UEFA Women's EURO 2017 - Can anyone stop magnificent Germany?

It’ll be a difficult task. Germany see this trophy as their very own. They are the current holders, of course – and they won it in 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997, 1995 and 1991, with West Germany winning it in 1989. It’s no surprise they feel proprietorial over it.

Add to that two previous Women’s World Cup wins, and the Olympic gold they won in Rio last year, and it’s clear that Germany have a magnificent pedigree as well as a formidable squad.

It’s an excellent question – and the answers are really no different than they are in the men’s game. The women’s set-up has been well funded for decades – and their coaches are well trained. They were hosts for the 2011 Women’s World Cup, and their brilliantly organised, impressive, popular, almost endearing approach to the tournament is somewhat reflected in the teams they put out.

The legendary Silvia Neid, in charge for over a decade with a win record of almost 74%, stepped down last year, and this will be the first real test of new coach Steffi Jones’s tenure. She still has plenty of top stars to call on, including captain Dzsenifer Marozsan, who scored the winning goal in the 2016 Olympic gold medal match against the USA, and striker Anja Mittag, who averages a goal every three games at international level.

France might fancy their chances of putting a halt to the unstoppable Germany train. They made the quarterfinals last time round, reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, and had an absolutely blistering qualifying campaign, rampaging through Group 3 with a perfect record – with no goals conceded.

As for England, well. Coach Mark Sampson has been clear that he thinks his team can win this tournament. Perhaps they can.

But in terms of structure, England are still playing catch-up with several of the leading countries across the continent. It’s only in the past decade that the FA have properly turned their attention to elite women’s football, with the domestic league only a few years old, and it’s going to take a while for the international talent pathway to bed in.

It’s tough to look beyond the current holders as potential winners – but surprises are inevitable in tournament football. Perhaps that will be the best chance anyone has of stopping Germany.