never failed to qualify for a EURO thus far.
"I’m convinced that on a good day, we can get something out of this match, and we'll be doing our utmost to make sure that it’s a good day," said Austria coach Irene Fuhrmann ahead of the match against France in an interview with FIFA.com. Fuhrmann kept her promise, with Austria securing a goalless draw against hot favourites France in Group G, keeping them level on points and just behind their opponents at the top of the table. The two teams will face off again on 27 November.
Switzerland are also on track to qualify directly for the EURO, a 2-0 win over Romania seeing Nils Nielsen’s charges maintain top spot in Group H. The Nati have 19 points from seven matches, and head into their final match against rivals Belgium on 1 December in pole position. A point would be enough for Switzerland to finish first in the group, but the Red Flames are coming off a 9-0 win over Lithuania.
Many a football match sees one team celebrating and the other inconsolable, and that was the case in Group I – even though one of those teams was not even playing. Republic of Ireland saw their campaign hit the skids, and that allowed Germany to celebrate from the comfort of their own homes. The 1-0 defeat for the Irish in Ukraine meant that Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side booked their place at England 2022.
"We’re delighted that we’ve already qualified for the EURO,” the coach said. “Nevertheless, we’ll still be looking to win our last two matches in this competition, against Greece and Ireland. We want to go through our EURO qualifying campaign without dropping a point.”