The 2025 Women’s European Championships is the 14th edition of the tournament hosted in Switzerland and will run from July 2nd – 27th.

Qualification is based on Nations League group finishes and subsequent playoff games.

Below is my preview including group predictions with the current world ranking in brackets.

GROUP A 

NORWAY (16)
ICELAND (14)
SWITZERLAND (23)
FINLAND (26)

Norway will be happy with this draw. They finished their group third, two points behind Italy and Netherlands, then went into the playoffs, beating Albania 5-0 away and 9-0 at home.

Then defeated Northern Ireland 4-0 away and 3-0 at home. They are playing in their 13th finals, the joint most and were champions in 87 & 93. They play slow, measured build-up football. Stand-out players are Tuva Hansen. Hegerberg. Caroline Hansen and Maanum.

Iceland come into this tournament with something to prove, hoping to do better than their last two appearances where they failed to get out of the group. Their best finish was QF’s in 2013.

They qualified in second, just two points behind Germany, who they defeated 3-0 at home in the group. They like to play direct football with a strong solid defensive base. Stand-out players are Viggosdottir. Brynjarsdottir. Vilhjalmsdottir. Jessen and Jonsdottir.

Switzerland qualified as hosts, however, they finished top of their Nations League B group ahead of Turkey, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

They will be happy with their draw which has given them the best possible opportunity to qualify for the knockout stages, for the first time in their three appearances. Switzerland tries to play neat passing football. Stand-out players are Noelle Maritz. Lia Walti. Ana-Marie Crnogorcevic and Coumba Sow.

Finland finished bottom of their A group behind Italy, Netherlands and Norway, winning just one of their six games. They entered a play-off and beat Montenegro 1-0 away, then 5-0 at home.

They then played Scotland and drew 0-0 away, then won 5-0 at home. Finland are playing in their 5th finals. Their best was SF’s in 2005. They play a disciplined keep-ball football. Stand-out players are Oling, Koivisto. Engman. Ahtinen and Sallstrom.

GROUP B

SPAIN (2)
ITALY (13)
PORTUGAL (22)
BELGIUM (19) 

Spain are playing in their fifth finals, their best finish was SFs in 1997. They have gone out in the QFs in the last three tournaments. However, they are the current world and Nations League champions.

They qualified top of their group, three points ahead of Denmark. They have transformed their football in recent years and plays quick, pass-and-move football. Stand-out players are Paredes. Bonmatti. Gonzalaz. Caldentey and Petellas.

Italy qualified for this tournament top of their group, on the same points as Netherlands, but with a better head-to-head and goal difference.

They are playing in their 13th tournament, the joint most, their best finish is SF’s in 93 & 97. Since, it’s been four GS and two QFs. They play tactical, defensive football, waiting for the right time to open teams up. Stand-out players are Giuliani. Linari. Giugliano. Girelli and Bonansea.

Portugal finished top of their Nations League group B, ahead of Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Malta. Then went into a play-off and crushed Azerbaijan 4-1 away then 4-0 at home.

Then drew with Czech Rep 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away. Portugal are playing in their third finals and has not been past the group stages. They like to play attacking, open football. Stand-out players are Borges. Costa. Nazareth. Dolores Silva and Diana Silva.

Belgium are playing in their third finals, their best was QF’s in 2022. They finished third, on the same points as bottom-place Czech Rep, eight points behind Denmark.

In the play-off, they drew 0-0 away at Greece, then beat them 5-0 at home. Then beat Ukraine 2-0 away and 2-0 at home to qualify. They play rugged football with a high emphasis on set pieces. Stand-out players are Wullaert. Evrard. Cayman. Deloose and De Caigny.

GROUP C

GERMANY (3)
SWEDEN (5) 
DENMARK (12)
POLAND (28)

Germany are playing in their 12th finals and won it eight times, their last win was in 2013, which made it six in a row. They were also runners-up in 2022.

They qualified by topping their group, two points ahead of Iceland. In addition to eight Euros, they have also been world champions twice. They play a controlled, possession football, with plenty of runners. Stand-out players are Hendrich, Gwinn. Freigang. Schuller and Dabritz.

Sweden qualified after finishing third, four points behind France and three behind England. In the playoff, they destroyed Luxembourg 4-0 away and 8-0 at home.

Then beat Serbia 2-0 away and 6-0 at home. They are playing in their 12th finals and won it in 1984. In 2022 they reached the SFs. They play quick counter-attacking football with good set pieces. Stand-out players are Andersson, Eriksson, Asllani. Blackstenius and Rolfo.

Denmark has qualified for their 11th finals, their best was runners-up in 2017. They also finished third twice in 91 & 93. However, they failed to get out of the group in 2022.

They qualified by finishing second, three points behind Spain and eight ahead of Belgium. Denmark likes to play fast-paced direct football, with plenty of crosses in the box. Stand-out players are Veje. Thorgesen. Nadim. Thomsen. Harder and Bruun.

Poland are playing in their first Euros and first major tournament. They qualified after finishing bottom, losing all six games against Germany, Iceland and Austria.

However, in the playoff, they beat Romania 2-1 away and 4-1 at home. Then, after losing twice to Austria in the group, they shocked them, winning 1-0 both home and away. Poland’s style is about a hardworking, energetic team effort. Stand-out players are Wiankowska. Dudek. Camczyk. Pajor and Padilla.

GROUP D

ENGLAND (4)
FRANCE (11)
NETHERLANDS (10)
WALES (30) 

England are the reigning Euro Champions, winning their first major tournament. They were also World Cup runners-up a year later in 2023.

Playing in their 10th finals, they qualified by finishing second in their group, just a point behind France. They play fast-paced attacking football, alternating from direct to possession football. Stand-out players are Greenwood. Bronze. Williamson. James. Kelly. Russo and Mead.

France are playing in their eighth finals their best was SFs in 2022. They have been perennial underachievers and were knocked out in the QFs in 2009, 2013 & 2017.

They qualified top of their group, a point ahead of England, beating them away but losing to them at home. France plays quick, direct football, utilising the wings. Stand-out players are Bathy. Bacha. Karachioui. Geyoro and Diani.

The Netherlands are playing in their fifth tournament and surprised all by winning it in 2017. However, they exited in the QF’s in 2022.

They qualified second in their group, on the same points as Italy, but with a worse head-to-head and goal difference. They modified their style of play to a more solid defensive unit and patient build-up to find openings. Stand-out players are Janssen. Roord. Beerensteyn. Spitse. Van de Donk and Miedema.

Wales are the lowest-ranked team and are making their major tournament debuts. They finished top of their Nations League B group, ahead of Ukraine, Croatia & Kosovo.

In the playoffs, they lost to Slovakia 2-1 away, then won 2-0 at home, aet. Then drew with the Rep of Ireland 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away. They rely on an organised defensive unit with counter-attack football. Stand-out players are Evans. Ingle. James. Holland and Fishlock.

QUARTER FINAL

Norway vs Italy
Germany vs France
Spain vs Iceland
England vs Sweden

SEMI FINALS

Spain vs Italy
England vs Germany

FINAL

Spain vs England