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What do England need to qualify? Women's Euro 2025 group permutations explained

What do England need to qualify? Women's Euro 2025 group permutations explained

Independent09-07-2025
The business end of the Euro 2025 group stage has quickly rolled around with many teams already at the risk of elimination and others close to booking their place in the quarter-finals.
Holders England were one of those teams facing early jeopardy after the Lionesses fell to a 2-1 defeat to France in Group D and their clash against Netherlands on Wednesday was described as 'must-win'.
The Lionesses could have become the first European champions to be eliminated from the group stage of the Women's Euro but they instead thrashed the Netherlands to keep their title defence alive.
It puts the defending champions in a great position to reach the quarter-finals if they beat Wales, who face France this evening.
Group D
England will likely reach the quarter-finals if they beat Wales, but the picture will be a bit clearer after Wales play France tonight. If Wales draw, they could qualify for the quarter-finals by beating England and if France beat the Netherlands.
But if Wales lose, they will be out after two games and it would give England a good sense of what is required. If they beat Wales and France avoid defeat to the Netherlands (France win or draw), England would be through.
Where it could get complicated is England beat Wales and the Netherlands defeat France, leaving those three teams on six points and breaking the head-to-head record tiebreak.
However, as England have thrashed Netherlands and only lost 2-1 to France, the Lionesses would be in a great position to qualify. The Netherlands would need to beat France 5-0.
Results so far
Wales 0-3 Netherlands
France 2-1 England
England 4-0 Netherlands
Remaining fixtures
France v Wales
France v Netherlands
England v Wales
Group A
Norway became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals after Switzerland beat Iceland 2-0 in Bern. Switzerland's late second could be crucial ahead of their final-day shoot-out with Finland, as it means the hosts can progress with a win or a draw. Finland need to beat Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals. Norway are through as group winners after beating both of Switzerland and Finland.
Results so far
Iceland 0-1 Finland
Switzerland 1-2 Norway
Norway 2-1 Finland
Switzerland 2-0 Iceland
Remaining fixtures
Switzerland v Finland
Norway v Iceland
Group B
After Spain's 6-2 win over Belgium, the world champions were sent through and the Belgians were eliminated by the 1-1 draw between Italy and Portugal, whose dramatic equaliser kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.
Portugal must beat Belgium to have any hope of finishing above Italy, who can book their place in the knockouts by avoiding defeat against Spain. If Italy lose, Portugal can overtake them with a win, but only if there is also a six-goal swing in goal difference. A 3-0 win for Portugal and a 3-0 defeat for Italy would be enough, for example.
Results so far
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Spain 5-0 Portugal
Spain 6-2 Belgium
Italy 1-1 Portugal
Remaining fixtures
Spain v Italy
Belgium v Portugal
Group C
Sweden and Germany are both through and Denmark and Poland are out after two games. Sweden and Germany play each other on Saturday to determine who will go through as group winners, with Sweden requiring only a draw given their slight edge on goal difference. Germany have to win to top the group.
Denmark 0-1 Sweden
Germany 2-0 Poland
Germany 2-1 Denmark
Sweden 3-0 Poland
Remaining fixtures
Germany v Sweden
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