Soccer-Euro 2025 group games draw record crowds
OBERENTFELDEN, Switzerland (Reuters) -The group stage of the Women's European Championship which finished on Sunday had record-breaking attendances with close to half a million fans attending games, and 22 of the 24 of them sold out.
As well as 461,582 fans attending matches, there were several individual game records as well, according to European soccer's governing body UEFA.
The Germany v Denmark match in Basel drew 34,165 fans, which was the highest attendance at a group game not involving the host nation and the most spectators to attend a women's football match in Switzerland.
The more than 17,000 fans from Germany at that game was the most away fans to attend a women's Euro match ever while the crowd of 34,063 at Switzerland's game against Norway was a record crowd at a Swiss women's national team match.
"If it was not clear before, it is undeniable now – women's football is unstoppable and here to stay," Nadine Kessler, UEFA's head of women's football, said in a statement.
"This is more than a tournament; its' a movement, and the response from across Europe and beyond proves that women's football is not only here to stay – it is setting the new standard."
Even before the tournament kicked off, Euro 2025 had sold more than 600,000 tickets to surpass the 574,875 sold in 2022 in England.
Some 60,000 fans took part in fan walks to the stadiums, including 14,000 Swiss and Icelandic supporters who walked three kilometres to that game at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern.
The tournament has also been a success on digital platforms, with 8.4 million engagements across its social media platforms, a 55% increase over the same period in 2022.
Spain and England scored 14 goals apiece in the group stage, matching the mark set by the English in 2022. Wales' Jess Fishlock became the oldest women's Euro goalscorer
at the age of 38 years and 176 days.
The quarter-finals begin in Geneva on Wednesday when Norway play Italy.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-England teammates sing praises of young saviour Agyemang
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Semi Final - England v Italy - Stade de Geneve, Lancy, Switzerland - July 22, 2025 England's Michelle Agyemang scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw GENEVA (Reuters) -England's newest hero Michelle Agyemang had her teammates singing her praises after her last-gasp equaliser saved the defending champions from certain elimination, saying the sky is the limit for the 19-year-old. Three months after she made her senior team debut, and four years removed from being a ball girl for her now teammates, Agyemang struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Italy on Tuesday en route to a 2-1 victory in extra time, the second consecutive game she has saved England at the brink. The Lionesses meet either Spain or Germany in the final on Sunday. "She's an unbelievable player and she's got the world at her feet, a young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her," said Chloe Kelly, who smashed home the rebound of her own penalty kick in extra time to secure the victory. Agyemang is a skilled bulldozer of a striker with a nose for the net and no fear of battling for possession. "You see it when she comes on," England defender Lucy Bronze said. "Defenders are petrified of her." "She feels inevitable right now," added captain Leah Williamson. A ball girl at Wembley for an England World Cup qualifier in 2021, Agyemang made her England senior debut three months ago against Belgium, scoring 41 seconds after she ran onto the pitch, the first of three goals in four caps. She said being mobbed by her teammates on Tuesday "will live in my heart forever". "It means the world to me. I'm so grateful," she added. "Four years ago I was a kid just throwing a ball to some of these girls and now I'm playing with them. It's a great opportunity and I'm so happy I am here." England coach Sarina Wiegman was certainly happy with her youngest Lioness on Tuesday. Agyemang, who also scored a late equaliser in their quarter-final win over Sweden, almost secured the victory in extra time at Stade de Geneve when her cute lob from a tight angle came back off the crossbar. "She has something special. She's only 19 years old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do," Wiegman said. "When we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well. Even when you saw her hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future." Agyemang's impact in England's two knockout games now has fans wondering whether the teenager will see more of the pitch in the final. Sunday's match in Basel marks the third consecutive final appearance in a major tournament for England, while Wiegman is the first coach in men's or women's football to reach five consecutive finals. (Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Christian Radnedge)
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Italy benefit from domestic developments despite England loss
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Semi Final - England v Italy - Stade de Geneve, Lancy, Switzerland - July 22, 2025 Italy's Cecilia Salvai and Arianna Caruso look dejected after the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo GENEVA (Reuters) -Italy were within touching distance of a first Women's Euro final since 1997 until a stunning England comeback derailed their dream, but the Italians can look forward to a bright future as they reap the benefits of a more professional approach. The country's top flight for women went fully professional for the 2022-23 season and the effects of that change could be seen on the field as they led reigning European champions England 1-0 until the 96th minute before losing 2-1 in extra time. The Italian players never wilted under the English onslaught and though they lack a bench as deep in talent as the one available to Sarina Wiegman, their replacements performed admirably despite the defeat. "Before the tournament people said we could not get past the group stage, but in the end we were one minute from the final. The players deserved a better ending but sometimes you don't get what you deserve. There is pride amid this bitter defeat -- this hurts but you have to be proud," Italy coach Andrea Soncin told reporters. The 46-year-old has worn his heart on his sleeve throughout the tournament and he paid tribute to how the women's game has developed over the last few years in Italy. "When I started with this group, the main goal was to constantly monitor the players so we could increase the internal competitiveness, and this has given us a lot of benefits," he explained. "We study what the clubs are doing and they are investing a lot, so we have a lot of confidence for the future." That work is already paying off at under-age level, providing a pipeline of promising players to the senior team as they seek to build on their success in Switzerland, which is building a fan base across the gender divide. "In Italy, clubs are developing very well. Our youth football is growing, which requires time. This year the U17s and the U19s got to the (Euro) semi-finals and this is a symptom of what is coming. The fruits will come in the long term," Soncin said. "For sure, many girls but also boys have become passionate about women's football. In future years, these boys will respect women who want to play football." (Reporting by Philip O'ConnorEditing by Christian Radnedge)
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Xhaka too important for Leverkusen to let go, Ten Hag says
LONDON: Granit Xhaka is a key figure for Bayer Leverkusen and the Bundesliga side cannot afford to let the Swiss midfielder leave, manager Erik ten Hag said amid reports linking him to a move to Sunderland. Leverkusen have already lost playmaker Florian Wirtz and defender Jeremie Frimpong to Premier League champions Liverpool, while centre back Jonathan Tah has moved to Bayern Munich. Former Arsenal man Xhaka has been linked with a move to Sunderland, with his agent telling German media the 32-year-old Switzerland skipper has an agreement in principle with the newly-promoted Premier League club. "The agent can say anything. But this club has already lost three important players," Ten Hag told German media on Tuesday. "We won't let any more players go, that's not possible. That would neglect the structure and also the culture of the squad. "It's clear — Granit is a leader, he has signed here for five years and has three years left on his contract. He's too important for us to let him go." Xhaka helped Leverkusen secure the double in the 2023-24 season as they lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game, won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final. He has made 99 appearances for Leverkusen, scoring six goals and registering nine assists. Former Manchester United manager Ten Hag replaced Xabi Alonso in May after the Spaniard left to manage his former club Real Madrid.--REUTERS
