Group-stage round-up: Winners, losers, surprises and key moments

Carrie Dunn rounds up the key moments, winners and losers from the group stages of the UEFA women's Championship.

Nikita Parris of England Women celebrates after she scores a goal to make it 2-1 during the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 match between Portugal and England at Koning Willem II Stadium on July 27, 2017 in Tilburg, Netherlands

Image credit: Getty Images

GROUP A

Winner: NetherlandsRunner-up: Denmark
Goodbye to: Belgium and Norway
Key moment: Lieke Martens’s winner for the Netherlands against Belgium, securing a derby win, maximum points in the group stages, and a place in the quarter-finals for the hosts.
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Highlights: Late goal sees Netherlands sneak to win over Belgium

Video credit: TNT Sports

Biggest surprise: What on earth happened to Norway? The two-time winners froze on the big occasion and slunk out with three defeats from their three group matches. UEFA player of the year Ada Hegerberg deserved better.

GROUP B

Winner: GermanyRunner-up: Sweden
Goodbye to: Russia and Italy
Key moment: Italy’s Elisa Bartoli’s red card against Germany. The defending champions were looking singularly lacklustre in this match, and Steffi Jones switched things up at half-time with things level at 1-1. Still Italy were looking solid – until they gave away a penalty, which Babett Peter converted, and then a minute later Bartoli made her exit.
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Highlights: Italy knocked out by narrow Germany defeat

Video credit: TNT Sports

Biggest surprise: Italy’s magnificent win over Sweden, their final bow in this year’s competition. They might be bottom of the group, but they could have qualified for the knock-out stage had they picked up just one more point. They’ve certainly made their mark, with some terrific performances from the likes of Barbara Bonansea and Daniela Sabatino.

GROUP C

Winner: AustriaRunner-up: France
Goodbye to: Switzerland and Iceland
Key moment: 10-player France’s equaliser against Switzerland, aided by a palm from goalkeeper Gaelle Thalman. This group was a close one; if the Swiss had held on to their lead, they’d have pipped their opponents to the quarter-finals. As it is, France are without the suspended Eve Perisset plus Wendie Renard in the next match.
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Camille Abily strikes to secure quarter-final spot for France

Video credit: TNT Sports

Biggest surprise: Iceland’s ridiculously physical approach to the game, which didn’t even pay off despite some hard graft – three matches, three defeats, one goal for, six against.

GROUP D

Winner: EnglandRunner-up: Spain
Goodbye to: Portugal and Scotland
Key moment: England’s Jordan Nobbs’s casual, brilliant strike from range against Scotland, signalling the Lionesses’ intent and killer instinct.
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Highlights - irresistible England hammer Scotland in Euro opener

Video credit: TNT Sports

Biggest surprise: This group went to the wire in the final group game. Spain and England seemed the obvious qualifiers at the start of the matchday – but Portugal pegged the Lionesses back for the best part of an hour, and Scotland’s Caroline Weir stunned Spain with a strike just before half-time, meaning both of them also had a chance to progress if they held on…but only if the other result went in their favour.
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