Running from June 7-July 7 in nine cities across France, the 24 competing teams include current holders the USA, Germany who are second to them in the current FIFA rankings and a much-fancied England side who include Barcelona’s Toni Duggan, the scorer of nineteen goals in forty-nine appearances for the Catalan giants. If she were Irish she’d undoubtedly be getting a phone call from Mick McCarthy.

A good outside bet are North Korea, ranked tenth in the world, who were disqualified from the last tournament after five of their players tested positive for drugs.

Sadly, there’s no Republic of Ireland who came third behind Norway and Holland in their qualifying group. Fourteen members of the squad revealed at a press conference last year in Liberty Hall that they’d had to change in toilets and share tracksuits.

On the other side of the Irish Sea, Clare Balding has been confirmed as the presenter of Channel 4’s Women’s Football World, which will feature top flight games from France, Germany, Italy, USA and the women’s UEFA Champions League….