We have officially arrived at the final stages of the Women’s European Championship qualifiers, where 14 nations will battle it out for a plane ticket to Switzerland for Euro 2025. The playoff finals await, with seven two-legged fixtures ready to kick-off between an impressive list of Europe’s hopefuls.
Serbia vs Sweden
Sweden progressed to the playoffs in style, beating Luxembourg by a colossal 12-0 aggregate scoreline and breezing through their European qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Serbia drew 2-2 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their first meeting last month, but redeemed themselves the following week with a convincing 4-1 victory.
Two of Sweden’s top goalscorers in Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius will take to the stage in Serbia this evening, as the squad hope to make headway during the away leg before playing host on Tuesday.
Serbia and Sweden have not met since the 2005/06 European qualifiers, which Sweden won 9-1 on aggregate.
Northern Ireland vs Norway
Northern Ireland will host Norway for the second playoff round of European qualification, having reached this stage thanks to a narrow 2-1 aggregate triumph over Croatia last month. Norway’s aggregate 14-0 thrashing of Albania booked them their ticket to the tie, as they look to re-establish themselves as contenders in the tournament.
The first leg of the round kicks off on Friday evening at Inver Park, with Norway having won all four of the previous fixtures between the two sides. Norway remain unbeaten in their last six matches and sit in 16th compared to Northern Ireland’s 45th spot in FIFA’s world rankings.
Norway is home to Ada Hegerberg, the all-time top UEFA women’s club goalscorer, as well as WSL favourites including Guro Reiten, Frida Maanum, and Elisabeth Terland. Northern Ireland hope to compete against the Scandinavians.
With the talent that Norway have on their squad list, it is extremely fair to say that they have been underperforming over recent years. The nation failed to make it out of the group stages at Euro 2022, after defeats from England (8-0) and Austria (1-0) saw them on an early flight home. Housing some of Europe’s top talent, qualification is imperative.
Republic of Ireland vs Wales
It does not get much bigger than this, a celtic derby for a place at your first ever European Championship. Wales and Republic of Ireland are exceptionally well matched and quite similar. Neighbours, they both have key players playing in WSL and the NWSL and both have female head coaches from their nation. Ireland come into the tie with confidence having won their last three, including a 3-1 victory over France.
Ireland put Georgia to the sword in the previous round but the tie was the largest disparity in terms of FIFA rankings across all the ties in the play offs. The real test for Ireland begins on Friday night in Cardiff. Ireland’s key players are Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, North Carolina Courage’s Denise O’Sullivan, Celtic’s Caitlin Hayes and Everton’s Courtney Brosnan the latter of which just won her second Irish player of the year award. Ireland made their first ever major tournament, the World Cup in 2023 in the last play off campaign in another celtic derby against Scotland in which they went to Hamden Park and won.
Their Welsh opponents will take heart from a friendly win in Ireland in February earlier this year even if Ireland were missing some key players. Wales’ star player is Jess Fishlock, a legendary player who deserves to grace an international tournament before she hangs up her boots. She was instrumental in Wales’ victory over Slovakia in the last round, levelling the scores on aggregate in the second leg. Wales, after struggling in the first leg were utterly dominant in the second and created a multitude of chances to finish the tie. Alongside Fishlock, Angharad James, Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland have all become pivotal players for Wales. Rhian Wilkinson’s charges will feel confident that with a record crowd behind them they can get a positive result at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.
Ukraine vs Belgium
Ukraine lost in the play offs for EURO 2022 despite entering the two legged tie as favourites against Northern Ireland. They will be under no illusions that this time they are the underdogs. Belgium were quarter finalists at EURO 2022 and just missed out on the World Cup last year with defeat by Portugal.
The Red Flames have done well to avoid relegation in League A twice now and have a wealth of WSL talent in their ranks. They count among their numbers, Leicester captain Janice Cayman and new signing Sari Kees. As well as Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet and West Ham’s Amber Tsiak. Manchester City fans will remember Tessa Wullaert, now at Inter Milan, she is Belgium’s captain and all time top scorer and she has lost none of her clinical edge.
A 7-0 defeat to Spain was the low point of this year but they put in an improved showing to lose 2-0 to Spain in July. Belgium comfortably swept aside Greece 5-0 in the second leg of their play off semi final tie but had laboured away in Heraklion with the first leg finishing in a 0-0 draw.
Their opponents Ukraine came second in their League B group and held Wales to a draw both home and away. Due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia they continue to play their home games at neutral venues having used Turkey, Poland and North Macedonia as home grounds in the past year.
Ukraine captain Daryna Apanashchenko is exceptionally experienced having made her debut in qualifying for the 2003 World Cup. Her experience will be necessary if Ukraine are to plot a route to the finals. Her goal opened the scoring in the away leg against Turkey in the last round before Ukraine finished the job with a 2-0 victory in the second leg.
Scotland vs Finland
Scotland flew through their European qualifiers last month, triumphing 5-0 over Hungary on aggregate. Tottenham Hotspur’s Martha Thomas is the highest goal scorer of the tournament so far, and will look to add another strike to her name as her side prepare to host Finland at Edinburgh’s Easter Road Stadium on Friday night.
The two nations have faced each other just twice in the past, with Finland running out victors on both occasions. Much like their upcoming opponents, Finland also fired through their qualifiers, beating Montenegro 6-0 on aggregate.
Some big Women’s Super League names will be in action across the two legs, with the aforementioned Thomas set to come up against her Spurs teammates in Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen. Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert will be instrumental for the Scots if they are to get the job done at home before travelling to Helsinki Football Stadium for the away leg next Tuesday evening.
Scotland will be eager to avenge their major tournament woes after falling over at the final hurdle in the lead-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup after a defeat at the hands of the Republic of Ireland. The level of talent this side has on paper should have fans demanding qualification at the world’s major tournaments, but Scotland should be under no illusions of the tough task that Finland will impose.
Czechia vs Portugal
Portugal are looking to qualify for their third major tournament in a row and their fourth in five attempts. Their last major tournament ended a whisker away from knocking out the USA, hitting the post in the dying moments when a goal would have sent them through to a round of 16 tie against Sweden. Czech Republic know what it takes to beat World Champions, they stunned the football world earlier this year coming from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in EURO 2025 qualifying.
In the first round of the play offs Czechia ensured the tie was over before it began beating Belarus 8-1 in the first leg. Most of their squad ply their trade in Czechia and while they have no current WSL players they do have former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder Kateřina Svitková who will represent a threat to the Portuguese. Czechia do not relish play offs for major tournaments, having featured in three they have lost them all including defeat on penalties to Switzerland prior to EURO 2022.
Portugal and Czechia met in a February friendly where Selecção das Quinas ran out 3-1 winners. In fact, Portugal are yet to lose in 2024 and dispatched of Azerbaijan with ease in the first play off round. Despite Portugal’s status as favourites Czechia have won all six competitive meetings with Portugal and will have the advantage of the second leg at home. The first leg will be hosted at Estádio do Dragão Porto’s home ground, in front of a fierce atmosphere no doubt. Portugal have the luxury of calling on players like FC Barcelona’s Francisca ‘Kika’ Nazareth and Benfica’s Jéssica Silva and will be bullish about their chances. But Czech Republic have proven stubborn opposition and the tie is likely to go down to the wire.
