The stage is set for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, and anticipation is building for what promises to be one of the most competitive tournaments in the competition’s history. Hosted in Switzerland, the championship arrives at a time when European fixtures are enjoying record attendances, rising club standards, and a new generation of stars playing in the Women’s Euros.
England come into the tournament with the burden of expectation. Since lifting their first-ever major title on home soil at Euro 2022 and narrowly missing out on World Cup glory in 2023, the Lionesses have evolved from plucky contenders to established heavyweights, facing France, Netherlands and Wales in their group stage fixtures.
Their credentials were further underlined in the club game when Arsenal defeated Barcelona in the 2025 Women’s Champions League final — a result that not only disrupted Spanish club dominance but also reinforced the strength and growth of English women’s football at the elite level.
With the tournament fast approaching, we look at how England compare to Europe’s most successful and dangerous sides — from historic winners to modern juggernauts — and what it might take to retain their crown.
Germany – The measurement of champions
Germany are the most decorated team in European women’s football, with eight Euro titles, including six between 1995–2013.
While they have had some recent setbacks and failed to regain the World Cup, their run to the Euro 2022 final shows they remain formidable.
With stars like Lena Oberdorf and Alexandra Popp, they aren’t just a memory, they’re a force to be reckoned with again.
Spain – Hunting European supremacy
Spain arrive in 2025 as the reigning world champions, having shocked England 1‑0 in the 2023 World Cup final.
They dominate possession, with brilliance from Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, and Salma Paralluelo. Their domestic pipeline is thriving — top clubs like Barcelona continue to produce elite players — making Spain the most technically gifted and flowing team in Europe.
France – Contenders Without the Trophies
France have the talent — Wendie Renard, Grace Geyoro, and Delphine Cascarino lead a squad filled with potential.
However, they’ve never made it past the semi-finals at major tournaments. Under Hervé Renard, they’ve shown improved discipline, and a strong Nations League performance hints at latent promise. Still, doubts remain about their ability to translate talent into title glory.
Sweden – The nearly team with a point to prove
Sweden have long been one of the most consistent performers in women’s football — finishing in the top four of the World Cup or Euros on multiple occasions. They were runners-up at Euro 2001, semi-finalists in 2022, and third-place finishers at the 2023 World Cup. Yet despite this consistency, the major trophy still eludes them.
With a blend of veterans like Caroline Seger and newer stars like Fridolina Rolfö and Stina Blackstenius, Sweden remain a tactically disciplined, physically robust team. They may not always dazzle, but few sides can match their work rate and experience.
If they can overcome their habit of falling just short in the latter stages, Euro 2025 might finally be their moment to turn consistency into glory
Norway – Once mighty, now rebuilding
Norway were European pioneers — winners in 1987 and 1993, and FIFA World Cup champions in 1995. But they’ve struggled to match today’s standards, suffering heavy defeats like an 8‑0 loss to England at Euro 2022.
With superstars like Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen in their ranks, they have firepower, but fragility and inconsistency may hamper them in Switzerland.
