Latest news with #Danes
New York Post
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Denmark to give citizens copyright protections over their own image and voice to combat AI-deepfakes
Legal code getting a face lift. Denmark is expected to pass legislation granting citizens copyright protections over their own image and voice to combat the rise of artificial intelligence-created deepfakes, according to a report. A broad cross-party swath of Danish parliamentarians passed an amendment to current copyright law Thursday that strengthened protections against deepfakes which it defines as hyper-realistic representations of an individual's appearance and voice, The Guardian reported. Advertisement Denmark will prohibit the digital recreation of individuals without their consent in an amendment to copyright law set to pass in the fall. AFP via Getty Images 'In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI,' Denmark's culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt told the outlet. 'Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that,' the culture minister added. Advertisement The legal move is meant to give Danes legal standing to demand that online platforms remove AI-generated content that depicts them without their consent. The law will also cover 'realistic, digitally generated imitations' of any individual artist's performance. OpenAI's Chat GPT is one of the most popular sites used to create artificially generated images. AP However, the new rules will still have a conceptual carve-out for parodies and satire, governmental officials told the outlet. Advertisement Tech platforms that don't abide by the new law will be subject to 'severe fines,' officials said. The law is expected to go into effect in the fall.
Time Magazine
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Danes Could Get Copyright to Their Own Image Under AI Bill
Millions of Danes could soon hold copyright control over their own image, facial features, and voice under an amendment the country is considering to combat AI deepfakes. The Danish government revealed Thursday that a broad coalition of legislators are working on a bill that would make deepfakes illegal to share and put legal protections in place to prevent AI material depicting a person from being disseminated without their consent. 'In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI,' Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, told The Guardian. The Danish department of culture will submit a proposed amendment for consultation this summer. The bill, if enacted, would issue 'severe fines' for online platforms that do not abide by the new law. The Danish government said that parodies and satire would not be affected by the proposed amendment. The actions come as deepfakes have become increasingly common, affecting celebrities such as pop star Taylor Swift and even Pope Francis as well as many less famous people, and also grown more cumbersome to identify as AI-generated. More than 200 musicians, including Billie Eilish and J Balvin, penned an April letter speaking out against the use of AI, such as voice cloning, in the music industry. Other countries have enacted some protections. In May, the U.S. passed the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes nonconsensual deepfake imagery and mandates social media companies to remove such material from their platforms 48 hours after they are notified of the deepfake.
Irish Post
18 hours ago
- Irish Post
Copenhagen - cool, cultured and deliciously Danish
WE checked into Coco Hotel, a boutique bolthole in Vesterbro that feels more Parisian guesthouse than Nordic. With a leafy courtyard, curated interiors and laid-back charm, it's a stylish base. Rooms come with ensuite showers and are comfortable, if compact. The hotel's buzzing bar and café is ideal for a morning espresso or late-night spritz. Central Station, Tivoli Gardens and the Meatpacking District are all within a 10-minute stroll. Day 1: Street Food, Cycling and a Sustainable Supper First stop was Torvehallerne, a covered food market just north of the city centre. It offers everything from fresh produce to olive oils, natural wine and chocolate, to food bars serving dishes from around the world. Locals head to Hija de Sanchez, it's known for serving some of the best tacos in the city, created by former Noma chef Rosio Sanchez. Suitably replenished, we did as the Danes do and hopped on two wheels for a bike tour with Get Your Guide. We took in the Little Mermaid, Christiansborg Palace and colourful Nyhavn (worth a quick photo stop, but be warned: eateries here are overpriced). Cycling around Copenhagen is incredibly safe — we saw everyone from schoolchildren to politicians gliding along dedicated bike lanes and car-free roads. Even the Queen cycles here. Pedal power reigns supreme. For dinner, we headed to the redeveloped Carlsberg City district and Beyla, a cosy spot known for its plant-based cuisine. The menu is organic, vegan and gluten-free, but flavour takes centre stage. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings, featuring confit leeks with hazelnut praline, Gochujang-glazed mushrooms, and pine nut risotto. The standout? Gochujang-glazed mushrooms, grown on the restaurant's farm just 15 minutes away — delivered daily, by bike, of course. The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen (Syced Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication) Day 2: Bakeries, Neighbourhoods and Natural Wine We started the day at Tír Bakery, just a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Founded by former Noma baker Louise Bannon, this corner spot is loved by locals and visitors. Everything is organic and made with fresh grains. Its cardamom buns, paired with a filter coffee, made for the perfect Danish breakfast — top tip: arrive before 11am as pastries sell out. Next stop: the Nørrebro district, Copenhagen's most culturally diverse area. The vibe is youthful and unpolished — where tattoo studios sit alongside vegan cafés, and art collectives share walls with vintage record shops. Tucked within Nørrebro is Jægersborggade, one of the city's most interesting shopping streets. Once gritty, it's now home to ceramics studios, artisan bakeries, vintage boutiques and natural wine bars. In the middle of this street is Paesano, a relaxed restaurant blending Italian roots with Copenhagen flair. With exposed brick interiors and a menu built around simplicity and regional specialities, it's the perfect spot for a long lunch. I enjoyed homemade pasta with ragù, while my daughter's deconstructed parmigiana di melanzane looked incredible and was delicious. The afternoon was spent browsing vintage shops, admiring local ceramics, and soaking up Copenhagen's laid-back café culture. We nearly skipped dinner at Bæst — 'We can get Italian at home,' my daughter protested — but we were glad we didn't. This organic gem in Nørrebro boasts impressive credentials: it crafts its own mozzarella and burrata on site and cures its own meats. Our waiter recommended the tasting menu, which included what might be the best wood-fired pizza we've had outside Italy. The waterfront Copenhagen (Syced Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication) Relaxed yet polished, Bæst is the sort of place locals take visiting friends. Day 3: Pastries, Boats and Design Icons Our final day began with a two-hour Danish pastry tour via Get Your Guide, visiting five bakeries, including Reinh van Hauen — Copenhagen's oldest family-run bakery — and Hart Bageri, where yet another Noma alumnus has elevated baking to cult status. We arrived hungry and left content, walking between stops and learning the stories behind the city's flaky, buttery creations. Next, we swapped pavements for water with a GoBoat Cruise, a one-hour guided tour of Copenhagen's waterways. Our captain navigated past houseboats, the Opera House, Paper Island, and buzzing waterside cafés. GoBoat's fleet is fully electric, offering a sustainable way to see the city from another angle. Highly recommend. Back on land, we returned to Vesterbro for lunch at BaneGaarden, a former railway yard turned eco-village. Quirky, creative and refreshingly local, this off-the-radar gem houses repurposed buildings offering restaurants, food stalls and a greenhouse dining space. Craft beers, natural wines and relaxed vibes made it feel like a hidden slice of Copenhagen life. As many shops close on Sundays, we visited the newly renovated Designmuseum Danmark. Housed in an elegant historic building, its beautifully curated collections span everything from mid-century Danish chairs to contemporary ceramics. Thoughtfully presented, it's a must for design lovers. Our final stop was Tivoli Gardens. Opened in 1843, this historic amusement park remains one of Copenhagen's prettiest attractions. With ornate pavilions, landscaped gardens and vintage rides, it evokes a19th-century nostalgia. Fun whatever your age. For our last meal, we dined at Höst, a modern Nordic restaurant ranked among the city's most atmospheric. Its design-led interiors — all reclaimed wood, flickering candlelight and artisanal ceramics — captured the coolness of Copenhagen. Its seasonal set menu, showcasing clever, foraged cooking, is the one to choose with dishes including creamy mussel soup infused with thyme and pinecones pickled in honey. It was a truly memorable meal to end our unforgettable trip. Beyond the big sights, it's in Copenhagen's laid-back neighbourhoods and hidden corners that the city's authentic character quietly unfolds. Travel by boat, bike or on foot to discover its real charm — best savoured slowly, coffee and Danish in hand. Accommodation Coco Hotel: Double rooms from 1045 DKK / £119 per night. British Airways: Flights from London Heathrow to Copenhagen from £47 each way, including taxes and carrier fees. See More: Copenhagen, Denmark
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Women's Euro 2025 team profiles
(Reuters) -The Women's European Championship starts in Switzerland on July 2 where England will aim to retain their title. Here we profile the 16 teams hoping to get their hands on the trophy. Belgium The Red Flames proved they could compete with the best when they upset England 3-2 in a Nations League game in April, thanks to two goals and an assist from Tessa Wullaert. The 32-year-old Inter Milan forward, who has 92 goals in 144 appearances for Belgium, leads a team gunning for at least a second consecutive quarter-final appearance at the Euros. World champions Spain are the favourites to win their group, but Belgium should be in the thick of the battle for second place with Italy and Portugal. Denmark The Danes will once again look to Pernille Harder as their talisman in a group where they will face Germany, Sweden and Poland, and though they have plenty of solid players, none has the star power of their 32-year-old record goalscorer. Harder's finishing is superb, but so too is her playmaking, causing a headache for coaching staff tasked with getting the best out of both her and the players around her. The surprise inclusion of 37-year-old striker Nadia Nadim by coach Andree Jeglertz has raised plenty of eyebrows in Danish football, and after a humiliating 6-1 friendly defeat to Sweden in early June, the Danes have a lot to improve upon before the tournament. England The defending champions head to Switzerland after a rocky few weeks that saw defender and co-captain Millie Bright withdraw her name from contention to focus on her mental and physical health and goalkeeper Mary Earps announce her shock international retirement after losing her starting role to Hannah Hampton. The Lionesses, who have also had a rough patch of results with just three wins to show for their last six matches, were drawn into a tough group with France, the Netherlands and Wales. But Sarina Wiegman's squad is a solid mix of veterans and youth, with 13 members of the victorious 2022 Euro team plus several promising young players such as Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang. And England have shown they can step up on the big occasions, finishing runners-up to Spain at the 2023 World Cup. Finland Finland's fortunes will depend on the fitness of forward Jutta Rantala, who has been troubled by a knee injury for much of the season leading up to the Euros, where they will face Norway, Iceland and hosts Switzerland in Group A. The knee injury suffered by Leicester City striker Rantala is one of many knocks suffered by the Finns in recent months, but their defensive solidity and ability to attack down the wings will make them a threat in the group. France Les Bleues manager Laurent Bonadei raised some eyebrows when he left longtime captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer off his Euros squad signalling a changing of the guard. He said "As Einstein said: 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.'" Forward Kadidiatou Diani is the most experienced player in their absence for a French team aiming to get past the quarter-final stage, having been eliminated in the last eight at last year's Olympics and the 2023 World Cup. They reached the semi-finals at the 2022 Euros where they were ousted by Germany. France head to Switzerland on a run of seven consecutive wins. Germany The Germans once ruled European women's football, winning the European title eight times -- including West Germany's victory in 1989 -- and reaching the final nine times. After a shock group-stage exit at the 2023 Women's World Cup they are showing they are once again a team to beat, going undefeated in the Nations League this year. Christian Wueck's squad will be out for revenge after a narrow 2-1 loss to England in the 2022 Euros final, when veteran Alexandra Popp missed the match after suffering a muscle injury during the warmup. Germany will play their first major tournament since Popp, who bagged 67 goals in her 14 years with the national team, announced her international retirement in September. Bayern Munich forward Lea Schuller, who has 52 goals in 75 games, is the likely heir to the leadership role. Iceland Ranked among the outsiders by many bookmakers ahead of the tournament, Iceland head to Switzerland with a tough, competent side that needs to show it can score goals when it matters most. Marshalled by Glodis Viggosdottir, the Icelandic defence is usually rock-solid but their inability to take chances, especially against the top-ranked nations, has proved costly in the past. They will look to forward Karolina Vilhjalmsdottir to continue the good form that saw her net four goals in six games in their recent Nations League campaign. Italy The Azzurri arrive at Euro 2025 knowing that consistency will be key if they are to make a mark on the tournament, where bookmakers are grouping them among the potential dark horses alongside the likes of hosts Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Runners-up in 1993 and 1997, Italy haven't made it out of the group stage at the last two Euros, but a draw with Spain and a win over Germany in two friendlies late in 2024 showed that the Italians are more than capable of holding their own against the top teams. The problem coach Andrea Soncin faces is keeping his team on its toes. A solid 1-0 win over Wales got their Nations League campaign off to a good start earlier this year, but they were then beaten by Denmark and Sweden before securing two wins and a draw in their last three games to finish second. The fact that Italy's top flight is now a full-time professional league has given the national team a boost, and Soncin's side will look to pounce on any mistakes made by their group rivals as they seek to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013. The Netherlands Euro preparations have been anything but ideal for the Oranje after it was announced that the Dutch federation would not extend manager Andries Jonker's contract after the tournament. He will be replaced by Wiegman's former assistant Arjan Veurink. The Netherlands won the 2017 Euro tournament, but to have a chance of repeating the feat this year they must first get out of a tough group that also includes England, France and Wales. There is also concern about the fitness of all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema who has missed considerable time for both club and country with knee injuries the past few seasons. Norway The last Euros in England saw the Norwegians slump to one of their worst defeats as they were hammered 8-0 by the hosts en route to an underwhelming group-stage exit, and though they will be hoping to bounce back in Switzerland, they will face a tough task. In captain Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten, the Norwegians boast some of the world's best attacking players, but a leaky defence has proved their Achilles heel for the last few years. The lack of naturally left-footed defenders contributed to their last-16 exit at the last World Cup, and the omission of left back Julie Blakstad, who was outstanding for Swedish side Hammarby in their recent Champions League campaign, was a surprise. Ifcoach Gemma Grainger can find a way to solidify the left side of defence and get the most out of the injury-plagued Hegerberg, the Norwegians should have enough weapons in attack and midfield to make an impact. Poland Debutants Poland come into the Euros without the burden of great expectations, but with one of the game's great goal-scorers in Ewa Pajor. With 47 goals in 46 games across all competitions for Barcelona this past season, the 28-year-old attacker is by far the best-known name in the Polish squad, and she represents the best hope they have of causing an upset against Germany, Sweden and Denmark in Group C. Portugal The Portuguese are hoping to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in a major tournament, but have been hit by injuries with Gotham FC forward Jessica Silva missing several weeks earlier this year with a damaged retina and Barcelona's Kika Nazareth recovering from ankle surgery she had in March. Portugal were trounced in their last four Nations League matches by an aggregate score of 20-3 and will find it tough to get out of a group that includes favourites Spain plus Belgium and Italy. Spain The world and Nations League champions head to Switzerland as favourites to win the competition, with bookmakers placing them ahead of England, France and Germany as the most likely victors. Orchestrated by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Spain's possession-based style is made possible by a squad bristling with technically gifted and tactically intelligent footballers in every position, but though they have often been superb since beating England to win the 2023 World Cup final, results over the last year have shown that they can be beaten. After a disappointing Olympic tournament in Paris last year that saw them lose to Germany and Brazil, former player and current coach Montse Tome has faced questions about her tactical choices and coaching, and a 1-0 defeat by England in the recent Nations League campaign did little to assuage that criticism. On paper, Spain are the best team in the tournament, but Portugal, Belgium and Italy will all be keen to put a spanner in the works when they meet in the group stage. Sweden Despite increased competition in the women's game, the Swedes have managed to hang on to their status as one of the top teams, and they will be hoping to give coach Peter Gerhardsson and some of the more senior players a fitting send-off in Switzerland. Gerhardsson will step down after the tournament and though few of his squad have said they will retire, it is packed with experienced players over the age of 30. Two Olympic silver medals in the last decade show that the Swedes can still hold their own with the world's best, but there will be no room for complacency in a tricky group with Germany, Denmark and Poland. Striker Stina Blackstenius comes into the tournament on the back of netting the winning goal for Arsenal in the Champions League final against Barcelona and the Swedes will need similar heroics if they are to go all the way at the Euros. Switzerland Pia Sundhage's squad have not won in their last eight games, a streak that stretches back eight months, but the tournament hosts are hoping the home crowd can help carry them past the group stage for the first time at a European championship. Their run to the round-of-16 at the 2023 World Cup is a reason for optimism, plus a favourable draw has them in a group with Iceland, Norway and Finland, with Iceland being the highest-ranked team at 14th in the world. Lia Walti, who helped Arsenal to their recent Champions League success, is Switzerland's maestro in the midfield. Wales Rhian Wilkinson's underdog team, the lowest ranked at the Euros, qualified for their first major tournament with a thrilling win over Ireland in December, and their squad was announced from the summit of Snowdon, the country's highest peak -- a nod to scaling mountains just to qualify for the championship. A couple of recent draws with Sweden have given the Dragons a confidence boost, but they face a formidable group with holders England, France and the Netherlands, and would need some remarkable performances to advance to the knockouts. The Dragons hope their Euros campaign becomes a launch pad for girls football in Wales much like it was for England in 2022, and their tournament slogan is: "For us. For them. For her." (Reporting by Lori Ewing in Manchester, England, Philip O'Connor in Stockholm; Editing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Women's Euro 2025 team profiles
The Women's European Championship starts in Switzerland on July 2 where England will aim to retain their title. Here we profile the 16 teams hoping to get their hands on the trophy. Belgium The Red Flames proved they could compete with the best when they upset England 3-2 in a Nations League game in April, thanks to two goals and an assist from Tessa Wullaert. The 32-year-old Inter Milan forward, who has 92 goals in 144 appearances for Belgium, leads a team gunning for at least a second consecutive quarter-final appearance at the Euros. World champions Spain are the favourites to win their group, but Belgium should be in the thick of the battle for second place with Italy and Portugal. Denmark The Danes will once again look to Pernille Harder as their talisman in a group where they will face Germany, Sweden and Poland, and though they have plenty of solid players, none has the star power of their 32-year-old record goalscorer. Harder's finishing is superb, but so too is her playmaking, causing a headache for coaching staff tasked with getting the best out of both her and the players around her. The surprise inclusion of 37-year-old striker Nadia Nadim by coach Andree Jeglertz has raised plenty of eyebrows in Danish football, and after a humiliating 6-1 friendly defeat to Sweden in early June, the Danes have a lot to improve upon before the tournament. England The defending champions head to Switzerland after a rocky few weeks that saw defender and co-captain Millie Bright withdraw her name from contention to focus on her mental and physical health and goalkeeper Mary Earps announce her shock international retirement after losing her starting role to Hannah Hampton. The Lionesses, who have also had a rough patch of results with just three wins to show for their last six matches, were drawn into a tough group with France, the Netherlands and Wales. But Sarina Wiegman's squad is a solid mix of veterans and youth, with 13 members of the victorious 2022 Euro team plus several promising young players such as Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang. And England have shown they can step up on the big occasions, finishing runners-up to Spain at the 2023 World Cup. Finland Finland's fortunes will depend on the fitness of forward Jutta Rantala, who has been troubled by a knee injury for much of the season leading up to the Euros, where they will face Norway, Iceland and hosts Switzerland in Group A. The knee injury suffered by Leicester City striker Rantala is one of many knocks suffered by the Finns in recent months, but their defensive solidity and ability to attack down the wings will make them a threat in the group. France Les Bleues manager Laurent Bonadei raised some eyebrows when he left longtime captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer off his Euros squad signalling a changing of the guard. He said "As Einstein said: 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.'" Forward Kadidiatou Diani is the most experienced player in their absence for a French team aiming to get past the quarter-final stage, having been eliminated in the last eight at last year's Olympics and the 2023 World Cup. They reached the semi-finals at the 2022 Euros where they were ousted by Germany. France head to Switzerland on a run of seven consecutive wins. Germany The Germans once ruled European women's football, winning the European title eight times -- including West Germany's victory in 1989 -- and reaching the final nine times. After a shock group-stage exit at the 2023 Women's World Cup they are showing they are once again a team to beat, going undefeated in the Nations League this year. Christian Wueck's squad will be out for revenge after a narrow 2-1 loss to England in the 2022 Euros final, when veteran Alexandra Popp missed the match after suffering a muscle injury during the warmup. Germany will play their first major tournament since Popp, who bagged 67 goals in her 14 years with the national team, announced her international retirement in September. Bayern Munich forward Lea Schuller, who has 52 goals in 75 games, is the likely heir to the leadership role. Iceland Ranked among the outsiders by many bookmakers ahead of the tournament, Iceland head to Switzerland with a tough, competent side that needs to show it can score goals when it matters most. Marshalled by Glodis Viggosdottir, the Icelandic defence is usually rock-solid but their inability to take chances, especially against the top-ranked nations, has proved costly in the past. They will look to forward Karolina Vilhjalmsdottir to continue the good form that saw her net four goals in six games in their recent Nations League campaign. Italy The Azzurri arrive at Euro 2025 knowing that consistency will be key if they are to make a mark on the tournament, where bookmakers are grouping them among the potential dark horses alongside the likes of hosts Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Runners-up in 1993 and 1997, Italy haven't made it out of the group stage at the last two Euros, but a draw with Spain and a win over Germany in two friendlies late in 2024 showed that the Italians are more than capable of holding their own against the top teams. The problem coach Andrea Soncin faces is keeping his team on its toes. A solid 1-0 win over Wales got their Nations League campaign off to a good start earlier this year, but they were then beaten by Denmark and Sweden before securing two wins and a draw in their last three games to finish second. The fact that Italy's top flight is now a full-time professional league has given the national team a boost, and Soncin's side will look to pounce on any mistakes made by their group rivals as they seek to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013. The Netherlands Euro preparations have been anything but ideal for the Oranje after it was announced that the Dutch federation would not extend manager Andries Jonker's contract after the tournament. He will be replaced by Wiegman's former assistant Arjan Veurink. The Netherlands won the 2017 Euro tournament, but to have a chance of repeating the feat this year they must first get out of a tough group that also includes England, France and Wales. There is also concern about the fitness of all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema who has missed considerable time for both club and country with knee injuries the past few seasons. Norway The last Euros in England saw the Norwegians slump to one of their worst defeats as they were hammered 8-0 by the hosts en route to an underwhelming group-stage exit, and though they will be hoping to bounce back in Switzerland, they will face a tough task. In captain Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten, the Norwegians boast some of the world's best attacking players, but a leaky defence has proved their Achilles heel for the last few years. The lack of naturally left-footed defenders contributed to their last-16 exit at the last World Cup, and the omission of left back Julie Blakstad, who was outstanding for Swedish side Hammarby in their recent Champions League campaign, was a surprise. If coach Gemma Grainger can find a way to solidify the left side of defence and get the most out of the injury-plagued Hegerberg, the Norwegians should have enough weapons in attack and midfield to make an impact. Poland Debutants Poland come into the Euros without the burden of great expectations, but with one of the game's great goal-scorers in Ewa Pajor. With 47 goals in 46 games across all competitions for Barcelona this past season, the 28-year-old attacker is by far the best-known name in the Polish squad, and she represents the best hope they have of causing an upset against Germany, Sweden and Denmark in Group C. Portugal The Portuguese are hoping to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in a major tournament, but have been hit by injuries with Gotham FC forward Jessica Silva missing several weeks earlier this year with a damaged retina and Barcelona's Kika Nazareth recovering from ankle surgery she had in March. Portugal were trounced in their last four Nations League matches by an aggregate score of 20-3 and will find it tough to get out of a group that includes favourites Spain plus Belgium and Italy. Spain The world and Nations League champions head to Switzerland as favourites to win the competition, with bookmakers placing them ahead of England, France and Germany as the most likely victors. Orchestrated by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Spain's possession-based style is made possible by a squad bristling with technically gifted and tactically intelligent footballers in every position, but though they have often been superb since beating England to win the 2023 World Cup final, results over the last year have shown that they can be beaten. After a disappointing Olympic tournament in Paris last year that saw them lose to Germany and Brazil, former player and current coach Montse Tome has faced questions about her tactical choices and coaching, and a 1-0 defeat by England in the recent Nations League campaign did little to assuage that criticism. On paper, Spain are the best team in the tournament, but Portugal, Belgium and Italy will all be keen to put a spanner in the works when they meet in the group stage. Sweden Despite increased competition in the women's game, the Swedes have managed to hang on to their status as one of the top teams, and they will be hoping to give coach Peter Gerhardsson and some of the more senior players a fitting send-off in Switzerland. Gerhardsson will step down after the tournament and though few of his squad have said they will retire, it is packed with experienced players over the age of 30. Two Olympic silver medals in the last decade show that the Swedes can still hold their own with the world's best, but there will be no room for complacency in a tricky group with Germany, Denmark and Poland. Striker Stina Blackstenius comes into the tournament on the back of netting the winning goal for Arsenal in the Champions League final against Barcelona and the Swedes will need similar heroics if they are to go all the way at the Euros. Switzerland Pia Sundhage's squad have not won in their last eight games, a streak that stretches back eight months, but the tournament hosts are hoping the home crowd can help carry them past the group stage for the first time at a European championship. Their run to the round-of-16 at the 2023 World Cup is a reason for optimism, plus a favourable draw has them in a group with Iceland, Norway and Finland, with Iceland being the highest-ranked team at 14th in the world. Lia Walti, who helped Arsenal to their recent Champions League success, is Switzerland's maestro in the midfield. Wales Rhian Wilkinson's underdog team, the lowest ranked at the Euros, qualified for their first major tournament with a thrilling win over Ireland in December, and their squad was announced from the summit of Snowdon, the country's highest peak -- a nod to scaling mountains just to qualify for the championship. A couple of recent draws with Sweden have given the Dragons a confidence boost, but they face a formidable group with holders England, France and the Netherlands, and would need some remarkable performances to advance to the knockouts. The Dragons hope their Euros campaign becomes a launch pad for girls football in Wales much like it was for England in 2022, and their tournament slogan is: "For us. For them. For her." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
