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Spain remain among the favourites to win the Womens Euros despite losing Ballon dOr winner Alexia Putellas to injury, according to former Moses Malone Jersey European champion Hege Riise, who also expects England to impre s.Putellas, who has scored 27 goals in 100 caps for Spain, was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training, leaving La Roja without one of their star players.The 28-year-old top-scored in the Champions League with Barcelona last term, scoring 11 goals in continental competition as well as 18 on the domestic front as the Catalan giants won all 30 of their league games.Her injury is just the latest blow to befall Spain ahead of their opening match against Finland on Friday, with record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso also ruled out.But Riise, who won the Womens World Cup in 1995 and the Gerald Henderson Jersey Euros in 1993 during a glorious spell with Norway, for whom she made 188 appearances, believes other players may step up in Putellas absence.Ive been expecting Spain to go through a few times now. And then obviously they got an injury for the key player, Riise told Stats Perform.So that will be a setback, of course, but maybe the team now steps out and works as a teamand not individually.They still do have some key players that will manage to do well, and a lot of them are playing for Barcelona, so they know how to play and know each other quite well.So, I think Spain this time around can be a threat. Germany Im not so sure about, but hopefully well get some surprises. Riise did expre s her regret at mi sing out on seeing Putellas light up the tournament, however, adding: In the Wilt Chamberlain Jersey womens game, when you have a world-cla s player, you want them in the tournament so the fans can see them in their own environment.Obviously when she doesnt play you mi s something, so you want the best player always to play in the Euros, World Cups and the Olympics.Riises own nation began their Group A campaign with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Northern Ireland at St Marys on Thursday, and face hosts England next.And while Riise believes Norway could Darryl Dawkins Jersey test England at the Amex Stadium, she says the tournament experience of Lione ses bo s Sarina Wiegman could make the hosts genuine contenders.I saw the opening game with England 1-0 against Austria . First half, I think they were outstanding, Riiseadded. But they should have scored some more goals, in the second half, they showed that they can be vulnerable as well.But they havent lost any games in a long, long time. So, the confidence that they have and the fans in the stands will help them to build on this. But having the fans there could be positive and negative.The attention makes you more nervous, but I think they are in a good place now and Sarina Wiegman has been in the Euros final with Holland in 2017 , same Philadelphia 76ers Jersey in the World Cup final in 2019 . So, she has the experience.For the Norway-England match, it will be close but player for player, England are better. Though a team like Norway can, if not beat them, get a good result. |
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