The European Under-20 Championship is a competition in women's football for European national teams of players under 19 years of age. It is also a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying competition. National under-19 teams whose countries belong to the European governing body UEFA can register to enter the competition.The competition began in the 1997-98 season as an under-18 event; it became an under-19s event from the 2001-02 season. The Championship has 2 phases: the qualifying phase open to all eligible nations, and the finals phase which is composed of 8 qualifying teams. The finals themselves are composed of two groups of four teams; each team plays the others in the group. The winner of each group after the 3 matches plays the runner-up of the opposing group in a semi-final, with the winner contesting the final.
U20 EURO 2009
Belarus
Ramona Bachmann - Switzerland - Forward
Currently one the top performers in the Swedish Damallsvenskan league, Bachmann has all the skills to truly light up this tournament. Blessed with the speed of a sprinter Bachmann has added some strength to go with the added tackles she has received this season.
Switzerland may use her on the left or right wing to terrify opposing defenders but if they make it to the later stages they will surely use her goal scoring skills as an out an out forward.
Toni Duggan - England - Attacking Midfield/Forward
The Everton player has played well over the past season and was one of the best young players of the English Premier league. 8 months on from the World youth Cup we’ll see how she compares to the best players in Europe.
Good with the ball at her feet and always looking to beat her defender on the left for a cross a lot of responsibility will fall to Duggan to live up her reputation if the going gets tough for England.
Marina Makanza - France - Attacking Midfield
Midfielder who can run as fast as the wind, on the right side of midfield. Makanza is France’s second biggest threat as she will be a constant supplier for the forwards. Has a good shot of her also but will do good to improve her crossing at this tournament. I expect her to attack her left back in her own uniquely aggresive way.
Pauline Cramer - France - Forward
The next goal scoring machine..as one headline read last year. Cramer was born to score goals as she did in last winter’s World U17. Her hat-trick against Paraguay had all the signs of a mature player. Her movement off the ball, the timing of her runs and most of all her selfishness in front of goal where she has a natural ability to place the ball past a goalkeeper.
Gilly Flaherty - England - Defender
The year began for Gilly by finding out her club had signed another young starlet in her position and soon she found out that she had not been chosen for the U17 World Cup and satout the entire U20 competition 3 days later.
The season though ended much differently with Flaherty showing that her timing had grown over the months, leading to better covering and tackles. If England progress then Flaherty’s maturity will have to come forward to guide her country. Captain or not.
Alexandra Popp - Germany - Forward
Like Bachmann Popp will operate on the left wing knowing that her true position in years to come is in front of goal. Unlike Bachmann Popp will find it much, much more harder to make it into her senior team as a regular.
She already has the body of a senior player and is a big problem at corners due to her height. Has a strong shot and can cross the ball when she beats her defender.
Popp was player of the tournament last year at the U17 finals in Nyon.
Dzsenifer Marozsan - Germany - Midfielder
The one player who will lead her generation for 10 years ( or until the Germans produce another ) attacking midfielder and one of the best players at the 2008 U17 World Cup Marozsan is at the centre of all the German success.
The typical number 10 she is the team’s ‘canteira’ and has an array of silky touches on the ball, providing the wings forwards and defenders with cover. Look for Marozsan to float around the field in a free role.
(foto-net)
Ana Maria Cronogorecvic - Switzerland - Forward
While the scouts and the world talks of Bachmann the goals will come from Cronogorecvic. Ana Maria can play in midfield but seeing her recently as a forward she is going to cause defenders at this age group a lot of confusion. A very intelligent player and very calm in front of goal she helped her country knock the current holders Italy out during qualification.
Sofia Jakobsson - Sweden – Midfield
The Umea Ik player will be looking to lead her country through to the final. A team who is blessed with a great league and system where all the young players are brought up with equal chance of playing for one of the big teams Jakobsson is a leader in the making. Her club is doing very well this year and the experience she has should make her show her tackling and passing range at this tournament.
Tiago Merlot
anjamoller@footballgirl.com
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