England expect but Spain are favourites for Euro 2025
STOCKHOLM, June 26 (Reuters) - Champions England remain optimistic about retaining their Women's Euro crown when the 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, though Spain enter as bookmakers' favourites following their recent international successes.
Spain, reigning world and Nations League champions, are priced at 2/1 to win the tournament, ahead of England at 4/1 and perennial contenders Germany and France, both at 5/1.
Chloe Kelly's extra-time winner against Germany in the 2022 final at Wembley gave English women's football a huge boost, propelling the top-flight Women's Super League (WSL) to new heights.
France and Germany continue to boast strong domestic leagues, while Spain's top flight, dominated by Barcelona, features considerable depth in teams and talent.
Italy, benefiting from the shift to full-time professional football in Serie A, has steadily improved, while Scandinavian nations remain competitive, aided by strong club performances in recent Champions League campaigns.
Though Spain appear dominant, English side Arsenal's surprise 1-0 victory over Barcelona in this season's Champions League final suggests the Spaniards can still be beaten.
Host nation Switzerland, led by Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, will aim to advance from Group A, starting with a challenging opener against Norway, who will hope to put their nightmare 8-0 loss to England at the last Euros firmly behind them. Iceland and Finland round out the group, bringing organised and capable squads to the mix.
Spain face a potentially perilous Group B alongside Belgium, Italy and Portugal. While Spain are expected to progress, Italy have shown a knack for upsetting higher-ranked teams and both Belgium and Portugal have shown signs they are catching up on the continent's elite sides in recent performances.
Group C features Germany and Sweden as likely frontrunners, though Denmark remain a threat and tournament debutants Poland boast Barcelona's free-scoring striker Ewa Pajor.
England have little room for error in Group D, where they will face France, Netherlands and Wales.
France are seeking redemption after a series of underwhelming tournament showings, while the Netherlands, champions in 2017, will pose a formidable challenge. Wales, debuting at a major tournament, will aim to defy expectations.
While gaps remain between Europe's elite and emerging sides, expanded international and club competition structures have afforded players across the continent greater opportunities to test themselves ahead of the tournament.
Whether that results in another coronation for Spain, more celebration for England, or a different champion entirely will be decided in the final in Basel on July 27.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Yob who knocked woman out with a chair during wild Ibiza poolside brawl is controversial footballer who scored in Wembley final just three weeks ago
A holidaymaker filmed hurling a chair which hits a woman in the face during a shameful Ibiza poolside brawl is English professional footballer Kian Harratt, MailOnline can reveal. Oldham Athletic striker Harratt, 23, can be seen launching the furniture in the direction of a middle-aged woman who was trying to break up a brawl between his friends and another group of Brit holidaymakers. After being hit the woman collapses to the ground holding her face while the other group fall into the pool and topless Harratt retreats out of shot. Since the video has been shared online on Sunday it has been reposted by the League Two footballer who has also shared various snaps of himself on holiday on the Spanish island. Brandon Watkins from Nuneaton, who was one of the lads confronted by Harratt's group at the Marco Polo Hotel in San Antonio, described the encounter in a post on Facebook. He wrote: 'Five lads came to our hotel being nobs around the pool splashing people throwing balls at women and one lad says 'what are you looking at' so he approaches me and I drop him… they then start throwing chairs because they couldn't fight and everyone knows how slippy it is round a pool so stopping chairs hitting us I slip in the pool and that's what went viral. Oldham Athletic striker Kian Harratt (black shorts, circled) appears to throw a chair at a woman in a video recently shared to social media 🪑😳 — The92Bible (@The92Bible) June 25, 2025 'If they let me get back out the pool or got in with me then they would have been slapped again but they didn't they got kicked out …. Everyone sat around the pool after was coming up to us shaking our hands and buying us drinks because the lads were bellends!' The incident comes just three weeks after Harratt scored the winning goal in extra-time of the 3–2 victory over Southend United in the final at Wembley to secure Oldham a place back in League 2 next season. But fans were quick to condemn his actions and urged his club to tear up his contract. One posted: 'He just can't help himself can he. I've defended him multiple times [and] even was happy when he scored the winner against Southend but you can't be throwing chairs at women Kian.' Another commented: 'I'll be stunned if he plays for us this season. Embarrassment, no way for anybody to act – never mind someone in the public eye.' Kian's mother Kathleen Duncan said she was also aware of the video but did not want to comment. She said: 'Kian won't be back til later. He's still on holiday. I think he's meant to be flying this morning. He was supposed to have landed in Leeds but he cancelled his flight because he missed it. 'He wouldn't be able to say anything [about the video] - it would be down to his agent. He will be back later this afternoon.' Raging tourists holidaying at the Marco Polo hotel in San Antonio started yelling at each other The striker scored the winning goal as Oldham won the National League play-off final on June 1 He has previously been banned from football for betting on games and fined for hare coursing and poaching It's not Harratt's first brush with controversy. Last year while on loan at Fleetwood Town from Huddersfield Town he was fined £1,000 by police after he was caught poaching in North Yorkshire. Police were called just before midnight on February 6 to investigate a vehicle being driven suspiciously around Whashton, near Richmond. A short while later Harratt, from Pontefract, and Daniel Luke Dimmock, 34, from Castleford were found carrying large black lamps, and with lurcher-type dogs on slip leads, police said. The men were searched, and their lamps and vehicle seized. They were both later charged with entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment. They were found guilty of entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment at Harrogate Magistrates Court on December 19 and fined £1,153 each, and ordered to pay hundreds of pounds more in costs and surcharges, according to police. He was also convicted of poaching at a farm in East Yorkshire in 2022 and fined £830, plus £233 costs. Also, Harratt was banned from football for four months in the 2023-24 season while at Huddersfield after placing 484 bets on matches over a three-year period. That came with a £3,200 fine and 36 of the bets were on Huddersfield games - though he insisted he was not in the matchday squad for any of them. MailOnline contacted the Marco Polo hotel in San Antonio, Ibiza, but they refused to comment.
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Club World Cup star going back to day job as a PE teacher after scoring goal that netted amateur side $1MILLION
THE Club World Cup star who scored a $1million goal is heading back to his day job as a PE teacher. Christian Gray, 28, left his school behind to appear for part-time Auckland City in the United States alongside delivery drivers, forklift operators and a Coca-Cola salesman. 3 But several members of the amateur squad missed out on playing against some of the world's biggest clubs - because they did not have enough annual leave. Gray was an unused sub in the 10-0 hammering by Bayern Munich then came off the bench in the 6-0 defeat to Benfica. But he earned himself a starting spot in Auckland's third and final group game against South American giants Boca Juniors, who had Edinson Cavani up front. And with his side trailing 1-0 at half-time, Gray headed in from a corner to score a dramatic equaliser. Despite Boca's 40 shots, Gray and Auckland held on for an unlikely but famous draw in Nashville, earning the New Zealanders $1m (£727,000) in Fifa prize money. Now the centre-back must head back home and crack on with marking his students' papers during the school holidays. Player-of-the-match Gray said: "I'm a PE teacher. "When I get home, I've got a few assignments that have piled up over the last month so that's what I'll be going back to and the school holidays thankfully. "I'm from a small town, a long way from here and a lot different to this environment. So it is somewhat of a dream so I'm a little bit lost for words. "We'll be going back to our day jobs, that's the reality for us." Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries chased off the pitch as huge brawl breaks out after fiery Club World Cup clash But he will have some stories to tell his pupils when he returns to Auckland Grammar School from his Club World Cup American adventure, capped off in perfect style. Gray added: "I don't love the spotlight. I'll leave that to the other boys, but, yes, a lot of emotions. "It's been a tough trip. We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys. I think we deserve it. 'We've got a little bit of respect." Boca failed to advance to the knockout stages as Benfica topped Group C and will play Chelsea in the last 16. Bayern had to settle for second and will take on Flamengo - with the winners facing Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Miami. 3
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Juventus vs Manchester City Betting Tips: City can pass Juve test
Man City to win & both teams to score - 3/1 William Hill Erling Haaland to score anytime - 10/11 Bet365 Manchester City face Juventus in the final match of their Club World Cup ground stage campaign on Thursday, with first place at stake in Group G (8pm, Channel 5). Both sides sit on six points going into the match, with qualification already assured, although Juventus sit ahead on goals scored, leaving second-place City on course for a meeting with Real Madrid in the next round. Head coach Pep Guardiola is in the early stages of trying to gel a new-look City side after a raft of early summer signings, but convincing wins over Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain suggest that the early signs are positive. Of course, the test provided by Juventus will be the toughest so far, with the Bianconeri having also convincingly won their opening two matches. However, this is a Juve side that is far weaker than in recent seasons, having finished fourth in Serie A after the sacking of Thiago Motta. New coach Igor Tudor has steadied the ship in Turin somewhat, but it remains a squad that is someay off the squad of those to have graced the Allianz Arena in recent seasons. And that is reflected in the pre-match odds, football betting sites making City the odds-on favourites to get the win they need to top the section. While City came into this competition off the back of one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, Guardiola's side have a real chance of a brilliant end to 2024/25 by taking home a new trophy. Despite their poor season, the Cityzens began the Club World Cup as one of the favourites, priced around 5/1 on betting sites, and their new signings – combined with the return from injury of Rodri – mean that they are more than capable of going all the way in the USA. While the FA Cup final loss meant they ended the regular season without a trophy, they had a strong end to the season and secured third place in the league, losing just one of their last 10 matches. By contrast, Juventus were well off the pace in Serie A, finishing in fourth while losing two of their last 10 and drawing three. Juve conceded 10 in their last 10 matches of the season, though their record of 17 goals scored suggests that the Italian side will have chances over the course of the 90. Let's not forget that they also beat City when the two sides faced off in the Champions League this season, further evidence that they have what it takes to open up the English side. City were in a deep malaise when the teams met in Turin and have long since climbed out of their pit. And with that in mind, we're going with City to win and both teams to score, which is prced at around 3/1 in the Club World Cup odds. Manchester City vs Juventus prediction 1: Man City to win & both teams to score – 3/1 William Hill Manchester City vs Juventus Prediction: Haaland to Make The Difference Despite his season being regarded as somewhat sub-par, the figures show that Erling Haaland still scored 32 goals for City in all competitions this season. Stats like that in a disappointing City side show that Haaland remains arguably the best striker in the world based purely on goalscoring, with the striker now having a record of 122 goals in 144 games since joining in 2022. Knee problems and an ankle injury kept the Norwegian out of several matches towards the end of the Premier League season, though he still managed to score six goals over his last 10 league matches for City. In addition, Haaland scored in consecutive games for Norway in the last international break and he added to his recent streak with a goal against Al Ain last time out. And with the 24-year-old seemingly having rediscovered his form in front of goal, we're backing him to make the difference against Juventus in Orlando, with bet365 offering odds of 10/11 for Haaland to score anytime. Juventus vs Manchester City betting offers BoyleSports are offering new customers the chance to claim £20 in free bets and a 25 per cent boost on Juventus vs Manchester City bet builders after signing up online. To qualify for the BoyleSports sign up offer, new customers need to deposit and bet £10 online on a market with odds of evens or greater. Once your qualifying offer has settled, you'll receive £20 in free bets to use on the sportsbook to use within seven days, as well as a 25 per cent bet builder boost for the Club World Cup clash between Juventus and City on Thursday evening. Customers are limited to a maximum £20 bet on their Juve vs City bet builder, and it must contain three or more selections and odds of 3/1 or greater. The maximum payout is £1,000. Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
