England seek revenge against Spain as rivals meet in Women’s Euro 2025 final
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England coach Sarina Wiegman talks to her players before extra time in their semi-final clash against Italy.
PHOTO: EPA
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BASEL – England are aiming to retain their title and avenge defeat by Spain in the Women’s World Cup final two years ago, when the rivals meet again on July 27 to decide who will win Euro 2025.
The showdown in Basel promises to be a fascinating contest between a Spain side looking to add the continental crown to their world title, and an England team who can secure back-to-back European Championship victories.
Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time, and another victory for La Roja in their latest clash would cement their status as the dominant force in women’s international football.
“We have so much respect for them, but we also believe in ourselves, that we can really step up,” said England’s Ella Toone on July 25.
The 25-year-old scored the first goal for the Lionesses when they beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win the last Women’s Euro three years ago, and has played a key role in Switzerland on their run to a third straight major tournament final.
“It is amazing. To make three consecutive finals for England is something that we can all be so proud of,” she said at the team’s base in Zurich. That remarkable run has come under the management of Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who took charge in 2021 and immediately turned them into contenders.
“She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in, and we know we are in good hands,” added Toone of Wiegman, who also won Euro 2017 with her native Netherlands on home ground. “It is an unbelievable achievement for her.”
It has not been an easy road to the final for England this time, with the Lionesses coming back from the brink of elimination more than once.
Their title defence started with a 2-1 defeat by France in their opening group game on July 5. They recovered to reach the knockout stages, but then required a remarkable comeback from two goals down to eventually beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals.
They then trailed to Italy in the semi-finals until a 96th-minute goal by Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, and Chloe Kelly scored the winner just as another shoot-out loomed.
Toone also joked that the team have “nearly killed her (Wiegman) twice this tournament”.
“We have definitely aged her, but that is five consecutive tournaments for Sarina being in a final and that is just unbelievable,” she explained.
Kelly added: “The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special.”
But it remains to be seen if that resilience will be enough against a brilliant Spain side led by the reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati. The Barcelona midfielder scored the extra-time winner as Spain edged out Germany in the last four to reach a first-ever European Championship final.
“All the hard work we have put in has paid off,” said coach Montse Tome.
Spain could have as many as seven starters who featured in that August 2023 game in Sydney, including Alexia Putellas – she was only a bit-part player at the World Cup as she recovered from a knee injury, but Bonmati’s predecessor as Ballon d’Or winner has been much more influential here.
Spain will also have a score to settle, having been knocked out by England in extra time in Brighton in the quarter-finals of the previous European Championship.
A victory this time would make them the first team to win the Women’s World Cup and the Euro consecutively since Germany achieved the feat in 2007 and 2009. AFP
