Women’s Euro 2025 Preview
With the tournament just around the corner, it is time to take a closer look at the Women’s Euro 2025 favourites this summer!
Sixteen teams will battle it out for continental glory this summer, as the likes of France, Germany, England and Spain compete for the trophy. As with every major tournament, there will doubtless be numerous twists and turns along the way right up until the final on July 27.
We have taken a close look at every national team taking part this summer, as well as providing some Women’s Euro 2025 betting tips ahead of the 14th edition of the tournament.
Who Are the Favourites?
Spain
World Cup champions in 2023 and Nations League winners in 2024, another triumph in July would confirm this as Spain’s era. There is an enviable array of talent at the disposal of manager Montse Tome, who was the assistant at the previous World Cup before stepping into the No.1 role afterwards.
Spain should have little trouble negotiating Group B, with Italy perhaps the only team capable of giving them a game. No one will relish facing Tome’s team in the knockout phase, with Aitana Bonmati, Jenni Hermoso and Salma Paralluelo all ready and raring to go. Of all 16 Women’s Euro 2025 teams, Spain look like the most rounded.
England
England are the holders following their success on home soil in 2022. They were the runners-up at the World Cup the following year and are determined to claim another piece of silverware under Sarina Wiegman this summer. The group draw could have been kinder, but England should still make it through to the last eight.
Wiegman’s women beat Spain earlier this year, but there have been injury issues in the build-up to the tournament. Still, theirs is an experienced group of players and that know-how makes them strong candidates in Switzerland.
France
Herve Renard departed as the manager of France’s women’s team after last summer’s Olympics, with his erstwhile assistant Laurent Bonadei handed the reins instead. Bonadei has now been in position for almost a year and is getting to grips with the group of players available to him ahead of this summer’s tournament.
France have never lifted a major trophy despite consistently producing talented squads. Could that change this year? They are certainly one of the teams to watch in Switzerland, although being drawn alongside England and the Netherlands in the group phase also puts them at risk of an early exit.
Germany
Germany suffered a shock elimination in the group stage of the World Cup two years ago, leaving them determined to make amends this summer. They are eight-time winners of this tournament having dominated in the early years, but in recent times others have caught up to the Frauenteam.
Still, Germany remain a major force in the international game, especially within Europe. Alexandra Popp has moved on, but Christian Wuck can still call upon the likes of Sara Dabritz, Lea Schuller and Giulia Gwinn.
Sweden
Sweden won this competition back in 1984 and reached the semis in the last edition. With a bit of good fortune on their side, they are certainly capable of challenging for the prize in Switzerland, even though the Swedes are not among the top four favourites as things stand.
The fear is that this particular team might have gone past its peak. Ten members of their squad for the tournament are over the age of 30, and it remains to be seen whether they have one last big push in them.
Who Are the Dark Horses?
Netherlands
The Netherlands are arguably the preeminent dark horses for July’s event. One of their big issues is being paired with France and England in the same group; at least one of those heavyweights will not even make it through to the knockout phase. But England and France will be as wary of the Netherlands as the other way around.
After taking the Dutch to the quarter-finals of the last World Cup, Andries Jonker has had two more years to put his stamp on the team. Up front, Vivianne Miedema is still one of the best around after returning from a serious knee injury.
Norway
Whereas the Netherlands were left frustrated by the group stage draw, Norway were delighted with it. They will face Switzerland, Iceland and Finland in the first stage of the tournament, and while the Norwegians will take nothing for granted it is hard to see them slipping up.
There is quality all over the pitch, but we will have to see whether Gemma Grainger’s charges are really ready to go all the way.
Italy
Italy did not have much to cheer at the last Euros or in the World Cup 12 months later, but anyone who has watched them since then will know that Andrea Soncin has made the Azzurre into a much tougher proposition. The Italians should be taken seriously in Switzerland.
Spain are patently tough opponents in Group B, but Italy should be able to secure a top-two finish. There is no doubt that Soncin’s side have made progress over the last year or so, but this still might be one tournament too soon for Italy.
Denmark
Denmark went out in the group stage of the last edition after losing two of their three matches. Their principal objective this time around will be to make it through to the knockout phase, but if they can do that, Denmark are one of those sides that could make a surprise run to the semis and maybe even beyond.
The Danes are not quite in the same class as the likes of Spain, France, Germany or England, but they are a useful team capable of giving anyone a game on their day. Denmark are dark horses at best, but they are certainly not no-hopers.
Switzerland
Playing a tournament on home soil invariably provides an advantage, even if it is not always enough to help the team in question to exceed expectations. Still, it goes without saying that the Swiss should be more competitive on their own turf than they would be at a competition held overseas.
Switzerland are in what is probably the most straightforward of the four Women’s Euro 2025 groups, while a victory over France last year demonstrated their credentials. Having said all that, it would be a huge surprise if they made it as far as the last four.
Who Are the Outsiders?
Iceland
Iceland qualified for the competition without the need of a play-off, finishing second in their League A group. It was pretty comfortable too, with Thorsteinn Halldorsson’s team winning four of their six outings. They even managed to beat Germany, the group winners, 3-0 on a memorable night in Reykjavik.
Iceland will face Switzerland, Norway and Finland in Group A. The Norwegians are favourites to go through in top spot, and it is hard to say whether Switzerland or Iceland will join them. Their meeting in Bern on matchday two could be decisive.
Portugal
Portugal’s preparations have been rocked by injuries to two important players. Jessica Silva and Kika Nazareth will play no part in Switzerland, robbing the Portuguese of two key cogs in their team. That harms their hopes of getting out of Group B, which also contains Italy, Spain and Belgium.
Portugal have never made it into the knockout phase of a major tournament before. They have improved significantly in recent years, but it will be a big ask to make a major impact on this summer’s competition.
Belgium
Belgium beat England earlier this year, a victory which made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice. However, they are still outsiders this summer, not least because Elisabet Gunnarsdottir is still getting to grips with a team she only took charge of at the beginning of 2025.
The Red Flames reached the last eight three years ago but they are up against it in their bid to replicate that accomplishment. To get out of Group B, they probably need to beat at least one of Spain or Italy – and that will not be easy.
Finland
Finland have now qualified for five of the last six European tournaments, establishing themselves as regulars at this event. They went as far as the semi-finals in 2005, but three losses in three games saw them fall at the first hurdle in 2022.
Finland are once again among the outsiders this time around. The draw could have been much worse, with Switzerland, Norway and Iceland all beatable. However, Finland are the favourites to finish fourth in Group A.
Poland
Poland took part in League A in the qualification process, but they did not pick up a single point from their six matches (two each against Germany, Iceland and Austria). The play-offs gave them a second chance which Poland duly took, edging out Austria 2-0 on aggregate.
Poland could end up being the whipping boys in Group C, which otherwise looks strong. It may sound negative, but their principal objective will be to avoid going down to three heavy defeats by Germany, Sweden and Denmark.
Wales
Wales are one of two debutants at the tournament this summer. Simply being there is an achievement for the Dragons – and that is just as well, because the group stage draw means they will almost certainly be eliminated before the quarters. Wales must face England, France, and the Netherlands in their three guaranteed games in Switzerland.
The pressure is off, so Wales will be able to play with complete freedom in July. They were competitive against the likes of Italy and Denmark in the Nations League, but anything other than three defeats would be an excellent outcome for Rhian Wilkinson’s women.
Last updated: 19.06.25
