Key stats, star players and favourites – meet Euro 2025 final four

Key stats, star players and favourites – meet Euro 2025 final four

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The semi-finals of Euro 2025 are decided. Before Spain and Germany meet on Wednesday, defending champions England will face Italy on Tuesday.

But how did they arrive? What players stood out? And what are their chances of winning in Basel on July 27?

England

England's results at Euro 2025: France 2-1 England, England 4-0 Netherlands, England 6-1 Wales, Sweden 2-2 England (England won 3-2 on penalties)BBC Sport
13 goals were conceded: Five wins, three best Euros performances, 2022.

Chance of winning Euro 2025 (Opta): 36.5%

With a win over Sweden, defending champions England won the match-up, but the decision was difficult.

From a 2-0 deficit, the Lionesses forced penalties and extra time. Five of the fourteen penalties were scored, six were saved, and three were missed.

The Lionesses are still battling it out to win, which sums up England’s tournament so far.

What the pundits called “the mindset of those players to step up.” The mentality to say “I want to take a penalty,” even those who missed, is so strong,” said captain Steph Houghton.

These girls “keep making history,” said former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis. To rebound from a 2-0 deficit in the knockout stages and exhibit the resilience, determination, and never-say-die attitude.

Hannah Hampton, a veteran defender, and winger Lauren Hemp, a veteran defender, have all had good moments, but consistency has been a little lacking in that regard.

class=”ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3″>Key player: Lauren James, a Chelsea forward, has consistently been hailed as the best player for England, and she has once more demonstrated why that is the case at this tournament.

She improved after being criticized by France in their opening game defeat to the Netherlands, and she improved again against Wales.

England and Brighton’s Nikita Parris said, “We’re looking at a potential global star” and that there is no limit to her talent.

Germany

Germany's results at Euro 2025: Germany 2-0 Poland; Germany 2-1 Denmark; Sweden 4-1 Germany; France 1-1 Germany (6-5 to Germany on pens)BBC Sport
Six wins were scored in the six goals that were conceded. Three best Euros performances: Eight-time champions.

Chance of winning Euro 2025: 23.5%

Germany are eight-time champions in Europe, but they last won the title in 2013. They were 2022 runners-up when they lost to England.

In Switzerland, the campaign was stalled, and the outcomes were inconsistent.

Before coming from behind against Denmark, their opening match was marred by a tournament-ending injury to captain Giulia Gwinn.

The setting for a chaotic encounter was Carlotta Wamser’s red card in the 31st minute of Sweden’s 4-1 thrashing, which included Kathrin Hendrich receiving another red card in the 13th minute of the quarter-final against France.

Germany showed togetherness to complete the task and advance to the semi-finals with Spain despite having to play the final 90 minutes plus extra time and penalties with 10 players.

What the pundits said was that, “Germany will take such confidence in the resilience and the response since down to ten players, which can be a psychological boost. Former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley said, “If I were Spain, I would probably want to play France.”

For Germany, it’s about mindset, self-assurance, and using the confidence you’ve built up by playing the game and using it, she said.

Important player: With two goals and two assists, Jule Brand leads Germany in goals, but Ann-Katrin Berger, the team’s goalkeeper, received the most praise for their quarter-final victory. In the shootout, she saved two penalties and made nine saves against France, which included the winning penalty.

Italy

Italy's results at Euro 2025: Belgium 0-1 Italy, Portugal 1-1 Italy, Italy 1-3 Spain, Norway 1-2 ItalyBBC Sport
Five wins: Three Best Euros performances: Runners-up, 1993 and 1997. Five goals were conceded.

Chance of winning Euro 2025 (Opta): 8.9%

Italy, who sits 13th in the Fifa rankings, is the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, but it would be foolish to underestimate them based on their impressive performance against Norway in the final eight.

They reached their first European semi-final since 1997, missing four consecutive World Cups in the years 2003-2015.

In Group B, they were the underdogs heading into the quarter-finals against Norway, who had previously lost to them, but they impressed with their pace, possession control, and natural width.

Key players: Captain Cristiana Girelli scored both goals in the 2-1 victory, with the crucially important header in stoppage-time.

Anita Asante, a former England defender, described the situation as “special” for a “senior veteran in the team” in that moment.

They “are resembling the expansion of Italian women’s football.” When it really mattered and capitalized, it “found a little bit of quality”,” she said.

What the pundits said about Italy’s status as an underdog: Houghton claimed defending champions England would need to be “mindful” of its status.

She said, “Knocking out Norway, who were higher ranked than them, probably wasn’t what we had in mind.”

They are a team with experience. They have some excellent midfielders and some potential threats, especially in wide areas.

They regard this as monumental. They will be well-suited for it because they have made a new historical breakthrough.

Spain

Spain's results at Euro 2025: Spain 5-0 Portugal, Spain 6-2 Belgium, Italy 1-3 Spain, Spain 2-0 SwitzerlandBBC Sport
Four Wins: Four Best Euros performance: Third, 1997. 16 Goals conceded:

Chance of winning Euro 2025: 31.1%

Spain’s 2023 World Cup triumph will add European glory to it.

Surprise winners in Australia two years ago, they have since come out as the dominant force in women’s soccer, adding the Women’s Nations League to their trophy collection last year and looking like the team to beat in Switzerland.

Although their quarter-final victory over the host nation was uncomfortable at times, they ultimately prevailed.

What the pundits said, “Anytime you stay in possession like they do in the final third, you can’t help but score,” according to Parris.

The team has “something special,” thanks to the possession, the intricate play, the teamwork, and the camaraderie and connectivity they have. I believe many teams will be broken into.

It’s challenging to pick out just one key player because of the vast pool of talent available.

Important players include Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmati, Claudia Pina, and forward Esther Gonzalez, who is currently in the hunt for the Golden Boot.

However, Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, has made a statement by not participating in the 2022 competition because of her anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Barcelona midfielder has scored three goals and assisted four more as a way of making up for lost time in Europe.

Steph Houghton, a former England captain, said, “It is her goal involvements.” She suffered an injury that prevented her team from reaching the final Euros, and she has truly taken control of the Spanish team. She has excelled.

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related subjects

  • Women’s Football Team England
  • Women’s EURO 2016: UEFA
  • Football
  • Women’s Football

Source: BBC

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