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UEFA Women's Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the women's tournament. For the men's tournament, see UEFA European Championship. For other uses, see European Championship in football.
UEFA Women's Championship
Organising bodyUEFA
Founded1982; 42 years ago (1982)
RegionEurope
Number of teams16 (finals)
52 (qualifiers)
Qualifier forWomen's Finalissima
Current champions England (1st title)
Most successful team(s) Germany (8 titles)
Websiteuefa.com/womenseuro
UEFA Women's Euro 2025
The closing ceremony prior to the 2009 final
Tournaments

The UEFA European Women's Championship, also called the UEFA Women's Euro, held every four years and one year after the men's UEFA European Championship first held in 1984, is the main competition in women's association football between national teams of the UEFA confederation. The competition is the women's equivalent of the UEFA European Championship. The reigning champions are England, who won their home tournament in 2022. The most successful nation in the history of the tournament is Germany, with eight titles.

History

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[1] In 1957 in West Berlin, a European Championship was staged by the International Ladies Football Association.[2][3] Four teams, representing West Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and the eventual winners, England, played the tournament at the Poststadion,[2][3] at a time when women's football teams were officially forbidden by the German Football Association, a ban that was widely defied.[4]

The FICF, which eventually merged into the Italian Football Federation, organised a European tournament in Italy in 1969 for women's national teams, a tournament won by the home team, Italy, who beat Denmark 3–1 in the final.[5] The two nations were also the finalists of the 1970 Women's World Cup in Italy.

Italy hosted another European women's tournament a decade later, the 1979 European Competition for Women's Football – won by Denmark.[6]

UEFA displayed little enthusiasm for women's football and were particularly hostile to Italy's independent women's football federation. Sue Lopez, a member of England's squad, contended that a lack of female representation in UEFA was a contributory factor:[7]

In 1971, UEFA had set up a committee for women's football, composed exclusively of male representatives, and by the time this committee folded in 1978 they had failed to organise any international competitions.[7]

At a conference on 19 February 1980 UEFA resolved to launch its own competition for women's national teams.[8] The meeting minutes had registered the 1979 competition as a "cause for concern".[9] The first UEFA-run international tournament began only in 1982, when the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualification was launched. The 1984 Finals were won by Sweden. Norway won the 1987 Finals. Since then, the UEFA Women's Championship has been dominated by Germany, which has won eight out of ten events. Norway won in 1993 and the Netherlands in 2017. Germany's 2013 win had been their sixth in a row. In 2022, England won UEFA Women's Euro 2022, becoming the country's first senior association football team of either gender to win a major tournament since the men's team won the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

From 1984 to 1995, the tournament was initially played as a four-team event. The 1997 edition was the first that was played with eight teams, followed by the 2001 and 2005 editions. The third expansion happened between 2009 and 2013 when 12 teams participated. From 2017 onwards 16 teams compete for the championship.[10]

The first three tournaments of the UEFA competition in the 1980s had the name "European Competition for Representative Women's Teams". With UEFA's increasing acceptance of women's football, this competition was given European Championship status by UEFA around 1990.[11] Only the 1991 and 1995 editions have been used as European qualifiers for a FIFA Women's World Cup; starting in 1999, women's national teams adopted the separate World Cup qualifying competition and group system used in men's qualifiers.

Results

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See also: List of UEFA Women's Championship finals
Editions Years Host nation Finals Third place playoff or losing semi-finalists Number of teams
Winners Scores Runners-up Third place Score Fourth place
1 1984

No official host


Sweden 		1–1 (agg.)
(4–3 p)
England 		 Denmark and  Italy 4
2 1987  Norway
Norway 		2–1
Sweden
Italy 		2–1
England 		4
3 1989  West Germany
West Germany 		4–1
Norway
Sweden 		2–1 (a.e.t.)
Italy 		4
4 1991  Denmark
Germany 		3–1 (a.e.t.)
Norway
Denmark 		2–1 (a.e.t.)
Italy 		4
5 1993  Italy
Norway 		1–0
Italy
Denmark 		3–1
Germany 		4
6 1995

No official host


Germany 		3–2
Sweden 		 England and  Norway 4
7 1997  Norway
 Sweden
Germany 		2–0
Italy 		 Spain and  Sweden 8
8 2001  Germany
Germany 		1–0 (g.g.)
Sweden 		 Denmark and  Norway 8
9 2005  England
Germany 		3–1
Norway 		 Finland and  Sweden 8
10 2009  Finland
Germany 		6–2
England 		 Netherlands and  Norway 12
11 2013  Sweden
Germany 		1–0
Norway 		 Denmark and  Sweden 12
12 2017  Netherlands
Netherlands 		4–2
Denmark 		 Austria and  England 16
13 2022  England
England 		2–1 (a.e.t.)
Germany 		 France and  Sweden 16
14 2025   Switzerland 16
15 2029 TBA 16

Summary

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See also: List of UEFA Women's Championship records
Team Winners Runners-up Losing semi-finalists
 Germany1 8 (1989*, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001*, 2005, 2009, 2013) 1 (2022) 1 (1993)
 Norway 2 (1987*, 1993) 4 (1989, 1991, 2005, 2013) 3 (1995, 2001, 2009)
 Sweden 1 (1984) 3 (1987, 1995, 2001) 5 (1989, 1997*, 2005, 2013*, 2022)
 England 1 (2022*) 2 (1984, 2009) 3 (1987, 1995, 2017)
 Netherlands 1 (2017*) — 1 (2009)
 Italy — 2 (1993*, 1997) 4 (1984, 1987, 1989, 1991)
 Denmark — 1 (2017) 5 (1984, 1991*, 1993, 2001, 2013)
 Austria — — 1 (2017)
 Finland — — 1 (2005)
 France — — 1 (2022)
 Spain — — 1 (1997)
* hosts
1 named West Germany until 1990

Medal table

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In the inaugural 1984 tournament, no bronze medal was awarded. In 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993 there was a third-place play-off to determine bronze. From 1995 onwards, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze. Only Norway and Germany have won the competition more than once.

RankTeamGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Germany8109
2 Norway2439
3 Sweden1359
4 England1225
5 Netherlands1012
6 Italy0213
7 Denmark0145
8 Austria0011
 Finland0011
 France0011
 Spain0011
Totals (11 entries)13132046

Debut of teams

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Players fighting for the ball during the match between Germany and Norway in UEFA Women's Euro 2009 in Tampere, Finland.
Reception of Germany women's national football team, after winning the 2009 UEFA Women's Championship, on the balcony of Frankfurt's city hall "Römer"
Year Debuting teams Successor teams
Teams No. Cum.
1984  Denmark,  England,  Italy,  Sweden 4 4
1987  Norway 1 5
1989  West Germany 1 6
1991 — 0 6  Germany
1993 0 6
1995 0 6
1997  France,  Russia,  Spain 3 9
2001 — 0 9
2005  Finland 1 10
2009  Iceland,  Netherlands,  Ukraine 3 13
2013 — 0 13
2017  Austria,  Belgium,  Portugal,  Scotland,  Switzerland 5 18
2022  Northern Ireland 1 19
2025  Poland,  Wales 2 21
2029 TBD

Overall team records

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In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. Teams are ranked by total points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored.

As of UEFA Women's Euro 2022, 31 July 2022
Rank Team Part M W D L GF GA GD Points
1  Germany[a] 11 46 36 6 4 107 27 +80 114
2  Sweden 11 42 22 6 14 72 47 +25 72
3  Norway 12 39 16 7 16 51 58 −7 55
4  England 9 34 17 3 14 62 53 +9 54
5  France 7 26 11 8 7 39 34 +5 41
6  Denmark 10 33 10 8 15 33 46 −13 38
7  Netherlands 4 18 10 3 5 27 15 +12 33
8  Italy 12 35 8 7 20 38 63 −25 31
9  Spain 4 16 5 3 8 16 19 −3 18
10  Austria 2 9 4 3 2 8 4 +4 15
11  Finland 4 14 3 3 8 12 27 −15 12
12  Belgium 2 7 2 1 4 6 7 −1 7
13  Iceland 4 13 1 4 8 7 22 −15 7
14  Russia 5 15 1 3 11 10 31 −21 6
15  Switzerland 2 6 1 2 3 7 11 −4 5
16  Portugal 2 6 1 1 4 7 15 −8 4
17  Ukraine 1 3 1 0 2 2 4 −2 3
18  Scotland 1 3 1 0 2 2 8 −6 3
19  Northern Ireland 1 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10 0

Team results by tournament

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Legend

  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place (1987–1993)
  • 4th – Fourth place (1987–1993)
  • SF – Semi-finalists (1984, and since 1995)
  • QF – Quarter-finalists (since 2009)
  • GS – Group stage
  • Q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
  •    – Hosts

For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

Team 1984 1987
Norway 		1989
West Germany 		1991
Denmark 		1993
Italy 		1995 1997
Norway
Sweden 		2001
Germany 		2005
England 		2009
Finland 		2013
Sweden 		2017
Netherlands 		2022
England 		2025
Switzerland 		2029
TBA 		Total
(4) (8) (12) (16)
 Austria × × × × × × • • • • • SF QF • 2
 Belgium • • • • • • • • • • • GS QF Q 3
 Denmark SF • • 3rd 3rd • GS SF GS GS SF 2nd GS Q 11
 England 2nd 4th • • • SF • GS GS 2nd GS SF 1st Q 10
 Finland • • • • • • • • SF QF GS • GS Q 5
 France • • • • • • GS GS GS QF QF QF SF Q 8
 Germany[a] • • 1st 1st 4th 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st QF 2nd Q 12
 Iceland • × × × • • • • • GS QF GS GS Q 5
 Italy SF 3rd 4th 4th 2nd • 2nd GS GS QF QF GS GS Q 13
 Netherlands • • • • • • • • • SF GS 1st QF Q 5
 Northern Ireland • • × • × × × × × • • • GS • 1
 Norway • 1st 2nd 2nd 1st SF GS SF 2nd SF 2nd GS GS Q 13
 Poland × × × • • • • • • • • • • Q 1
 Portugal • • • • • • • • • • • GS GS Q 3
 Russia Part of  Soviet Union • • GS GS • GS GS GS × × 5
 Scotland • • × × • • • • • • • GS • • 1
 Spain × • • • • • SF • • • QF QF QF Q 5
 Sweden 1st 2nd 3rd • • 2nd SF 2nd SF QF SF QF SF Q 12
 Switzerland • • • • • • • • • • • GS GS Q 3
 Ukraine Part of  Soviet Union × • • • • GS • • • • 1
 Wales × × × × • • • • × • • • • Q 1

Notes:

  • The  Soviet Union team was created only in 1990 and did not participate in continental competitions.
  • The  East Germany team was created only in 1990 and did not participate in continental competitions.
  • Most of the countries of the "Eastern Bloc" ("Socialist camp") did not field their women teams.

Hosts

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Results of host nations
Year Host nation Finish
1984 No fixed host n/a
1987  Norway Champions
1989  West Germany Champions
1991  Denmark Third place
1993  Italy Runners-up
1995 No fixed host n/a
1997  Norway Group stage
 Sweden Semi-final
2001  Germany Champions
2005  England Group stage
2009  Finland Quarter-final
2013  Sweden Semi-final
2017  Netherlands Champions
2022  England Champions
2025  Switzerland To be determined

Results of defending finalists

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Year Defending champions Finish Defending runners-up Finish
1987  Sweden Runners-up  England Fourth place
1989  Norway Runners-up  Sweden Third place
1991  Germany Champions  Norway Runners-up
1993  Germany Fourth place  Norway Champions
1995  Norway Semi-final  Italy Did not qualify
1997  Germany Champions  Sweden Semi-final
2001  Germany Champions  Italy Group stage
2005  Germany Champions  Sweden Semi-final
2009  Germany Champions  Norway Semi-final
2013  Germany Champions  England Group stage
2017  Germany Quarter-final  Norway Group stage
2022  Netherlands Quarter-final  Denmark Group stage
2025  England To be determined  Germany To be determined

Tournament statistics

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Main article: UEFA Women's Championship records

All-time top scorers

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Rank Name Euro Total
1984 Norway
1987 		West Germany
1989 		Denmark
1991 		Italy
1993 		1995 Norway
Sweden
1997 		Germany
2001 		England
2005 		Finland
2009 		Sweden
2013 		Netherlands
2017 		England
2022
1 Germany Inka Grings 4 6 10
Germany Birgit Prinz 2 2 1 3 2 10
3 Italy Carolina Morace 2 1 0 0 1 4 8
Germany Heidi Mohr 1 4 1 2 8
Sweden Lotta Schelin 0 1 5 2 8
6 Sweden Hanna Ljungberg 1 2 3 6
England Beth Mead 6 6
Germany Alexandra Popp 6 6
9 Italy Melania Gabbiadini 2 1 2 0 5
Norway Solveig Gulbrandsen 0 3 0 2 5
Germany Maren Meinert 1 1 1 2 5
Italy Patrizia Panico 1 2 0 2 0 5
Sweden Pia Sundhage 4 0 1 0 5
England Jodie Taylor 5 5
Sweden Lena Videkull 0 1 1 3 5
Germany Bettina Wiegmann 0 0 2 1 2 5

Top scorers by tournament

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Year Player Matches
played 		Goals
1984 Sweden Pia Sundhage 4 4
1987 Norway Trude Stendal 2 3
1989 Norway Sissel Grude
West Germany Ursula Lohn 		2 2
1991 Germany Heidi Mohr 2 4
1993 Denmark Susan Mackensie 2 2
1995 Sweden Lena Videkull 3 3
1997 Italy Carolina Morace
Norway Marianne Pettersen
France Angélique Roujas 		5 4
2001 Germany Claudia Müller
Germany Sandra Smisek 		5 3
2005 Germany Inka Grings 5 4
2009 Germany Inka Grings 6 6
2013 Sweden Lotta Schelin 6 5
2017 England Jodie Taylor 6 5
2022 England Beth Mead
Germany Alexandra Popp 		6 6

UEFA.com Golden Player by tournament

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Year Player
1984 Sweden Pia Sundhage
1987 Norway Heidi Støre
1989 West Germany Doris Fitschen
1991 Germany Silvia Neid
1993 Norway Hege Riise
1995 Germany Birgit Prinz
1997 Italy Carolina Morace
2001 Sweden Hanna Ljungberg
2005 Finland Anne Mäkinen
2009 Germany Inka Grings
2013 Germany Nadine Angerer1
2017 Netherlands Lieke Martens1
2022 England Beth Mead1

1Official player of the tournament since 2013

Highest attendances

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to UEFA Women's Championship.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Includes participations as  West Germany before 1991.

References

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  1. ^ Skillen, Fiona; Byrne, Helena; Carrier, John; James, Gary (27 Jan 2022). "A comparative analysis of the 1921 English Football Association ban on women's football in Britain and Ireland". Sport in History. 42 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1080/17460263.2021.2025415. S2CID 246409158.
  2. ^ a b "Damenfußball in der Verbotszeit [Ladies' football in the banned era]". BPB. 4 Sep 2007. Archived from the original on 18 Feb 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Women's european football championship scene from match germany (GFR) against England in Berlin (West-Berlin) . final result 0:4 05.Nov. 1957". Getty Images. Archived from the original on 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  4. ^ "Frauenfußball-Verbot 1955 [Women's football ban 1955]". Deutschlandfunk. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Coppa Europa per Nazioni (Women) 1969". Rsssf.com. 19 March 2001. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". Rsssf.com. 15 October 2000. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  7. ^ a b Lopez, Sue (1997). Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women's Football. London, England: Scarlet Press. p. 99. ISBN 1857270169.
  8. ^ "2013 Uefa Women's Competitions" (PDF). UEFA. August 2013. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  9. ^ Williams, Jean (2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg Publishers. p. 30. ISBN 978-1845206758.
  10. ^ "Women's EURO and U17s expanded". UEFA. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  11. ^ Leslie-Walker, Anika; Schlenker, Marisa (2020-07-08). "Four decades of UEFA Women's Championships "come home"". Football Makes History. Archived from the original on 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to UEFA Women's Championship.
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