The day has finally arrived. The UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 is about to determine its victor as England and Spain gear up for an epic showdown in Basel, rekindling memories of their clash at the 2023 World Cup final. Reigning European champions, England, are marking their third consecutive appearance in a major tournament final. In contrast, Spain, the current World Cup title holders, are aiming to lay their hands on their inaugural Euro title.
The match will commence at 6pm CEST / 5pm BST / 12pm ET / 9am PT. The Spainish squad have had quite a comfortable journey to the finals, having smoothly navigated Group B with an exceptional performance. They booked their spot in the knockouts with a trio of resounding victories, obtaining a favorable goal difference of +11.
Spain dominated Portugal, leaving them goalless with a resounding 5-0. They then strolled past Belgium with a commendable 6-2 victory. Lastly, Italy couldn’t hinder Spain’s robust performance, as the final result fell to Spain’s favor with a 3-1 conclusion.
Previously, only Germany has succeeded in hoisting both World and European titles in women’s football at the same time, an accomplishment they retained from 2003 to 2011. Today, Spain aims to become the second team in history to emulate this remarkable feat. Having won the World Cup trophy back in 2023, Spain is on a quest for the elusive Euro title, a quest for which they were the pre-tournament favorites.
Emerging as England’s dark horse, Michelle Agyemang did not seem destined for the Euro 2025 spotlight a few months ago. Without a single call-up to the senior squad, her Euro 2025 dream seemed distant. However, her chance shone in April when she was called upon to replace an injured striker. She seized this opportunity, scoring her debut goal for England during a 10-minute cameo appearance.
Previously loaned to Brighton & Hove Albion from Arsenal, Agyemang emerged from the fringes to become the youngest player in England’s squad for the Euros. With late clutch goals against Sweden and Italy, she played an instrumental role in keeping England afloat in the tournament. She has proven to be an invaluable asset off the bench.
Backing England in this Euro tournament hasn’t been a task for the weak-hearted. A notably shaky path led them to the semi-finals, yet they managed to secure their spot in the final, thanks to Agyemang’s late intervention against Italy.
The England team showcased their never-give-up spirit in the quarter-final against Sweden. Despite trailing 2-0, they fought their way back into the match with late strikes from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton’s heroics saw England edge past Sweden 3-2 in the penalty shootout to secure a semi-final berth after a goalless extra duration.
England’s journey to the finals was anything but smooth. Kicking off the tournament, they tasted defeat in their opening match, a first in their European Championship history. However, they rebounded with determination, thrashing Netherlands 4-0 and going on to humiliate Wales 6-1, thus booking their ticket for the quarter-finals.
In the tournament’s thirteen previous editions, five unique nations have emerged champions. In 2022, England managed to overthrow Germany at Wembley, marking their first European victory. Prior to this, the Netherlands had claimed victory on home turf in 2017 under the stewardship of the current England manager.
Before these two title shifts, success had been dominated by Germany who clinched six consecutive wins starting from 1995. Norway savored the sweet taste of victory twice, their second coming in 1993. Sweden remains remembered for their victory in the inaugural tournament of 1984. Germany, alongside their modern success, claimed victory in 1989 as West Germany.
Euro 2025 has delivered a rollercoaster of emotions, complete with surprising twists, an unprecedented number of extra time scenarios, and a spectacular collection of goals. By the end of the day, either England or Spain will be the proud nation to lift the trophy. One thing is certain: Euro 2025 wraps up today, as there’s no third-place play-off.
Lastly, the grand stage for today’s contest is St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland’s largest football stadium and home to FC Basel, with an audience capacity of 37,500. This prestigious venue has already hosted three group-stage matches and a quarter-final match during this tournament. Now, it readies to host the most awaited event – the final.
The post UEFA Women’s Euros 2025: England Faces Spain in the Ultimate Showdown appeared first on Real News Now.
