With the first two rounds of group games in Euro 2022 done and dusted, things are starting to come together ahead of next week’s quarterfinals.
Teams of Note
With England, Germany, and France wrapping up their respective groups with a game to spare, all eyes will be on Norway versus Austria, Spain versus Denmark, and who out of Italy, Belgium, or Iceland can get the best result to progress from Group D.
Group C is where most of the intrigue lies with all four teams still able to qualify, but realistically Netherlands and Sweden should get the job done, but who goes through as group winners and avoids France may come down to who can score the most goals.
We’ve all seen the standout performances. The hat tricks from Beth Mead and Grace Geyoro, the goalkeeping exploits of Merle Frohms, the midfield genius of Aitana Bonmatí, and the creative excellence of Fridolina Rolfö, but the stats of the tournament so far provide an interesting insight into teams and players who have perhaps gone under the radar as we head into the business stage of the tournament.
With 16 of the 31 games played (flown by, hasn’t it?), we’ve seen 55 goals so far in Euro 2022, a neat average of 3.44 per match, and it’s hard to point to too many of them being snooze fests. The most common time of goals scored is in the opening 15 minutes, with 13 goals scored early in games, while only six have been scored in the final 15 minutes.
Unsurprisingly after their 8–0 win against Norway, it’s the hosts England who lead the way in team goals scored with nine, followed by France and Germany. England also ranks highly for possession, with an average of 60% possession over their two games, but it’s Spain well out in front having enjoyed 67% of possession across their two games, though it has only resulted in one win. The pair are followed by France, Netherlands, Italy, and Sweden.
Perhaps not famed for their tiki-taka football, but it is England who has the best passing accuracy so far, with 88% of their passes across their two games finding a fellow Lioness. They are closely followed by France on 87.5% and Spain on 87%, while the Spanish also rank top for total shots in the tournament so far with 45, but have only three goals to show for it. France and England follow with 42 each, ahead of Italy with 34, Iceland with 30, and Germany with 29.
Again, unsurprisingly, teams that have been up against rank highest in the defensive stats. Denmark, Austria, and Finland have covered more distance than any other team, while Belgium have made the most tackles with 34. Sweden, though, are well out in front on ball recoveries with 107, nine ahead of Switzerland, Portugal, and Belgium who have all made 98.
Standouts
Some of the player stats are also obvious, with Beth Mead leading the Golden Boot race with her four goals, ahead of Geyoro and Alexandra Popp and Ellen White, the only four players with multiple goals so far. Various others have tried though, with Lauren Hemp, Barbara Dunst (Austria), Lina Magull, and Barbara Bonansea all having had four shots on target in two games.
England also has the top creator with Fran Kirby having set up three of their nine goals so far, with Sakina Karchaoui, Mapi León, Sarah Puntigam (Austria), and Kosovare Asllani the four players with two assists each.
Unsurprisingly, the rapid Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir of Iceland has recorded the top speed of the tournament, checking it at 31.7 kph, ahead of Delphine Cascarino, Jule Brand, Adelina Engman (Finland), Linda Sällström, and Chloe Kelly.
It is, however, once again the defensive stats where the unsung heroes show themselves. Emmi Alanen of Finland has covered the most ground at 24.2km across her two games, with Coumba Sow (Switzerland), Sarah Zadrazil (Austria), Tine De Caigny (Belgium), Puntigam, and Giulia Gwinn (Germany) close behind.
Center back Griedge Mbock has the best passing accuracy at a scarily impressive 99% over two games, with her defensive partner Wendie Renard next up at 95.5%. Frida Maanum is also on 95.5%, and the trio are followed by Sheila García and England duo Millie Bright and Keira Walsh.
Another unsurprising one is that Germany star Lena Oberdorf leads the way for tackles made with 11, though she will have a suspension for her troubles, and she’s tied with Belgium’s Jody Vangheluwe.
Northern Ireland’s Sarah McFadden is next with 10, followed by Jackie Groenen, Sherida Spitse, and Irene Paredes, while Durham’s McFadden also ranks second for ball recoveries with 20, behind only Arsenal’s Lia Wälti who has an impressive 23 in two games.
Joining McFadden on 20 are Nathalie Björn (Sweden) and England captain Leah Williamson, ahead of Caroline Seger and Ona Battle (Spain) both on 19.