Archive July 26, 2025

When England hosts Spain in a repeat of the World Cup final two years ago, England will be looking for a place in Sunday’s Euro 2025 final.

After winning Euro 2022, Sarina Wiegman’s team are now in their third successive major final before Spain defeated them to claim the title in 2023.

Spain’s women, who were eliminated from the 2022 quarter-finals by England, have never advanced to a final at a European Championship.

Leah Williamson, England’s captain, says they are aware of “what the nation means to them” and will do everything in their power to win the trophy.

When they face off in the final at 17:00 BST in Basel, Switzerland, the Lionesses are aiming to become the first English football team to win a significant trophy there.

The best thing about football is that it can be played on Sunday, Williamson said, and what’s on offer.

We wanted to stay until the end so that we had a chance to win the trophy. We don’t feel the weight of it, but we are aware that it does to us have the same meaning.

Due to a damaged anterior cruciate ligament, Williamson did not play in England’s World Cup final defeat to Spain.

She claimed that watching the Sydney final without being able to assist was an “awful” experience.

She continued, “I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, and how much a tournament takes from you – and being completely useless, that probably bothers me the most,” she continued.

That suggests a very long time ago, which is probably a plus for the entire squad.

“Anyone would give anything to help their team when they go through that,” they said. It was difficult.

After Germany faced Sweden in 2001 and 2003, the same teams have previously met in back-to-back women’s World Cup and European Championship finals.

England and France have previously played each other three times at the Euros, winning both of their meetings in 2017 and 2022.

The two countries also competed in this year’s Women’s Nations League, with England winning 1-0 at Wembley in February and Spain defeating Spain 2-1 in Barcelona in June.

Over the past few years, we’ve played a lot of games. You always have new things to learn. They will have taken our advice, Wiegman said.

Spain have scored 38 goals in each of their last ten games overall.

Between March 2020 and November 2021, they won 16 games in a row, which was their longest winning streak.

The world champions, who are the competition’s top-ranked side, have not lost a game since winning Euro 2025.

England lost their opening group game against France, finishing fifth overall in the world.

In extra time, they scored a last-minute goal to defeat Sweden in the quarter-finals, and they were in need of a penalty shootout to beat Italy in the semi-final.

Despite being widely regarded as one’s favorite pre-tournament destination, Williamson asserts that there is no such thing as an underdog.

We play a game with world champions who continue to demonstrate their skills over and over again in their play, Williamson said.

We are aware of their fantastic football team and their excellence in their field of play. We believe our overall performance is good.

To defeat Spain, “We must do our best.” They must do everything in their power to defeat us, too. The two teams have a lot of respect in common.

Opta predicted that Spain had a 25% chance of winning the title when they arrived in Switzerland as the pre-tournament favorites.

“We dislike being the people who choose us.” Irene Paredes, the captain of Spain, said, “We know what it takes to be here, what we suffered, and we must be focused.”

La Roja, however, added to their standing as favorites by defeating Portugal, Belgium, and Italy on aggregate to win 14-3.

In their first ever encounter with a strong Switzerland side in the quarter-finals, they defeated Germany thanks to an extra-time winner to defeat them.

Montse Tome, the Spaniard, said, “We have been writing history throughout the entire tournament.

“Being defeated by Germany for the first time in the semis and final.” We have succeeded in achieving our goals, which is why we are here.

Spain could become the first country in Europe to win both the World Cup and the Euros at consecutive tournaments after Germany won five in a row between 2001 and 2009.

We as a team don’t take this game as a challenge, but rather as an opportunity to write history, write a lot, and let people enjoy it, Paredes said.

Lauren James missed this week because she injured her ankle during England’s semi-final defeat against Italy. She came off at half-time.

However, Wiegman claimed that all 23 players “came through” the session while she was in full training on Saturday.

The Chelsea forward has two goals in the competition and excelled in the group stages.

Michelle Agyemang, a teenager, has scored two goals on three occasions since coming off the bench, while Chloe Kelly, a teenager, has one goal and one assist in five substitute appearances for Arsenal.

Aitana Bonmati had to be patient in order to make her mark after being hospitalized just days before the Euros began due to having viral meningitis.

The Barcelona midfielder, however, showed up when it was necessary, scoring a winner in extra time against Germany to win their first Euro final.

Alexia Putellas, a fellow Barca midfielder, has also scored three goals and assisted four more than any other player, while also being in top form since the beginning.

With her closest rival, team-mate Putellas, just one goal away, Gonzalez also hopes to capture the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.

No England player has scored more than two goals overall.

Additionally, there will be a Golden Ball contest, with several Spain stars, including Putellas, and notable players from England Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton.

Cata Coll and Jennifer Falk, both from Sweden, are tied for the most clean sheets in the world.

Coll will need to omit England if they want to win the award outright because Spain have kept three clean sheets as a team, but Adriana Nanclares started with a 5-0 win over Portugal in the group stage.

After winning their groups, Third-tier Alloa Athletic, along with Premiership rivals Falkirk and Kilmarnock, and championship duo Partick Thistle and St Johnstone, made it to the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

With a late winner, Alloa defeated Championship rival Airdrieonians at the top of Group C by coming from behind to win 3-2.

Along with Livingston and Greenock Morton, The Diamonds were also unable to be one of the three best runners-up due to their defeat.

At home to fourth-placed Spartans, goals from midfielders Dylan Tait and Scott Arfield gave Falkirk the lead.

After the break, full-back Calvin Miller recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Thistle won their group game 3-1 defeat of championship rivals Ross County thanks to goals from Robbie Crawford, Logan Chalmers, and Ben Stanway.

The hosts responded with Jordan White late in the match, but despite finishing as runners-up, they fell short of the last 16.

Alloa took a half-time lead in Airdrie before Aidan Wilson and Euan Henderson scored the winning penalty.

With one minute left, Steven Buchanan fired the visitors’ winner, which would have allowed both teams to advance to the last 16.

Third-tier visitors Montrose were beaten 5-0 by Premiership side Dundee to end a disappointing group campaign.

Dunfermline wanted a significant win to increase their goal difference and secure second place since Heart of Midlothian had already qualified as group winners.

With 15 minutes left, they struggled to break down fourth-tier visitors Stirling Albion, but Andrew Tod broke the deadlock and Rory MacLeod scored a stoppage-time winner, deciding whether St Mirren or Ayr had a chance of finishing fourth in the last 16.

St Johnstone blew League 2 visitors Elgin City 8-0 before Reghan Tumilty’s third-minute opener and a red card for visiting goalkeeper Tom Ritchie.

The other goals were scored by Makenzie Kirk and Jamie Gullan, along with fellow striker Uche Ikpeazu and midfielders Sam Stanton and Sven Sprangler.

The afternoon’s opener had a chance to win the group, but Raith Rovers, who are Championship opponents, defeated Inverness Caledonian With a hat-trick.

Morton and Clyde met in Greenock to decide the runners-up spot, with Motherwell already qualified as group winners.

The Championship won its first game without a goal in 90 minutes thanks to goals from Kerr Robertson, Tomi Adeloye, and Jackson Longridge.

With a 4-0 defeat over League 2 champions East Fife, three teams had a chance to top Group H on the opening day, but Kilmarnock won.

Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels, both summer strikers, scored with crosses from Jamie Brandan before the 18-year-old wing-back Ben Brannan put a pair of excellent finishings to end the visitors’ hopes of progress.

With a 6-0 defeat of Kelty Hearts, Premiership rival Livingston’s 6-0 victory made them one of the best runners-up.

Stormont’s first one-day international

Ireland 288-9 (50 overs): Forbes 54, Ndhlovu 3-50, Tshuma 2-37

Zimbabwe 191 (48.1 overs): Mugeri-Tiripano 48, Kelly 2-17, Prendergast 2-20

Ireland defeated 97 runs to win.

At Stormont on Saturday, Ireland won the first of two women’s one-day international matches by 97 runs.

The hosts returned from a 50-over series that they had won earlier in the week to wrap up the T20 series.

With 43 runs, the 19-year-old passed the 1, 000 mark in one-day cricket, having previously reached that milestone in the T20 format.

With Gaby Lewis, Laura Delaney, and Clare Shillington as the only Ireland women with more than 1, 000 career runs in both formats, Orla Prendergast and Hunter added another 1,000 to their 50.

Before Lewis was caught by Tendai Makusha off Lindokuhle Mabhero’s 51, Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat for Ireland. Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis established a strong partnership with them.

Loreen Tshuma took the wicket shortly after Forbes took the next five for 54, but Prendergast’s half-century would help increase Ireland’s lead before Kelis Ndhlovu took the first of her three wickets.

Before the hosts’ late in the over, with the hosts setting a target of 288 with Hunter’s 43 and Laura Delany’s 34, Ireland would be in a strong position.

Zimbabwe started their innings shakily, with Tshuma and Chiedza Dhururu being bowled by Prendergast for just one.

Arlene Kelly then removed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for 48, who had already beaten Ndhlovu for 21.

While Runyaro Pasipanodya posted 32 not out, Jane Maguire and Cara Murray each took two wickets to give Ireland the win, Lara McBride and Modester Mupachikwa took the other two.