England’s nemesis Spain bid to add European title to world crown

ZURICH – Spain are aiming for their first women’s European title, as the reigning world champions head to Euro 2025 with a squad packed with stars from arguably the best club team in the world.

The Spaniards showed they are the team to beat in Europe with their dramatic win over defending European champions England in June, which propelled them into the Nations League semi-finals.

It was also England that Spain beat in 2023 to be crowned world champions.

Two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati is the biggest name among a host of Barcelona players in Montse Tome’s squad heading to Switzerland for the Euro, which kicks off on July 2.

However, there is a question mark hanging over Bonmati as she is recovering from viral meningitis, having being discharged from hospital only over the weekend.

She has rejoined the squad but is unlikely to feature in their opening game against Portugal on July 3.

“Talking about meningitis can be scary, but it is controlled,” said Tome. “She is a very important player for us.”

La Roja’s large Barca cohort will be keen to bounce back from a shock defeat by Arsenal in the recent Women’s Champions League final by holding the European and world titles at the same time.

Spain will be without their all-time top scorer Jennifer Hermoso, who was not selected by Tome – one of many of those who delivered the World Cup not heading to the Euro. Hermoso’s absence raised eyebrows as the 35-year-old plays and scores regularly for Tigres in Mexico.

Tome has insisted her absence has nothing to do with the furore surrounding her being forcibly kissed after the World Cup final by former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales, who was fined €10,800 (S$16,200) for sexual assault in February.

Hermoso, who has scored 57 times for her country, played in all six qualifiers for the Euro, netting three times, but has not featured in the last four Spain squads. She appeared to take a pop at Tome after being left out of the Euro squad by saying the players could “probably become champions of Europe on their own”.

The level of talent is such that Hermoso might have struck on a half-truth in her moment of anger – the quality available to Tome is so high that only 11 World Cup winners made it into the Euro squad.

Claudia Pina is another star in the making after a series of impressive super-sub appearances for Barcelona and her country, including both goals in Spain’s Nations League win over England.

England coach Sarina Wiegman has faced a challenging preparation for the Euro after losing several key players: goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby both retired from international football, while crucial defender Millie Bright withdrew from the tournament to focus on her mental and physical well-being.

All three players were starters in every game when England won their first major silverware at the previous Euro in 2022, making their absences a significant blow for the Lionesses.

England have also been far from their best in recent matches and are in the tournament’s toughest group, alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales. However, Wiegman has reached the final in four of her last five major tournaments, winning two of them, and England remain one of Spain’s main rivals for the title in Switzerland, alongside Germany.

“My experience before tournaments is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament,” said Wiegman, after announcing her squad for the tournament. “It doesn’t feel like a crisis at all.”

Eight-time champions Germany head into their first tournament without Alexandra Popp since the prolific Wolfsburg striker’s 2010 debut. Missing someone with such top-level experience is a blow for Germany, who have not won a major honour since 2016. On the upside, Christian Wuck’s team are unbeaten in 2025.

Wuck will rely heavily on Bayern Munich striker Lea Schuller, who has scored 52 times in 75 appearances for Germany, including five goals in six Nations League group matches. AFP