Championship of Europe of female football

The Championnat of Europe of female football is the female equivalent of the Championnat of Europe of male football. This competition reserved for the national selections recognized by UEFA is organized by this one since 1984.

The final stage of the tournament gathers from now on the twelve best national selections starting from the next edition (2009) which will take place in Finland.

The Germany is holding it of the last four titles of the competition. It is also the most victorious nation with six titles on the whole out of nine editions.

History

The will to set up a continental competition in Europe between the national selections of female Football date of the Years 1960 and 1970, indeed two editions in 1969 and 1979 was disputed, the first gained by the Italy, the second by the Denmark.

In the Years 1980, UEFA, anxious to develop female football on the continent, decides to create an official competition, the first tournament began in 1982 to be completed in 1984 at the end of a final played in matches return ticket where the Sweden is essential against the England in a meeting of shootings on the goals. The second edition takes place later three years in 1987 where a final tournament is set up starting from the semi-finals thus four nations are qualified, it is another Scandinavian nation the Norway which seizes the trophy against holding of the title the Sweden.

The competition proceeds then every two years the odd years, in 1989 at the time of the third edition where the final tournament with place in West Germany, the country host the the F.R.G. gains the competition against holding of the title the Norway thus giving a third winner in three disputed editions. In 1991 with the Denmark the competition takes the name of Championnat of Europe , the Germany (reunified) becomes the first selection to gain for the second time the competition by preserving its title against the Norway during the prolongations. In 1993, the edition takes place in Italy, the Norway takes again its trophy by being essential 1-0 vis-a-vis the Italy, equalizing the performance of Germany with two acquired titles.

Starting from 1995 and at the time of the four following editions, the Germany affirms its supremacy on the continent of Europe by gaining all the editions, first of all in 1995 where it is essential finally against the Sweden 3-2 on Kaiserslautern, then in 1997 while having the Italy 2-0, lasting this edition the number of participants in the final stage passes from four nations to eight nations with a hen phase then semi-finals. As from 1997, the UEFA decides to organize the event every four years, the following edition thus takes place in 2001 in Germany with a new victory of the country-host against the Sweden 1-0. then in 2005 in England, Germany gains it for the fourth time of sharpened by beating the Norway 3-1 finally, thus increasing its number of titles with six.

In 2009, the final stage will again be reorganized to pass from eight nations to twelve nations, it will be held in Finland.

Organization

The Championship of Europe of female football is organized today every four years over one year odd. The UEFA supervises its organization, the choice of the host country is carried out by the executive committee of the UEFA a few years before the course of the final tournament (for the euro 2009, the country host Finland was indicated on July 11th, 2006).

Since its creation, eight final stages out of nine were held in a country host (except for the edition 1984, in 1995 only the final is regarded as final stage): Norway (1987), West Germany (1989), Denmark (1991), Italy (1993), Germany (1995), Norway and Sweden (1997), Germany (2001) and England (2005). The next edition in 2009 will take place in Finland whose candidature was preferred for those of the Netherlands.

Course of the competition

The competition proceeds on two phases: a phase of qualification and a final tournament (called final stage ), each federation affiliated to UEFA can present a selection after the agreement of the latter

Qualificative phase

For the edition 2009, all the nations must take share with the phase of qualification except for the country-host the Finland. This phase disputes over two years

Final stage

First turn

During the final tournament in 2005, the national selections are gathered in hens (two hens of four teams). Each team once faces each adversary of her hen. The two teams best placed are qualified to dispute the semi-finals.

Second turn

At the time of the edition 2005, the continuation of the competition proceeds between the four best teams resulting from hens and comprises two turns with direct elimination: semi-finals and finale. This one puts at the catches the winners of the semi-finals, the semi-finalists are not classified.

In the event of equality at the end of the prescribed time, an extension by 30 minutes takes place, in the event of new equality at the end of this time, a meeting of shootings to the goals decide between the two teams.

Participation

The number of participants in the qualificative phase passed from sixteen nations in 1984 to forty-five nations for next Euro. For the final tournament, four nations took share between 1987 and 1993 there, only a final disputed in 1995, then the first widening took place in 2001 with eight nations qualified for the final tournament then the second widening starting from next Euro with twelve nations. Finally Seules editions 2005 and 2009 count one qualified of office which is only other than the organizing country of the final tournament.

Prize list

the first two editions of 1969 and 1979 were not official and do not count in the official prize list of the nations.

Assessment by nation

Cover by the media and spectators

Televisual cover

All the edition 2005 was retransmise by the television channel Eurosport on line. BBC has retransmis the three hen matches of England and the finale of the tournament. At the time of disputed the England-Sweden meeting on Saturday, June 11, 2005, 20% of the British audience were reached by the BBC i.e. approximately three million televiewers.

Presence in the stages

The edition of 2005 attracted 117 384 spectators for the 15 disputed meetings of which 29 092 spectators for the match of opening enters the England and the Finland (record for a female international match to Europe) and 21 100 spectators with Ewood Park with Blackburn for the finale opposing the Germany and the Norway. On average thus, the matches were assisted by 7.825 spectacteurs per match on the whole of the edition 2005.

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