2025 Women's Euros odds: Spain favoured ahead of defending champs England
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The Spaniards are the favourites (7/4 on Betfair) to triumph in Switzerland and win a tournament secured by their male counterparts last summer. In a sense, this is the final frontier for Montse Tome's side given Spain have traditionally underperformed in this particular tournament. They haven't made it past the quarter-finals of any of the last three Euros but surely the expectations this time are different.
Spain waltzed through qualification with no team in League A picking up more points or scoring more goals. Thirty-five-year-old Jenni Hermoso has been left out of the squad despite being the nation's record goalscorer. They have talent all over the pitch, though, and a plethora of treble winners with Barcelona suggest this could be the moment this team joins the ranks of the immortals.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, England are second favourites (47/10) to go all the way. They won this tournament when they hosted it three years ago and narrowly lost the World Cup final when they faced Spain the following year. They'll try to do better than England's men and actually win a tournament on foreign soil.
England's coach, Sarina Wiegman, is the undisputed master of the Euros. She has won the tournament in charge of the Netherlands and England, winning an astonishing 12 out of 12 matches along the way. There are no sure things in sport but Wiegman in the European Championship is about as close to one as you can get. Once again, however, Spain stand in the way.
Most outside observers believe that one of England or Spain will triumph over the coming weeks.
Germany's women feel somewhat like Brazil's men in that they have a long and storied history that hasn't quite been emulated in more recent times. They are, in fact, the most successful nation in the history of this competition, having won it a staggering eight times. Like their male counterparts in 1966, they lost the last final after extra time at Wembley against the hosts. Germany have appeared in 9 out of the 13 Euros finals but find themselves, uncharacteristically, not necessarily expected to go the distance on this occasion.
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The big blow for Germany (5/1) is the absence of Alexandra Popp. The attacking great retired in October of last year with a record of 67 goals in 145 international appearances, thus making her the third top scorer in the nation's history. Popp notched six goals in five appearances at the last Euros before an injury forced her to miss that Wembley final. Only time will tell how the country will fare without her goals at a major tournament.
France (6/1) are deemed the fourth most likely team to succeed according to the bookmakers, although a lot has changed with the ousting of Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer, two of the country's longest-serving players.
French supporters hope this changing of the guard will help the team buck the trend of history, which has seen them play in more major tournaments (12) without reaching a final than any other nation. Will number 13 prove lucky for them? The French open against the defending champs on Saturday.
Sweden (14/1) are dark horses. They won the inaugural Euros in 1984, their only major competition win to date. Like England, the Swedes have reached the semi-finals of the last four major tournaments, an enviable record, to say the least.
Kosovare Asllani figures to be crucial for Sweden, not least in terms of experience. She has made 18 appearances at the Euros, more than any other current player, and all of those have been as a starter.
The Netherlands (22/1) do not have particularly short odds to win the 16-team tournament despite winning it in 2017. The Dutch are on a decent run of form that has seen them win 19 of their last 26 matches at major tournaments, a record only bettered by holders England.
The most significant weapon in the arsenal of the Netherlands, Vivianne Miedema, has more goals in the WSL than any other player in history. With an astonishing 99 goals for her country, Miedema is closing in on becoming the first Dutch player, man or woman, to reach a century of international goals. It's hard to bet against her reaching that milestone in Switzerland, especially if the nation continues its record of going deep in tournaments. In a group containing England and France, though, an extended run is far from a given.
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Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Alexia Putellas: Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images)
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New York Times
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Yahoo
an hour ago
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With Jenni Hermoso left out, who will be Spain's star striker at Euro 2025?
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Why do Newcastle keep missing out on transfer targets?
The repeat narrative is becoming tiresome and concerning for supporters. 'Newcastle United have missed out on [INSERT NAME OF ANY OF THEIR TARGETS]' has been the theme of the summer. Dean Huijsen, Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo and now, perhaps most worrying of all, Joao Pedro. So why have the club been unable to conclude a deal? Is it to do with PSR (the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules) constraints? Are they spending too long pursuing players who do not want to move to them? Do they have a coherent strategy? The departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell after less than a year at the club has not helped ease the angst. The Athletic looks at the four examples and analyses why Newcastle's window has unfolded in frustrating fashion — and what to expect next. Of the players Newcastle have 'failed' to sign, Huijsen moving to Real Madrid from Bournemouth rightly generated the least hysteria. 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With Pedro, he is 23, Premier League-hardened, was available (Brighton & Hove Albion may argue otherwise but eventually sold him), can play across the frontline, and would have been able to compete with as well as complement Isak. Advertisement Finding a forward of similar age, adaptability and experience at an affordable price is going to be difficult. Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, who Newcastle tried to sign in January 2022 and is viewed internally as of a comparable profile, will reportedly command a fee reaching €100m (£86.4m) and he has never played in England. Some fans have equated the Joao Pedro situation to last summer's Guehi saga, suggesting Newcastle pursued a player they were never going to sign and should have switched focus sooner. However, unlike Guehi, this was not about price — Newcastle did have a bid rejected, yet there was a feeling a compromise could be reached — but, as with Mbeumo, Joao Pedro communicated that he favoured a move to Chelsea. Those inside Newcastle contend this was not clear all along and that, initially, Joao Pedro's camp had suggested he was receptive to a transfer to Tyneside. Then, around a fortnight ago, his preference for London emerged, while there have been suggestions, according to sources who were speaking anonymously to protect relationships, he was stung by the manner in which Newcastle pulled out of negotiations to acquire him from Watford in 2022. That is when they pivoted towards signing Isak. Regardless, Newcastle pulled out of negotiations shortly before Chelsea reached an agreement and they have been forced to re-evaluate once more. While there is an insistence they have alternatives to Joao Pedro, the list is said to be small. Although the frustration of supporters is shared internally, there is no sense of panic — which is unlikely to pacify fans understandably impatient for additions following three successive windows without a first-XI signing. Howe is restless for additions, too, and would prefer to be welcoming new players for pre-season training when it begins on Monday. The expectation inside Newcastle is that the market will heat up once players return to their clubs for pre-season — and the hope is that an initial signing with generate momentum for others to follow. Advertisement A goalkeeper, centre-back, right-winger and versatile forward are still wanted. James Trafford is the top goalkeeper target and, while talks continue with Burnley, Newcastle are yet to reach a fee, even if those around the deal have always presented a confidence it will get done. At right wing, Newcastle never strongly pursued Antoine Semenyo due to his valuation, even before the Ghana forward signed a contract extension at Bournemouth. Their interest in Elanga remains, however, following an initial £45m bid being rejected. Guehi is still on their wanted list, too, although there are alternative centre-back options. Where Newcastle turn next, if anywhere at all, in their hunt for a forward is unclear. A first senior signing would help everyone, inside and outside of the club, settle down. There is internal confidence it will come — even if Newcastle are operating without a sporting director following Mitchell's exit on Monday — but, until it does, supporter apprehension will only grow.
