What to look out for at Women's Euro 2013

Rachel Yankey, the most capped player in English football history, is part of the squad in Sweden. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Hope Powell's England team are in Sweden, ready to compete in Women's Euro 2013. Their preparations were going brilliantly, the English footballers on an 11-match run without a loss… until they got thrashed in a final warm-up match on Thursday. Might England still lift the trophy when the tournament concludes on 28 July? History, gut instinct and almost all informed punditry suggests not – but even so, there are plenty of reasons to tune in to the competition. Coverage of England's progress begins on BBC3 on Friday.

Rachel Yankey

Last month the 33-year-old Londoner became the most capped player in English football history. That includes the men's and women's game, Yankey surpassing Peter Shilton's long-held record of 125 caps. The modest midfielder was whooped and applauded on to her team bus after setting the new record. Patently mortified (see the footage on YouTube) she appeared to aim a cheerful F-word at her colleagues as she climbed aboard.

Spanish women's football team

What a novelty, in world football, to watch a Spanish side that are only OK. While Spain's men have dominated world football for years, the women are also-rans, not given a hope by bookmakers. Happily, England play their opening match against Spain. Germany and France, meanwhile, are the bookies' favourites to win it all.

Coach Pia Sundhage

Sundhage coached the US to an Olympic gold medal at the London Games last summer and afterwards sang a Bob Dylan song to her team to celebrate. It was not the first time that Sundhage – currently managing the Swedish team – has sought to mix music and football. She entertained journalists with a rendition of The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) by Simon and Garfunkel at a press conference in 2011 (to confused laughter and applause) and also interrupted her Euros preparations to release a single, last March, called Follow Me Through the Winter. Expect some sort of musical performance should her Swedish side win the trophy.

Jacqui Oatley

Is this a Corporation first? Match of the Day's Jacqui Oatley will helm BBC coverage, alongside Tina Daheley (a graduate of Chris Moyles and Nick Grimshaw's radio shows) and BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent. It's an untested team, for sure, but one thing is guaranteed: there'll be no plodding football truisms from MOTD regular Alan Shearer. No funny-uncle jokes from his colleague Mark Lawrenson, or complacent, golf-club wisdom from Alan Hansen. And for this we should be thankful.

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