Women's Euro 2025: 5 things to know – DW – 06/27/2025
Euro 2025 is being hosted by Switzerland from July 2 to July 27, and the matches will be played at eight stadiums: in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Thun and Sion. Iceland and Finland open the tournament in Thun on July 2, while hosts Switzerland kick off their campaign three hours later in Basel's St. Jakob-Park stadium — where the final is to be played on July 27. Germany open their campaign against Poland in St. Gallen on July 4.
By today's standards this is a relatively small tournament, with just 16 teams, divided into four groups. Each team plays the other three in their group once, with the top two from each advancing to the quarterfinals.
Should matches in the knockout stage remain drawn after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If necessary, matches will be decided in penalty shootouts.
World Cup champions Spain disappointed by finishing out of the medals at last summer's Paris Olympics, but they still top this list as the continent's highest FIFA-ranked women's team (No. 2). By now, they should have put the controversy over the unwanted kiss by former FA President Luis Rubiales after the 2023 World Cup final behind them.
Normally one of the first teams you would name would be the defending champions; however, England have had a list of absences and injuries to deal with in recent months. Key central defender Millie Bright has ruled herself out, saying she was at her "mental and physical limit." Fellow Euro 2022 winners Fran Kirby and goalkeeper Mary Earps retired on the eve of the squad announcement. Bayern Munich star Georgia Stanway, as well as Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood of Manchester City, each missed the bulk of the season after undergoing knee surgery but all make the squad, as does the mercurial Chelsea forward Lauren James, who is nursing a hamstring injury.
Germany, finalists in 2022, are just behind Spain in the FIFA rankings but are a lesser-known quantity than they were three years ago. They've gone through a coaching change after the disappointing 2023 World Cup and the retirement of captain Alexandra Popp. New coach Christian Wück is optimistic about his squad, which he hopes will play with a mixture of "joy, enthusiasm, will and conviction."
France have established themselves as regular quarterfinalists in recent Euros, making it to the semifinals in 2022 — and the Nations League Final in 2024. They had recently fallen off a bit but climbed back into the top 10 in FIFA's latest women's rankings.
Giulia Gwinn has big boots to fill as Germany's new captain, but is a proven winner with Bayern Munich. She was also a member of the that fell at the last hurdle in England three years ago.
Spain boast two recent Ballon d'Or winners in midfielders Aitana Bonmati (2023, 2024) and Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) — two good reasons for making Spain one of the favorites. Both were members of Spain's World Cup-winning side in 2023 and semifinalists at the Paris Olympics.
Ewa Pajor, a teammate of Putellas and Bonmati at Barcelona, is making her debut at a major tournament with her national team, as this is the first time that Poland have managed to qualify for either the World Cup or the Euros. They will need the striker to be at the top of her game if they are to come out of a group with Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
One of her opponents will be Pernille Harder, a veteran of more than 160 matches for Denmark. At 32, she is still going strong for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
For the defending champions, Alessia Russo has graduated from Euro 2022 supersub to England's first choice striker. The Arsenal forward was joint top scorer in the domestic Women's Super League (WSL) and won the Champions League with her club. She will be the focal point for a side who have plenty of attacking midfield threats.
UEFA announced late last year that it had earmarked a total of €41 million ($47 million) in prize money for the 2025 Women's Euros, representing a 156% increase on the figure from the previous tournament in 2022.
In a statement, European football's governing body said the increase in funds reflected "UEFA's on-going commitment to growing women's football across Europe."
Still, the women continue to trail far behind the men in this department, with the total prize money for Euro 2024 coming in at €331 million — or about eight times what the women are playing for this summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
12 hours ago
- DW
Euro 2025: Germany progress but have big problems – DW – 07/12/2025
A shambolic 4-1 defeat to Sweden did not stop Germany from qualifying for the Euro 2025 knockouts. But it further revealed a number of significant issues that coach Christian Wück must address quickly. It all started so well for Germany. Lea Schüller had twice gone close before she dropped deep and found Carlotta Wamser, replacing injured captain Giulia Gwinn at right back, who weighted a perfect through ball for Jule Brand to score the seventh minute opener. With Klara Bühl a constant threat, Germany's attack was fluid and menacing. Less than half an hour later, nobody was thinking about their attack. First, a heavy touch from Wamser and a total dereliction of duty from the rest of the German defense allowed Stina Blackstenius to run unchallenged in to the box and score. Next, a sharp run from Smilla Holmberg ended with a fortunate deflection to give Sweden the lead. Though their tournament progression was all but assured before the game, Germany panicked. Goalkeeper Ann-Kathrin Berger, the most experienced of Germany's defense, gave a simple pass to opponent Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and got away with it. Moments later, Rytting Kaneryd was in again, this time finding Fridolina Rolfö whose shot was stopped by the hands of Wamser. The makeshift fullback was sent off, and Rolfö scored the resulting penalty. Though the speed of the implosion was a surprise, Germany's defensive frailties were clear from their wins against Poland and Denmark earlier in the group stage. Partly this is an issue of personnel. Berger, at 34, was a backup to Merle Frohms before her retirement, Wamser has spent most of her nascent career playing further forward and center back Rebecca Knaak, substituted at halftime, has just 7 caps at the age of 29. Germany coach Christian Wück has put his faith in Knaak, who had not played for her country until his appointment last year, but now must decide whether to replace her with Kathrin Hendrich, a 33-year-old who has been a regular in the German squad for some time and has plenty of tournament experience. His decision to omit another former Germany regular, leftback Felicitas Rauch, from the tournament squad will also now come under further scrutiny. "Not picking me is one thing. Not informing me and not even giving me a reason is something I simply don't understand. I would like to see much more transparent communication here," the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram after she was left out. The absence of star defensive midfielder Lena Oberdorf is also starting to be felt, with Sjoeke Nüskens and Elisa Senss struggling to control matches for 90 minutes. Wück cut his teeth with Germany's male youth teams and the scrutiny of a major tournament is a new challenge for him. In his time as senior women's coach so far, he has tried to introduce a progressive style of play building up from the back, often most evident in how much Berger plays out with the ball. His tactics also often oblige his defenders to deal with opponents in one on one situations when faced with counterattacks. While debutants Poland and a limited Danish side weren't able to take advantage of that, World Cup semifinalists Sweden were, adding a fourth when Lina Hurtig was allowed to tap in unchallenged on 80 minutes. It is only the second time Germany, who have won the tournament a record eight times, have lost a group game and the first time they have conceded four in a Euros macth. With Wamser now suspended from the round of 16 match against the winners of group D (England, France or the Netherlands, who all play on Sunday), Berger looking shaky and Knaak struggling with the Swedes, Wück has some big decisions to make.
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Tour de France: African star Biniam Girmay aiming for glory – DW – 07/10/2025
Africa's cycling star Biniam Girmay has a tough task repeating his successes from the 2024 Tour de France but remains optimistic. He is unsure whether he will even compete the upcoming World Championships in Rwanda. Last year, Africa's most prominent cyclist, Biniam Girmay, won three sprint stages in the Tour de France and took home the green jersey for the best points-scoring rider, usually a sprinter. He was the first black professional cyclist from Africa to do any of these things, marking his achievements as a moment of history for African cycling and for his home country of Eritrea. In Asmara, the capital, Girmay was welcomed with a motorcade as people danced and cheered for their hero. This year, even though fans from Eritrea continue to celebrate him despite being thousands of miles away, Girmay has found life on the Tour a bit more challenging. Nevertheless, he finished second in the opening stage behind the Belgian Jasper Philipsen. "I felt good and enjoyed the day," Girmay told DW afterwards. "But I had to do everything on my own, so I used up a lot of energy. And Jasper was the fastest in the end." Despite converting his good form into a second-place finish, the 25-year-old wasn't that happy. "I'm a bit disappointed," said Girmay. "I would at least have liked to have had a teammate with me. That has to get better. But it is what it is. We're at the Tour de France and not everything will always go perfectly." Things have not gone quites so well in the subsequent stages, with Girmay slowed by an injury to his knee. Despite that, he still has big goals ahead: he wants to win at least one stage again and also fight for the green jersey. Does the pressure of having to repeat last year's success weigh on him? "No, it just gives me motivation," replied the sprint specialist from Eritrea. "I've spoken to a few guys who have been there many times and they say that winning just one stage is super tough. And I had three in one year. That gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of my career." Despite his success, Girmay has not changed as a person, according to people close to him. "There are more people who want something from him. But he's still the same," his coach and sporting director Aike Visbeek said. "His career is progressing fast. But it's not so much the green jersey that has changed him, but more the fact that he is a young man who is maturing." This mature young athlete is aware of his special role as a representative of Africa. "I want to do the best for myself and my family first," said Girmay. "Unfortunately, I'm the only rider from Africa this year. But of course it is very nice for me to represent my country and also my continent." Girmay is less clear on the World Championships in Rwanda (September 21 to 28) though. It is set to be the first World Championships on the African continent, but at times, he himself has even questioned his participation. He complained that the World Championships course was made for climbers, not for sprinters. "It's a milestone for Africa. But for me, the course is far beyond my own capabilities," said Girmay at the beginning of the year. "I don't know if I would even make it to the finish. There's no point in competing then." But he left one door open. If his country called him, he would be there. During the Tour de France, Girmay did not want to say anything about the World Championships. But coach Visbeek is still skeptical: "He [Girmay] is still disappointed with the course. I don't think you really help the African cyclists with a course like this. You make it very difficult and that's sad," he told DW. Right now though, Girmay is fully focused on the Tour de France. Thanks to his participation in the intermediate sprints, he is still in the running for the green jersey. He has also not had any serious crashes so far, unlike the winner of the first stage, Philipsen, who is out. And the route of this Tour de France still offers a few opportunities for sprinters like Girmay.
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Prospects for peace and World Cup lift mood in DR Congo – DW – 07/10/2025
A new sense of hope is in the air the DR Congo, fueled by a recent peace deal and the prospect of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. These are busy times for football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The women's team are playing in the African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2012 while the men are currently top of their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup, putting them on course for a first appearance on the global stage since 1974. Off the pitch, there is also encouraging news. If a peace deal that was signed in June between the country and neighboring Rwanda holds, enduring violence could recede and citizens could have a fresh chance to play or watch sport. The eastern region of the 11th biggest country in the world has been dogged by violence for the past 30 years, which has, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, resulted in the deaths of approximately six million people. Fighting escalated earlier this year as M23, a rebel paramilitary group that, according to the Congo and the United Nations, is backed by Rwanda, made inroads against the Congolese army. Details of the peace plan, brokered by the United States, may be currently vague with concerns over whether it can hold and the low levels of trust between the two parties, but the prospect of stability is a welcome one. "Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world," Murithi Mutiga, Africa Program Director at the International Crisis Group, told DW. "One hopes that eventually this [peace deal] will be implemented and with luck and also concerted diplomatic efforts, that Congo may reach its potential." If the fighting stops, football can continue all over the country. "In terms of the national game, a peace deal needs to be sorted because a number of the clubs that are based in the east of the country have not been able to play as a result of the recent conflict and invasion," Guy Burton, an international research analyst on conflict and peace, told DW. "Ultimately for the game to flourish, you need to have stability, you need to have peace. When war is happening, the priority is just to survive." Peace is just a start. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Provided it is followed by concrete and sustainable implementation, the state and investors can better finance the rehabilitation of stadiums, community fields, and training centers," Francisco Mulonga, president of football club Sporting Club de Kinshasa, told DW. "Regions formerly at war could finally benefit from real sports facilities." Greater opportunities in cities such as Goma, which lies near the border with Rwanda, would give young men a choice and a brighter future that involves kicking a ball and not picking up a gun or getting involved in crime. "Football can really help young men turn away from violence and adopt a healthier lifestyle through sport, especially in contexts marked by poverty, idleness, or social tensions," Mulonga added. "Playing football fosters the creation of strong social bonds between young people from different backgrounds. Football is a model of hope and ambition." Reaching the 2026 World Cup could be a game-changer. Even amid instability at home, DR Congo is top of its qualification group, with Senegal and Sudan close behind and just four games remaining. DR Congo faces those two teams on home soil later this year in what should be decisive clashes. "If the men's team qualifies, people will look more at Congo, to come and invest and help the kids," Ricardo Eluka, founder of Espoir Football Academy in Kinshasa, which he set up to help young people fulfil their dreams, told DW. There is enough natural ability in the country to shine and join continental teams that often appear at the big tournaments. "Congo has the same level of talent as the Nigerian team, Ghana and Senegal. We have these kinds of players but we don't have the money to come and invest," said Eluka. "If we had more money coming, football in Congo would be huge." More investment at grassroots, in facilities and in the clubs would help the country produce more players such as Chancel Mbemba who has appeared almost 100 times for the national team and played at prestigious European clubs such as Newcastle United, Porto and Marseille, as well as forward Cedric Bakambu. "Qualification for the World Cup would have a very positive and structuring impact on Congolese football on several levels: sporting, economic, social, and even political,' said Mulonga. "The DRC would benefit from global visibility, which could improve its diplomatic, cultural, and economic image. It could also facilitate the export of Congolese players to top-tier foreign clubs." The women have longer to go, however, and were eliminated from the WAFCON with a game left to play. Here the natural resources are just as great but the infrastructure and support, according to national team captain Fideline N'goy, is lacking. "There is great talent and a desire among young girls to play the sport, but there is no decent coaching to develop their talents: no training centers, no fields, and no projects from the federation," N'goy told DW. The goalkeeper contrasts the situation with Cameroon and Morocco where, she says, FIFA prize money goes back into the women's game and South Africa where the women are paid almost as much as the men. "In our country, the winners of the women's championship earn US $10,000 (€8500), while the men's earn US$150,000." It may be left for the women to do it themselves, to achieve international success in order to help those back at home. "If the women play well, we will have more female students," Eluka said. "The problem in Congo, there is no investment made, no facilities for the ladies to practice and get better." It remains to be seen how the men getting to the World Cup would help the women's game but it would certainly be celebrated in a country that has not had much to celebrate in recent years. "Football is almost a national religion in Congo," said Mitiga. "If it qualifies for the World Cup as it seems well-poised to do, it will really energize and electrify the nation and it will bring people together."
