Preview

One more win will see either England or Italy become the first team to book a place in the Euro 2025 final.

By Jamie Spencer

A place in the final

An England side that performs better than anyone else at major tournaments is seeking to make it to a third successive final at the Euros and World Cup. For Italy, this opportunity to reach another major final has been 28 years in the making.

The Lionesses have looked beaten a couple of times already, humbled by France in the group stage and then finding themselves 2-0 down in the quarter-final against Sweden until the final 12 minutes. But big wins over the Netherlands and Wales, and a chaotic last eight comeback, demonstrated an uncanny ability to get the job done when it matters most.

Italy followed Spain out of Group B, beating Belgium and drawing with Portugal either side of a loss against the reigning world champions. A 90^th minute quarter-final winner against Norway, having earlier been ahead, resulted in a first semi-final appearance since Euro 1997.

Head-to-head

England thrashed Italy 5-1 in a 2024 friendly and secured a 2-1 win in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup. Due to a dominant edge in the 1990s, when England didn’t record a single win against Le Azzurre, Italy lead the overall head-to-head record, victorious in 14 of 32 prior meetings, compared to England’s 12. But Italy haven’t beaten England since 2012.

Italy’s former glories

Italy were one of the early powerhouses of women’s international football, contesting each of the first five European Championships when it was just a four-team tournament. They were runners-up to Norway in 1993 and again reached the final in 1997 when the competition was first expanded to eight teams. But then came a slump that they have never fully emerged from.

The great hope is that after a surprising run to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2019 but group stage exits at the Euros in 2017, 2022 and the World Cup in 2023, this summer could be more of a permanent catalyst. The other side of that coin is plenty of experience will soon be lost, with seven of the 23 players selected this summer aged 31 or older.

‘Proper England’

It’s been the buzz phrase around the squad since the opening defeat to France, coined by Georgia Stanway, who was one of many that were subpar in that first game. When ‘Proper England’ show up, as the Netherlands, Wales and, eventually, Sweden, found out, they are among the very best around.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, player of the match against Sweden, puts it down to “English blood”, the attitude that it’s never over until it’s over.

Team news

England were sweating on the fitness of captain Leah Williamson after rolling her ankle the quarter-final, but the Arsenal defender trained on Monday along with all 22 other players in the squad.

Italy midfielders Arianna Caruso and Manuela Giugliano were working in the gym to overcome fitness issues on Monday and could remain doubts. Veteran forward Cristiana Girelli has scored three of Italy’s five goals at the tournament, including both against Norway last time out.

Prediction

England’s quarter-final against Sweden was the tougher task, which bodes well for the Lionesses, especially after the nature of that game. What works in Italy’s favour is a day’s extra rest and preparation time, but that doesn’t feel like enough to make a decisive difference. England 3-1 Italy.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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England are into the quarter-finals at Euro 2025 but now must overcome arguably the most impressive team from the tournament’s group stage.

By Jamie Spencer

How they reached the last eight

Sweden emerged from a tricky Group C with a 100% record. A dominant opener against Denmark finished 1-0 but was characterised by wasteful finishing after underperforming their xG (2.39). Peter Gerhardsson’s side underperformed xG (3.89) a second time against Poland, winning 3-0, but scored twice against the run of play to come from behind and beat Germany 4-1 in a more clinical outing.

England had a bumpier ride, humbled by France in game one, before turning up with a 4-0 thrashing when it mattered against the Netherlands, Beating Wales next was required to keep their destiny in their own hands, and the Lionesses took no chances with a 6-1 score-line.

Head-to-Head

This is a repeat of a one-sided semi-final three summers ago. England cruised to a 4-0 win that day – including Alessia Russo’s iconic backheel, effectively laying down their credentials as champions.

Sweden prevailed, on penalties, when the pair met in the first ever European Championship final back in 1984 – it was played over two legs in those days. The Swedes won, in extra-time, in the 1987 semi-finals, before successive group stage wins over the Lionesses in 2001 (4-0) and 2005 (1-0).

In the Euros alone, it’s two England wins, four for Sweden, and one draw. They faced each other in qualifying for these finals too, with both matches finishing all square (1-1 and 0-0).

Sweden’s conductor

Even at 35 years of age, Kosovare Asllani has been pulling the strings. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid star, who will grace the WSL next season after recently helping London City Lionesses to promotion, has four goals and assists at this tournament from the No. 10 role. Sweden have other threats, but stopping her is England’s obvious objective.

Toone’s key role

Ella Toone didn’t start for England against France, but her addition to the team for the games since has brought a better balance to the midfield, with and without the ball.

“People speak about her offensively, but the defensive work she does for me and Georgia [Stanway] is incredible,” Keira Walsh told reporters after the Lionesses beat Wales. “She covers a lot of spaces that we can’t. That’s probably been the main thing that’s stopped other teams from playing.”

Toone has been through huge personal strife after losing her father, Nick, last year but is rediscovering her best form. “I feel like I’m in a really good place, I’ve missed this Ella Toone,” she told BBC Sport. “I’ve not had it for a while. I feel like I’m really coming into it.”

Team news

Sarina Wiegman was delighted to make it through the group stage without injuries and is expected to pick the same team that beat the Netherlands and Wales. Attacking depth from the bench could be a key factor later in the tie, though.

Winger Fridolina Rolfö started for the first time this tournament in Sweden’s third group game (and scored) after recovering from an ankle injury. Nathalie Björn has had a different centre-back partner for each outing so far, while Julia Zigiotti Olme is vying with Hanna Bennison to start in midfield.

Prediction

Sweden’s tendency for profligacy witnessed in their first two games is not a new trait. It was evident in qualifying, against England, which could bode well for the Lionesses if they can remain defensively resilient. Scoring against the Swedes is the harder task, but Wiegman’s team is purring in that sense now. Sweden 1-2 England (after extra time).

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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England’s Euro 2025 campaign is back on track and the final group game should see them into the knockouts; Wales have already done themselves proud just by being here and competing.

By Jamie Spencer

Group D Permutations

As long as England win, they will progress to the quarter-finals without needing to worry about the result in the Netherlands-France game. Alternatively, a draw would be enough if Netherlands don’t beat France. They could even get through with a shock defeat to Wales – by less than four goals – but that would be skin of the teeth stuff because Netherlands also have to lose.

For England to have a chance of winning the group, Netherlands have to beat France, but by fewer than seven goals.

Wales can still just about reach the last eight. But it requires a monumental result and a helping hand, beating England by at least four goals and for France to win against Netherlands.

Head-to-Head

England have never lost in the 10 games they have played against Wales over the years, winning nine and drawing one. This is a first time for Sarina Wiegman facing Wales as England boss – the Lionesses last faced the Dragons in 2018 when Phil Neville was in charge; winning 3-0 – but she did oversee a 5-0 Netherlands victory against Wales shortly before Euro 2017.

Player Focus

Alessia Russo must be wondering what she needs to do to get on the scoresheet at this tournament. The Arsenal striker, although as underwhelming as her teammates against France, had a goal disallowed for the most marginal of offsides in the build-up in that game. Another against the Netherlands was also ruled out, again for an offside in the build-up.

Russo’s graft against the Dutch was rewarded in other ways, putting in the hard yards and setting up her teammates to score instead. But couple of goals, or more, against Wales – which is certainly plausible, and she’d be firmly in the Golden Boot race going into the knockout rounds.

Proud Wales

Imminent group stage elimination isn’t really the point for Wales. They are the lowest ranked team at the Euros and qualifying was in itself a huge achievement. Rhian Wilkinson’s team have been far from embarrassed in their two defeats so far and the Canadian coach declared after facing France that she has “never been prouder” of the courage and determination on display.

Team News

England enjoyed a clean bill of health going into each of their first two games. Changes, generally, aren’t expected after things went so right in the Netherlands win.

Wales swapped goalkeepers, from Olivia Clark to Safia Middleton-Patel, between their Netherlands and France defeats. It remains to be seen which will start here, or if uncapped Poppy Soper will get a chance instead. At just 23, Clark is the most senior of the young trio.

Sophie Ingle made her comeback from a long-term knee injury as a late substitute against France.

Prediction

Wales won’t want to exit the tournament without a fight and they could very well make it tough for the Lionesses in the first half – as they did against France. But in a similar way, England’s greater quality should shine through and, if they perform anything like they did against the Netherlands, will eventually run up the score: England 4-1 Wales.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the 2025 Women’s Euros with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings.

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The Lionesses are back in action at Euro 2025 on Wednesday evening, faced with having to get a result against the Netherlands just to stay alive in the tournament.

By Jamie Spencer

Must-Win

England were second best for the majority of their opening fixture against France and a second defeat against the Dutch would spell an unfathomable early elimination for the defending champions with a game still to play.

Even a draw would leave the Lionesses with an uphill battle and not in control of their own destiny when it comes to reaching the knockouts – on top of winning their own final game against Wales, they would likely have to rely on the other result in the group.

For the Netherlands, a win gets them through – thanks to what would be a superior head-to-head record against Wales and England – and takes the pressure off their next game against France.

Head-to-Head

There have been 23 encounters since a first meeting in 1973, with England winning 14 of those. Four have been draws and the Dutch have won five times.

The Lionesses won the most recent clash in December 2023, in the UEFA Nations League, coming from 2-0 down to claim a 3-2 victory in stoppage time at Wembley Stadium. But the Dutch had won 2-1 in the reverse fixture just a few weeks earlier.

Recent Form

England only lost three of the first 39 competitive fixtures played under Sarina Wiegman, now it’s three defeats in the last four.

The Netherlands enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Wales on matchday one that saw Vivianne Miedema score her 100^th international goal – Arsenal’s Victoria Pelova and Barcelona’s Esmee Brugts got the others. But coming into the tournament, they had been frustrated by Scotland (1-1) and thrashed by Germany (4-0) in their two previous competitive games.

Fresh Energy

Wiegman defended her team selection against France, which featured 10 players who were part of the Euro 2022-winning squad from three years ago. “I don’t have regrets. We try to turn every stone before we make the lineup,” she said after the defeat, but equally hasn’t ruled out making changes.

There is a clamour for Michelle Agyemang to get more of an opportunity. The teenager scored a stunner 41 seconds into her senior debut in April and had an impact in a short cameo against France. Her uncompromising style and fearlessness already commands respect from her teammates.

Grace Clinton also impressed briefly against France, while Maya Le Tissier, Jess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones all have attributes that could improve what was a stale performance last time out.

Team News

All 23 players again trained for England on Tuesday, which had been the case before facing France. Lauren James is building fitness all the time, a significant boost given that they she was the player who looked more likely than any other to make something happen last time out.

There should be plenty of familiarity with the Dutch squad for most of the Lionesses, with more than half (12) of the squad playing their club football in England last season. But that works both ways. “I already know a lot of those girls,” right-back Kerstin Casparij said.

Prediction

The Lionesses started well and finished well against France, it was 70 minutes in the middle that was the problem. They need to be better. The Dutch aren’t as polished all over the pitch as the French, but still possess huge threats and will take confidence from both their own victory over Wales and the nature of England’s opening performance: England 2-2 Netherlands.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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