Yes, 33-M. It's very likely wrong.
Allow me to be wrong one last time.
After going back and forth between the Dutch and Swedes (both of whom receive ample coverage below), I think the Scandinavian Blaugults retain a noticeable advantage with the squad that they have. Never scared to be wrong. On the contrary, being right in sports often disappoints.
Sweden—“The Blaugults"
Here are your selected favorites, friends. The third place finishers in the 2019 World Cup and 2021 Olympic Silver Medalists seem, in the bookie's estimation at lest, to have the most functional set of veteran talents to make the next breakthrough.
The team that eliminated my Mädels in such dominant fashion three years ago are so stacked that head-coach Peter Gerhardsson can (and does) throw all manner of constellations at his opponent....and everything works.
Gerhardsson's 2022 Algarve Cup Champions have not been defeated since 2019. This includes the penalty shootout loss to Canada in the Olympics, which technically ended in an unlucky draw. The Dutch technically possess as many weapons, but the Blaugults own the proven ones.
An incredible 220 combined international goals among the attackers featuring for this squad. They score from every possible angle whether their coach sets them up in a 4-3-3, a 3-4-3, a 4-4-2 or a 5-3-2. One also might as well mention that Gerhardsson's set-piece designs bear the marks of a highly intelligent staff and a well drilled team.
Having had a chance to check out some of the matches during their undefeated World Cup and Euro qualifying campaign, along with the recent friendlies, these lasses appear to be operating with an unshakable confidence. Before getting into more detail below, do allow your friendly bookie the pleasure of a quick nostalgia break.
Oh well. The "elbow salute" one was kind of cool too.
The Talisman—Kosovare Asllani
Same talisman as the last time we checked in with this team. Of course it is. How could it be anyone other than the "Kosovar Rock Star"? Maybe not the most important player from a production numbers standpoint, but the continent-trotting 32 absolutely drives this team from her place in the midfield behind the attack.
She's really grown into this the wider shape this team plays in and is as skillful as ever in interpreting space. This preview likely differs from all the other ones in labelling her the talisman. Admittedly, the bookie probably allows some sentimentality to govern his choice.
Go ahead and make the Eagle, girl! European football fans do maintain something of a soft spot for the ethnic Albanians representing various countries on our continent, particular ones from Kosovo.
The Legends—
Hedvig Lindahl
Ingrid Hjelmseth may have retired, but this Scandinavian team's 39-year-old keeper isn't ready to call it quits just yet. The story of her career includes multiple improbable comebacks during her 30s. She's been displaced several times, always finding a way to fight her way back to the #1 slot.
Caroline Seger
Arguably the most influential Swedish women's footballer ever. The 37-year-old captain now has 230 international caps to her credit. She's made more appearances for this country than any other player, man or woman. Seger has used her celebrity admirably off the pitch as well, leading her girls in their equal pay fight.
Though her current club form is understandably reflective of her age, the bookie won't take a chance of building an XI without her. A five-scorer-point haul for country this year demonstrates that she's invaluable to this team at any age. She's consistently adapted her game throughout various phases in her career to serve the squad best.
Magdalena Eriksson
Eighty-four national team caps now for the star Chelsea Ladies center back. She's just a marvelous all-around player both in her defensive duties and set-piece scoring prowess. Most of the team's dead-ball designs are constructed around her. It is such that she's tallied twice for country this year.
Amanda Illestadt
Nilla Fischer's successor and Eriksson's current defensive partner. The former Bayern München star is a whizz on set-pieces as well, turning in three tallies for country this year. A big reason why this team is rock solid at the back.
Linda Sembrandt
Actually not finding a place for the 35-year-old team legend whom everyone will recall from her two goals in the 2015 FWM. She could start at right-back. Whatever ends up happening with her, the 128-times capped current Juventus defender remains an undisputed legend in this program.
Sofia Jakobsson
Can't find a starting place for the 32-year-old offensive allrounder either. No room for a pocket ten in this lineup and there's enough talent in the squad already to concede the need for a straight winger. A very good player who used to feature for Chelsea, Montpelier and Real Madrid. Just no room for her.
Lina Hurtig
The 26-year-old should start up front, having matured very well in the interim. Since the last tournament, the Juventus star has scored 12 more goals for country. Five tallies for the national team this year. Eight more four club, half of which came in the Champions' League.
Stina Blackstenius
Sweden's answer to the goal-machine that is Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema. In point of fact, she's Miedema's striking partner at Arsenal. While sharing the spotlight with the women game's most prolific striker diminished her goal scoring stats somewhat, she remains every bit as lethal.
The bookie has watched her finish like a true pro for country this year. She also netted 11 times for the Gunners. The 26-year-old, according to some scouts, still has aspects of her game that she needs to work on. She remains light-years ahead of her developmental trajectory from those years back.
Overall, well qualified to lead this team as the most advanced target forward. I'd tap her as a dark horse candidate for the golden boot as well. So much of the Championship tip hinges on this player. It's bet with some risks, yet you can trust the bookie that they're calculated.
Fridolina Rolfö
Always liked her, dating back to the days when Pia Sundhage carefully nurtured her game. A Bundesliga veteran with 27 German league tallies to her credit when playing for Bayern and Wolfsburg. She's made the jump to Barça and comes off a 29-scorer-point campaign with one of the best women's clubs in the world.
Once a direct competitor to Blackstenius, one huge reason why this attack functions so well concerns the fact that Rolfö now occupies a regular place behind the lead striker slanted left. The convincing nature of this partnership constitutes another vital bit of the bookie's reasoning behind the Championship tip. Trust or don't.
The Next Gen—
Nathalie Bjørn
A shame not to be able to find a place for the talented 25-year-old fullback now working Merseyside with Everton Ladies. She's done well in transitioning into a midfield role with the Toffees. Perhaps she'll fill that right-back slot. The player below takes the anchoring midfield place.
Filippa Angedahl
A projected starting position for this new face. The 24-year-old Man City midfielder has been too good in this year's Women's UCL for her not to crack this lineup. She'll occupy an exceedingly important fulcrum position just ahead of the defensive line. Counting on a big tournament from her.
Hanna Bennison
Bookie doesn't know much about the 19-year-old Everton striker who's already amassed 22 senior team caps. She's fought her way into the starting XI for her club over the past year and is regarded by some as a solid up-and-comer. We'll happily take a look.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
Interesting late bloomer here. She wasn't even in the Olympic squad last year. The 25-year-old--who never even earned a call-up until 2021--hasn't even played outside the domestic league. Accordingly, I'd never heard of her.
The thing of it is that she's been getting lots of starts recently in the World Cup qualifiers. Gerhardsson keeps using her, even deploying her up top at times. It should prove most interesting to see if he does indeed feature her in his opening XI.
Rebecka Blomqvist
Okay. Full disclosure. The bookie's tip to fill in at right-back is a VfL She-Wolf. I know her. I like her. She's one of the more standout FrauenBundesliga players. Bookie not being the Swedish trainer, perhaps you shouldn't trust me here.
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1)
An exceedingly difficult lineup to build. Fierce competition for every spot. Mine does engage in a bit of unlikely re-jiggering by moving Blomqvist back to the right-back role. Gerhardsson could use any one of his veteran defenders--Illestadt, Eriksson, or Sembrandt--in that slot. He could also move just about any of his squeezed out attackers there. Björn and Rubensson are viable candidates.
I'm thinking that Asllani and Seger definitely need to remain in their slants. Angeldal adds the best dynamism as a "string puller". Gave some thought to giving Kaneryd and Bennison the go up top. Those two youngsters have done more than enough to earn their shot. In the final analysis, however, the better acquainted crew works better.
The bookie's championship-winning lineup exhibits about as solid a spine as I've seen in any of the 30 plus tournaments that we've covered in the past two decades. Probably the biggest detriment remains the cumulative age and what a bunch of accumulated minutes could do to the vets. We'll bet that the experienced players, as is common, know how to manage their own fatigue levels on this type of stage.
The Netherlands—“Clockwork Leeuwinnen"
After five successful years helming the Portland Thorns franchise, Surrey-born Englishman Mark Parsons slid in to take over what many consider to be international football's most challenging program. Though it's not quite as ridiculous with the women's team, Dutch football supporters consider certain constellations sacred.
No joke. Running the Netherlands football program means running a 4-3-3. You're not allowed to stray from this formation. "Totaalvoetbal" doesn't function outside of it. It's infinitely worse than Ecuador and the 4-4-2. Those are your constraints as a coach. Deal with them.
Parsons has made some interesting changes within this structure. He's freshened up the back ranks with younger fullbacks, reorganized the midfield around dual-heritage Spanish recruit Damaris Egurrola, and instituted what appears to be a committed high press on his top two axes.
Results were fairly decent.....until the bookie watched them get stomped 1-5 by the English in a pre-tournament friendly a few days ago. Oops. They were favorites to top this group and perhaps even take the crown prior to that debacle.
Now it's time for a serious re-think.
Again, same talisman as the last time we checked in with this team. For all that can be said about Vivianne Meideam (and we will say quite a bit below), the 29-year-old remains possibly the most elegant and graceful player to ever play the women's game.
Only the forever undisputed "female Messi" can squeeze blood from a stone. She routinely dazzles with her uncanny ability to manufacture greatness out of nothing. Ignore anyone else who attempts to slap the "female Messi tag" on a different women's player and focus intently on that insanely clever flick from last tournament's round-of-16.
No debates shall be entertained. The only reason Lieke has never won the female Ballon d'or is because it didn't exist during her heyday. She has been named FIFA and UEFA player of the year twice and took home the "player of the tournament" honor in the last Euros.
Watch her closely. What she does with the ball constitutes something truly special for a player of any gender. If there's a filthy slick trick involving fancy footwork than can be turned, she's already pulled it home. Rabonas and Cruyff-turns galore from this legend over her magnificent career.
Twenty-three goals across all competitions for Barça this season. Five more national team tallies in 2021, pushing her total to 55 in 135 caps. She's fit. She's ready. She's even moving to PSG next year for big money. It shouldn't take any observer long to see that she's worthy every cent.
The actor we once referred to as "a legend in the making" just keeps breaking records. Oh, now it gets really ridiculous. "Queen Vivianne" no has 92 national team goals in 110 caps. She's netted over 80 times for Arsenal since we last checked in with her.
In the WSL, she's become the first player to score against all other opposing clubs, the first ever to amass 100 scorer points, the first female footballer to hit ten scorer-points in a single game....look...why don't I just mention that she scored six goals in a single match against Cyprus in April and you get the idea?
The 25-year-old scores all the time from everywhere. She's had far too many "perfect hat tricks" (left foot, right foot, head) to count at this point. One of the most amazing athletes you'll ever see. Once upon a time she graced our presence in the FrauenBundesliga with Bayern.
No German team can afford her now.
All continues to go well for the midfield linchpin your friendly bookie maintains enormous respect for. The former Arsenal remains creative and inventive when it counts, stepping forward to score eight national team goals in the last 18 months.
Her move to women's UCL Champions Lyon Ladies has been a great success as well. The 30-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and should be in for a great tourney. So looking forward to the reunion.
The 29-year-old lanky center back, back at Ajax again, has also netted a couple tallies for the national team in the past calendar year. She's turned in eight goals for club since returning to the women's Erdevisie. Seems to have no problems with her new defensive partner.
This is indeed the former "Dominique Bloodworth", everybody's favorite "Soccer Mom" from the 2019 tournament. She's reverted back to her maiden name after splitting from her husband. Janssen plays anywhere along the defensive line with Wolfsburg, but works as a lef-fullback for this team.
Janssen just completed a very stellar Bundesliga campaign, racking up 12 goals across all competitions. Wishing her well here while also hoping she once again brings her little one onto the pitch after the full-time whistle.
As of last year, Janssen's VfL Wolfsburg teammate. Great to have her back in the Bundesrepublik after a couple of seasons spent on the Isle with Arsenal. A certifiable phenom last go-around, she's now fought her way into Parsons' starting XI.
She's also coming off an awesome 20-goal club campaign during which she racked up a further eight assists. Six goals for country this year for the 25-year-old. At least against the weaker competition, everyone on this squad gets their tallies in.
Still going strong at the age of 32, the Ajax midfielder recently celebrated her 200th cap for country. Not exactly the goal-scoring threat she once was, she did get a tally in late during the Cyprus rout earlier this Spring. As ever, a gifted assist-meister for all the attackers ahead of her.
One of Vicey's favorite 1. FFC Frankfurt Alums who hasn't exactly been a firecracker since moving to Manchester in 2019, yet still fought her way into the national team starting XI in the interim. Like Roord, she's a phenom upgraded to regular.
Certainly known more for her distributive skills than her goal-scoring-prowess on this squad. Bookie has her starting with a footnote that one of the younger talents could potentially edge her out.
The 25-year-old Bayern striker doesn't start anymore because of the logjam up front. It says quite a bit about this team that an attacker who's netted four national team goals in the past calendar year works off the bench. She's had less of a successful club campaign this year in Bavaria.
Bookie backs her regardless as a marvelous player when she's on.
The PSV keeper retains the captain's armband. Club form remains top notch, though the bookie (having watched her recent national team performances) finds himself a bit concerned that she's down a tick. There's nevertheless not a viable alternative to her in goal. Note that Dutch sides--for whatever reason--switch out net-minders often.
This is the young talent that everyone's talking about. Parsons showed off his recruiting chops early in his tenure by plucking the 22-year-old Basque heritage player away from the Spanish program. Known predominantly as a defensive midfielder, she's surprised everyone by tallying twice in her three national team caps.
If there is to ultimately be a spot in the starting XI for her in this tournament, Gronen's slot stands as the only one that she can conceivably take. There's effectively zero chance she can displace van de Donk and (as we know) a system change runs the risk of getting Parsons lynched.
Van der Gragt's new defensive partner. Your friendly bookie genuinely likes what he's seen from the 21-year-old both at Wolfsburg and in the Oranje tricot. Twenty national team caps already for the youngster who dethroned "Fortress Dekker".
The 18-year-old generates as much buzz Egurrola, if not more. Truly an embarrassment of riches in attack for this program with a striker of this caliber in the pipeline. She can play at nine, ten, or out on either wing. She's scored from all those positions as a prolific tallier for every last one of the country's youth levels.
Her time isn't a question of if, but when. Surely she'll get at least a couple of late deployments in this competition. Parsons knows full well what all the fuss is about. He'll have difficulty not showcasing her on a grander stage.
Upgrades pretty much everywhere. On paper, it should be the best team in the tournament. Jill Roord over Lineth Beerensteyn. Jackie Groenen over Shanice van de Sanden. Lynn Wilms and Annie Nouwen inheriting the spots previously occupied by Kika van Es and the (legendary) Anouk Dekker.
Should this assemblage take flight and live up to their potential, there truly isn't a squad in the tournament that can hope to stop them. The problem lies in the fact that, all too often this year, some of the new gears have gotten stuck.
In addition to the debilitating defeat against England, France handled them rather easily in the Tournoi February invitational. Parsons girls have drawn six matches in the last year. Here we have a group that simply may need a bit more time.
Expect them to contend with the World Championship next Summer. For now, we may behold some stutter steps and further "growing pains". It's just not clicking yet. The scouts make that much clear. More muscle memory is needed.
Switzerland—"La Nati"
Everyone recall the 10-1 stomping of Ecuador in the second group stage match? What a wild tournament that was!
Having made my opinion of Voss-Tecklenburg's performance in charge of Germany clear, I genuinely wish that she hadn't increased her celebrity in that tournament. Bring back Steffi Jones!
Whew. Got off on a bit of an overly passionate tangent there. Back to this team.
They really fought hard in getting here via the qualifying playoffs. The Danish head-coach who took his country to the 2017 Final now runs this team. Nils Nielsen happens to be a very good gaffer who (albeit briefly) took a gig managing one of the Chinese youth squads.
They've actually had quite a bit to celebrate in the World Cup Qualifying Campaign. With six victories from eight fixtures, they stand a chance of qualifying directly with a possible overtake of group leaders Italy.
The Talisman—Lia Wälti
Set to enter her fifth season for Arsenal Ladies, the captain is the beating heart of this team. Some more even say she's a bit too controlling when suiting up for country. Have to respect her heart in any case. The 29-year-old takes her skipper role seriously. Always energetic and animated on the pitch.
Bookie knows her well from her days playing for Turbine Potsdam; back when they were a more dominant force in German women's football. The center back/fullback/defensive midfielder has answered all of her positional charges well throughout her career.
In terms of where she'll end up starting, I'm thinking at six. Nielsen has some jumbling to do in order to get this team back on track again. Wältl should earn her 100th cap from ahead of the defensive line.
Notables
Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic
The famous 31-year-old (recall that the unpronounceable name comes from her Croat heritage) will forever be remembered as one of this program's most legendary footballers. Very pleased to see her again. A highly respected former Bundesliga and NWSL veteran.
All my personal respect for her notwithstanding, I'm taking her out of the XI for now. Difficult to fathom that a Barcelona starter doesn't get a starting space. It's almost insulting to take someone with 125 national team caps out of the formation.
Something needs to be done to get this attack moving.
Ramona Bachmann
We'll keep the other legend in the mix. One can't exactly conceive of an XI without the PSG superstar. The hat-trick hero from 2015 isn't slumping at her club. She's also turned in five national team tallies this year. She can probably be relied upon to get it going quickly again.
Irrespective of what happens in this tournament, both Bachmann and Crnogorcevic have their legend status cemented. One hundred and twenty national team goals in 254 caps between them. These were the two players who put this program on the map.
Eseosa Aigbogun
Everyone's "cult favorite" fullback after that photo of her leisurely enjoying what appeared to be some very stiff porridge went viral. The one-time Turbine Potsdam striker took her talents to the back-line after moving to Paris FC and does the same for the national team now too. Essentially the Swiss version of Crystal Dunn.
Geraldine Reuteler
The Eintracht Frankfurt attacker whom the bookie will plug in as part of his attack fix. She's had some injury problems this year, but did consistently impress whenever I had a chance to check out the SGE. The 23-year-old has done a solid enough job for country with seven goals in 43 caps.
I'd probably turn to her Eintracht teammate Sandrine Mauron if Bachmann can't find her form immediately too. Big time Bundesliga bias at work in my attempts to right this ship.
Riola Xhemaili
.....Speaking of which, here's the big-time gambit. We'll turn to the 19-year-old SC Freiburg phenom to join-hold the attack. Four goals for club and country for the Kosovar. Too early to call label a female Xherdan Shaqiri?
Svenja Fölmli
We might as well go ahead and get this torch passed. Let's keep the Freiburg 19-year-olds together. Xhemaili behind Fölmli. Despite their young age, the two teenagers have six goals and 32 caps between them. The two club teammates represent the future of this team. Let said future begin now.
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1)
We'll go out on a limb here and try to make some changes. Frömli probably needs to start above Bachmann at this point. So as not to disrespect the veteran, we'll move her back to the wing. I'll also go with Reuteler over Crnogorcevic and back Xhemali to be Frömli's sly and creative direct vertical axis partner.
To be perfectly candid, Nielsen might want to consider switching out the entire back line as well. Sorry to say so. Those four players happen to be actors I know and respect. They've simply looked so outclassed as of late that maybe Ella Tuon or Lara Marti should get a shot.
We're bound to see something intriguing here as the national team trainer needs to do something to stanch this bleeding. A lot of different permutations remain possible below the top three axes that I've tinkered with. We could see some hitherto unknowns make breakthroughs in the fixtures ahead.
Portugal—“A Selecção das Quinas”
In any event, we're likely looking at the group's reliable doormats here. Francisco Neto's girls are only here because of Russia's expulsion. Neto--in charge of the program since 2014--does run a tight and passionate crew. The overall talent level nevertheless isn't there.
In this toughest of all the groups, the Lady Navigators may exit without a point. Something of a shame to see them take a step backwards after they did produce a memorable win against Scotland five years ago.
The domestic league having been hit hard by the pandemic, we're regrettably discussing one of those areas of the world where women's football may have been knocked back too far to take a stride forward. Of course, that's the beauty of a tournament like this.
Some improbable moments of magic and they're right back on the radar. Think about how much good the Argentine girls did for football in their country with their gritty performance in the 2019 World Cup. Maybe we get a welcome surprise here.
The Talisman—Jessica Silva
Bookie doesn't have much of a choice but to go with one of the few players he recognizes here. The 27-year-old striker (11 goals in 87 caps for country) briefly played in Lyon before moving to the Kansas City in the NWSL. Apparently, she's back in the domestic league now and coming off a seven-scorer-point season.
Some more familiar names at the forward position (like Carolina Mendes and Ana Borges) are still around as well...but this one is presumably the starter thanks to the fact that (duh) she obviously exudes athleticism.
Notables
Ana Borges
There's a familiar face for everyone. The 32-year-old captain, formerly of Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, is still around. She's amassed nearly 140 caps for country at this stage in her career. She's moved into a much quieter phase of her career over with Sporting CP in the domestic league.
Entirely possible that she'll start. Name recognition goes a long way for coaches in these tournaments. As you'll find out below, your friendly bookie has some other plans for this XI. The veteran must make way.
Carolina Mendes
Another name and face you might recognize. The scorer of two goals in the last tournament is now 34-years-of-age with 23 goals and 114 caps for country. Again, Neto might include her in his lineup for the purposes of giving her a proper send-off. We'll rather assume that he's playing to win.
Diana Silva
A memorable enough performer from 2017 returns as well. The Sporting CP striker, more of an attacking midfielder for this team, returned to her roots after a brief stint with Aston Villa didn't work out. She netting 20 goals across all competitions for the Leoes this season.
Two more goals for country in the current calendar year. Bookie definitely has her playing a role in this attack. She works well to the left of Jessica Silva. We've yet another player with the same chosen surname to discuss on that side.
Dolores Silva
Telma Encarnaçao 
Francisca "Kika" Nazareth 
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Vicey’s Fearless Group Prediction (2 to 1 Odds for bookie)
1) Sweden
3) Switzerland
4) Portugal
Overall Championship Odds
Sweden (NO BETS)
Switzerland (12 to 1)
Portugal (15 to 1)
Quarterfinal Odds
Sweden (NO BETS)
Switzerland (4 to 1)
Portugal (6 to 1)
Semifinal Odds
Sweden (NO BETS)
Switzerland (8 to 1)
Portugal (12 to 1)
