The 2025 Ladies’s European Championship has formally kicked off. Let’s catch you up on what’s taking place, what you’ve got missed and what’s nonetheless to come back.
We’ll replace this file all through every matchday with the most recent reporting, evaluation and enjoyable from the competitors.
– Ladies’s Euro 2025 bracket, outcomes and fixtures schedule
The lead: Germany beat Denmark after early wobble
BASEL, Switzerland — After their humiliating group-stage exit on the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, Germany are all however by to the quarterfinals after defeating Denmark 2-1 at St. Jakob-Park.
It was not a cushty afternoon for the 2022 Euros finalists, who gave the impression to be a bit in every single place. Rushed clearances, poor decision-making, dangerous spacing and skewed passing allowed Denmark to take a lead halfway by the primary half, leaving the Group C frontrunners on the again foot.
There have been a number of VAR interventions to grapple with, too. First, Germany’s opener was dominated out for offside after a prolonged test; then that they had a shout for a penalty through a handball, which was given on subject by referee Catarina Campos earlier than the assessment confirmed it was outdoors the realm. Germany had been then handed a penalty, albeit comfortable, after VAR — and one other prolonged pause — picked up the foul on Linda Dallmann. Sjoeke Nüsken dispatched from the spot to get Christian Wück’s facet again on stage phrases 10 minutes after halftime.
Lea Schüller then gave the eight-time champions the lead when she took benefit of Denmark’s lapse after Emma Snerle took a hefty ball to the pinnacle. Whereas the referee ought to have blown her whistle to cease play, she didn’t, and due to this fact there was no purpose for Jule Model to not profit from the area and arrange Schüller. The great thing about the objective was tainted by the picture of Snerle, trying extremely dazed and being helped off the pitch by two medical workers, and the Danes will in all probability really feel aggrieved that the objective stood.
Over the previous two years, Germany have been rebuilding confidence and accumulating outcomes to assist heal the injuries of their early World Cup exit — progress underscored by a bronze medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics. However redemption remains to be firmly inside Germany’s grip, even when they’re going to be with out key participant and captain Giulia Gwinn — dominated out for the remainder of the match after struggling a medical collateral ligament damage within the opener towards Poland — with their quarterfinal place just about confirmed.
For Denmark, nonetheless, their destiny was sealed after Sweden secured a 3-0 victory over Poland, eradicating any hope that supervisor Andrée Jeglertz – who’s leaving to turn out to be Manchester Metropolis’s head coach upon Denmark’s exit – had of reaching the knockouts. A win towards Poland on Saturday will act as a comfort prize but it appears like one other match the place Denmark have fizzled out, unable to show their performances into outcomes and hold tempo with their European rivals. — Emily Keogh
Immediately’s high Euro 2025 information
– Wales gamers, workers ‘OK’ after bus crash at Euros
– Russo: England should play Dutch ‘with out concern’
– Spain, Putellas put Belgium coach on brink of tears
Sights and sounds round Euro 2025
Blackstenius continues glorious run, boosting Sweden previous Poland
What a number of months it has been for Stina Blackstenius. In Could, the Arsenal ahead wrote her title into the historical past books by scoring the decisive objective towards Barcelona within the Ladies’s Champions League ultimate.
Quick ahead to Tuesday night time and Blackstenius was again amongst the objectives, this time for her native Sweden, scoring the opener in a 3-0 win towards Poland to assist safe her nation’s place within the knockout levels of the Ladies’s Euros.
It was an excellent end from the striker, who rose to nod house previous Kinga Szemik following a tantalising cross into the field from Kosovare Asllani. It was Blackstenius’ fortieth objective in a Sweden shirt and her fifth in her final 4 worldwide appearances.
In reality, she may have had a hat-trick within the first half as Sweden put Poland — whose European dream is now over — beneath immense strain. Blackstenius toyed with the opposition defence, making clever runs and offering a relentless menace, earlier than objectives from Asllani and substitute Lina Hurtig within the second half made positive of the victory for Peter Gerhardsson’s facet.
Sweden and Germany will now battle it out for high spot in Group C after they meet in Zurich on Saturday. — Beth Lindop
Germany’s funniest participant?
To the query of “who’s the funniest individual within the squad’s group chat,” Germany’s gamers had just one title on their lips: Linda Dallmann.
From Jule Model to Giulia Gwinn, or Sjoeke Nüsken to Lea Schüller, the reply was at all times the identical! Dallmann, 30, the Bayern Munich ahead who has been a key participant in Christian Wück’s facet and in addition one of many shortest gamers within the match at 5-foot-2, is the joker of the dressing room.
Dallmann at all times has a smile on her face and is normally telling jokes, whereas her character shines within the group chat. “She by no means responds with messages, simply with GIFs, and so they at all times get me,” captain Gwinn mentioned about her teammate. — Julien Laurens
‘Hey Macarena’
Smiling Spain striker Cristina Martín-Prieto confirmed her teammates easy methods to have some enjoyable earlier than Monday’s 6-2 win over Belgium by main them by the Macarena on the pitch on the Stockhorn Area in Thun.
Some gamers, equivalent to teammate Cata Coll, did not appear fully positive of the dance strikes to the well-known Spanish track — however that is maybe comprehensible, given it was launched in 1993, the identical 12 months Martín-Prieto, one of many older gamers within the squad, was born.
🇪🇸 Pre-match vibes 🪩#WEURO2025 | @SEFutbolFem pic.twitter.com/C9qiNTjpu3
— UEFA Ladies’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 7, 2025
Martín-Prieto, on the again of an excellent season with Benfica, scored in Spain’s opener towards Portugal and got here off the bench within the second half towards Belgium. She seems to be like she has loved each second in Switzerland thus far.
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena… Hey Macarena, ay! — Sam Marsden
Spain surprised by Rölfo information
The Barcelona gamers in Spain’s squad had been caught chilly after they returned to the dressing room after the 6-2 win over Belgium and realized that teammate Fridolina Rölfo is leaving the membership. Barça introduced in the course of the sport that they had reached an settlement to rescind the Sweden worldwide’s contract a 12 months early.
“To be trustworthy I simply discovered as properly,” defender Irene Paredes mentioned. “If that is the case, it is a disgrace, as a result of she’s been a extremely necessary participant. I will communicate along with her, but when it is for the very best for her, then we’ve got to respect the choice.”
There may be the potential for a reunion in Switzerland. Rölfo is a part of the Sweden squad at Euro 2025, though the staff cannot meet Spain till no less than the semifinals. She spent 4 years at Barça, and he or she has performed a big half within the membership’s success domestically and in Europe. — Marsden
1:08
How Portugal’s late objective impacts Group B at Euro 2025
Portugal snatched a late equaliser vs Italy in Group B to maintain their Euro 2025 goals alive in dramatic style.
Proud Portugal
On Monday night time, Portugal had been minutes away from their Euro 2025 marketing campaign ending in heartbreak. Francisco Neto’s facet was set to bow out of the match with a gaggle sport to spare, earlier than an instinctive late strike from defender Diana Gomes restored parity with opponents Italy and saved their hopes alive of progressing to the knockout levels with a 1-1 draw.
Isto é 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹. ❤️🔥 #FazHistória | #WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/Gh6Rlr8EOf
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 7, 2025
It was an amazing environment at Stade de Geneve, with the Portugal followers in full voice after the ultimate whistle. And, on an emotional night, Portugal goalkeeper Patricia Moraes even acquired concerned, climbing into the group and becoming a member of in with their passionate chanting.
These celebrations shall be even wilder ought to Portugal ebook their place within the final eight with a win over Belgium on Friday, assuming Spain beat Italy. — Lindop
Lionesses enjoying to win
Aggressive streaks are a typical trait working by the England group. Off the coaching pitch, the squad’s favourite pastime stays battling over properties and cash in Monopoly Deal, whereas Grace Clinton and Maya Le Tissier are sometimes seen arguing throughout heated video games of Spikeball — a fast-paced, handball-style sport the place gamers rating by bouncing a ball off a small, trampoline-like internet.
Two of probably the most aggressive are midfielder Ella Toone and England assistant coach Arjan Veurink. “Regardless of the sport is, he must be concerned, and he must be profitable,” midfielder Georgia Stanway revealed.
One of many methods Stanway saved herself calm throughout her five-month rehab from the knee damage she suffered in January was tattooing — each inking herself and others. However that is not an possibility in Switzerland, so it is again to her authentic like to hold her thoughts recent. “Sadly I am unable to tattoo [here] so I am discovering alternate options to maintain my thoughts busy. I’ve loved watching the opposite video games within the match.” — Tom Hamilton
1:18
England acquired ‘bullied’ by France in Euro defeat
Gab Marcotti and Don Hutchison talk about Englands 2-1 defeat to France of their opening sport of the European Championships.
Brugts vs. Bronze
Netherlands and Barcelona winger Esmee Brugts is likely one of the few gamers on the staff who has no reference to the Ladies’s Tremendous League (WSL). However she just isn’t bothered, saying, “Basically, it’s thought of the very best league. However in my view, I play for the very best membership on the earth.”
Nonetheless Brugts, 21, does have a reference to 33-year-old England and Chelsea proper again Lucy Bronze, who she faces on Wednesday, as they performed collectively at Barcelona.
“She is somebody who takes excellent care of newcomers,” Brugts mentioned. “And in Spain, it isn’t frequent for everybody to talk English. However she does, and he or she’s additionally half Portuguese, so she picked up Spanish shortly and was capable of clarify every part properly. She would generally stand in entrance of me on the sector and coach me with ‘left’ and ‘proper’. She’s a singular participant, and I feel it’s extremely spectacular that she will nonetheless carry out at such a excessive stage. She’s there when it issues.” — ESPN NL
Star participant of the day
To observe…
Match previews, odds for Wednesday
1:13
What do England want to alter forward of conflict with Netherlands?
Samuel Marsden and the ESPN FC crew talk about what England want to alter after their loss to France.
England vs. Netherlands
Odds (through ESPN BET): England (-130), Draw (+270), Netherlands (+340)
England head into Wednesday’s match towards Netherlands understanding a win will hold qualification for the knockouts in their very own fingers. However anything and so they could possibly be heading house early. England misplaced 2-1 to France of their opener, whereas the Dutch eased previous Wales with a 3-0 win. So England merely should discover a solution to get the three factors in Zurich on Wednesday, whereas the Dutch know a win will ship them by to the knockouts.
England have a completely match squad, however Sarina Wiegman may make modifications, with Lauren James doubtlessly shifted to the wing to create space for Toone or Clinton in the midst of the pitch. For the Dutch, they have been intently monitoring Veerle Buurman’s health this week, and it seems to be to be a match too quickly to begin Lineth Beerensteyn. There shall be a powerful WSL core to this match with loads of acquainted matchups because the race to flee from Group D gathers tempo. — Hamilton
France vs. Wales
Odds (through ESPN BET): France (-1800), Draw (+1100), Wales (+2300)
A victory for France towards Wales would see them seal qualification earlier than they even face Netherlands within the ultimate sport on Saturday. Head coach Laurent Bonadei was clearly very pleased with the staff’s efficiency within the opening 2-1 win towards England. Captain Griedge Mbock seems to be like she is going to nonetheless be out in protection, and Les Bleues may begin with a extra attacking 4-2-3-1 formation as an alternative of the 4-3-3 that labored so properly towards the Lionesses, as they anticipate Wales to sit down very deep and be defensive.
Wales would have realized lots from their loss towards Netherlands (3-0) however will hope to maintain the ball higher towards the French. Nonetheless, they must put in an ideal defensive efficiency to disclaim Marie-Antoinette Katoto and firm. — Laurens