Who tops the list of contenders for the 2025 Women’s European Championship?

Following the Olympic Games, which saw the United States triumph over Brazil in the final, European football is eager to reaffirm its prominence in the sport. Among the front-runners are Spain, who were knocked out by Brazil in the semi-finals in Paris, along with England and Germany, two teams that missed out on Olympic qualification and are poised for a shot at vengeance.

England’s Quest for a Double

As the reigning champions after a successful run at the Euros on home turf, the Lionesses have struggled to replicate that success since. They made it to the World Cup final the following summer, but their form has been inconsistent ever since.

England failed to secure a spot in the Nations League Final Four, consequently missing out on the recent Olympic Games, where they should have played under the United Kingdom flag.

The victory at the UEFA European Championship injected new life into English women’s football, leading to the emergence of talents like Hannah Hampton and the latest addition, Michelle Agyemang.

However, the team’s performance in the Nations League raised eyebrows, with surprising outcomes including a 1-1 draw against Portugal, a 3-2 defeat to Belgium, and a 2-1 loss to Spain earlier in June.

Manager Sarina Wiegman has experimented with several formations: a 4-1-4-1 against South Africa, a 3-1-4-2 against Switzerland, before settling on a 4-2-3-1, adapting based on available players. Meanwhile, some key figures from the 2022 squad, like Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Fran Kirby, have departed after dropping down the pecking order.

Nevertheless, England remains the most well-rounded squad on paper at this European Championship, boasting players across all skill levels who can change the game, even from the bench.

Check out the ten players to watch during the Women’s European Championship.

Can Spain’s Barcelona Base Clinch Victory?

After being crowned world champions in 2023 and clinching the Nations League, the Spanish side seemed unstoppable. They even parted ways with their former coach Jorge Vilda following the sexual assault scandal involving Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso.

However, La Roja faced an unexpected setback against Brazil in the Olympic Games semi-finals after narrowly defeating Colombia on penalties in the preceding round. This defeat sparked questions about Spain’s style of play, which has not shown marked improvement under Montse Tome, Vilda’s former assistant.

Just like in 2023, Spain features a strong foundation of players trained at Barcelona. Since the Paris 2024 campaign, they’ve suffered only one loss, that being to England last February (1-0).

Notably, Spain recently outperformed Japan with a convincing 3-1 victory before heading to Switzerland, a nation that had previously thrashed them 4-0 in the World Cup group stage. This base includes seven players from the current Barcelona squad, with Vicky Lopez stepping in for Aitana Bonmati, who is recovering from meningitis. La Roja can also rely on the in-form Claudia Pina, who has notched four goals and two assists in her last five matches for Spain.

Germany: A Rejuvenated Team Seeking Consistency

Under the guidance of Christian Wuck, Germany has remained unbeaten in the Nations League, claiming five victories and drawing once against the Netherlands (2-2). Nevertheless, they are still recovering from an early exit in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup, a third-place finish at the Olympic Games, and a defeat in the UEFA European Championship final.

Following Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s departure, who revealed her struggles with depression after the World Cup debacle, Wuck took charge in March 2024 and implemented some unexpected changes, including losses to Australia and Italy—both lower-ranked by FIFA.

Wuck has significantly altered the squad following the retirements of Merle Frohms, Svenja Huth, Marina Hegering, and Alexandra Popp.

Sticking with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Wuck has reintroduced Ann-Katrin Berger as goalkeeper, while introducing promising young talents like Rebecca Knaak and Janina Minge in defence. Additionally, Selina Cerci and Jule Brand have carved out starting roles alongside Laura Freigang and Lea Schuller, the designated successor to the formidable Popp.

However, this extensively reshaped side still needs to validate its potential, as Germany’s last World Cup performance ended prematurely in the group stages.

Dark Horses Emerging

While these three nations top the favourites’ list, France could also lurk as a genuine contender. There are conflicting perspectives within Les Bleues: coach Laurent Bonadei views his squad as ‘challengers’ in this European Championship, while players such as Kelly Gago and Grace Geyoro believe they should be considered ‘favourites.’

Despite not yet clinching a title, France can lean on a run of eight consecutive victories. Sweden will also be a force to reckon with in Switzerland, having enjoyed an unbeaten Nations League campaign and a knack for performing well in crucial tournaments.

Their prospects will depend on the availability of Fridolina Rolfo. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, after winning EURO 2017, aim to regain their momentum after recent struggles, including a 4-0 defeat to Germany.

The X-factor could be Viviane Miedema, who has had a limited season due to injury but is regaining her form just in time for this Euro. Stay tuned…