Latest news with #TomGarry
New York Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The pattern across 13 years of men's and women's semi-finals that gives England hope
England will go into Sunday's Euro 2025 final against Spain as clear underdogs. It's less about the fact Spain defeated them in the World Cup final two years ago, and much more about the quality of both sides' play throughout this tournament. England have won only two of their five games in 90 minutes, and have spent the majority of their knockout games against Sweden and Italy trailing. Spain, on the other hand, have won all five of their matches, often with scintillating passing football. Advertisement The one positive, from England's perspective, is an extra day of rest after their semi-final. At the end of an intense tournament, with matches played in serious heat and only three days of rest between group games — and with both semi-finals going into extra time — freshness could be crucial. Indeed, the pattern from the past 13 men's or women's World Cup and European Championship finals is quite striking, something The Guardian's Tom Garry spoke about before the tournament. In 12 of those matches, the side who played the semi-final a day earlier won the final. In the other game, the semis were played on the same day. Men's European Championship 2012 Spain had one extra day between semi-final and final (three to two) and defeated Italy comprehensively 4-0 in the final, with Italy being down to 10 men for the final half-hour due to injury. Women's European Championship 2013 Germany had an extra day (again, three to two) over Norway, who had also been forced to play extra time and penalties in their semi-final. Germany won 1-0. Men's World Cup 2014 Germany not only had an extra day of rest compared to Argentina (four to three), they had also only played at full intensity for half an hour of their semi-final, finding themselves 5-0 up against Brazil before eventually winning 7-1. Argentina played 120 minutes before winning against the Netherlands on penalties. Germany won 1-0 in extra time in the final. Women's World Cup 2015 The United States Women's National Team had four days of rest compared to holders Japan's three, and were 4-0 up within 16 minutes in the final, eventually winning 5-2. Men's European Championship 2016 France had home advantage in Paris — but Portugal had three days off compared to two, and won in extra time. Euro 2017 The exception that proves the rule. The Netherlands defeated Denmark 4-2, having won the second semi-final… but the two semis were played on the same day. Given Denmark's semi-final went to penalties, while hosts the Netherlands won in 90 minutes, there was only a two-hour difference between when the games ended. Men's World Cup 2018 France had four days off compared to Croatia's three, and scored four goals compared to Croatia's two. Women's World Cup 2019 Two second-half goals handed the United States victory over the Netherlands. They had four days off compared to three for the Dutch. Men's European Championship 2020 (played in 2021) Having recognised the problem, UEFA moved the semi-finals ahead of this tournament, meaning the semi-finalists had gaps of four and three days, compared to the old system of three and two. But for the second men's Euros running, the hosts lost in the final, with Italy defeating England on penalties. Clearly, home advantage is not as important as an extra day of rest. Advertisement Women's European Championship 2022 A year later, England's women had home advantage and an extra day to prepare. Sure enough, they beat Germany 2-1 in extra time. Men's World Cup 2022 Argentina had four days off compared to France's three. Not only was the World Cup in Qatar played at the 'wrong' time of the year, it was also condensed into a shorter-than-usual timeframe, so maybe rest ahead of the final was particularly vital. It took penalties for Argentina to eventually prevail over France, although they had dominated the majority of the game against an incredibly sluggish France side who suddenly burst into life in the final 10 minutes. Women's World Cup 2023 The same final as we will see on Sunday. Spain beat England 1-0 having had an extra day of rest — four to three — although it is worth pointing out Spain had been forced to make the four-hour plane journey over from New Zealand after their semi, whereas England played both semi and final in Sydney. Men's European Championship 2024 Spain versus England is becoming quite familiar in finals. Spain won this one, too — 1-0 — having had four days off compared to England's three. The pattern is very clear. Go back further, to the 2011 Women's World Cup final, and Japan defeated the United States on penalties having played the second semi-final — although, like in Euro 2017, those semis were played on the same day. Therefore, you have to go back to the men's World Cup in 2010, 15 finals ago, to find a side triumphing in the final having played their semi-final the day after their opponents. The pattern is not as strong when you go back further — perhaps because the level of physical intensity wasn't as demanding, and recovery days were less important. There are more tournaments when the semi-finals are played on the same day — at Euro 96, for example. Advertisement Playing both semis on the same day would largely solve this problem, of course. But that seems unlikely for practical reasons; the games would have to be staggered so it is possible for television viewers to watch both, and given the chance of extra time and penalties, this would result in some unusual kick-off times that broadcasters would be unhappy about. A less dramatic solution would be bringing the tournaments forward (again) and creating another day between semi-finals and final. There would still be one side with an extra day's rest, of course, but if the sides had five and four days between matches, rather than four and three, the effect would be less pronounced. For this weekend's final, England will need all the help they can get in defeating Spain. Tactically and technically, the world champions have looked light years ahead of the reigning European champions throughout this tournament. England's trump card is their ability to enforce late spells of pressure, having introduced substitutes, and that might be particularly effective against tired players whose recovery period has been much shorter.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Transfers, Euro 2025 and Sheffield Wednesday in crisis: Football Weekly Extra
Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email. On the podcast today: the panel run the rule over the most interesting stories from the transfer rumour mill. Eze to Arsenal, Kudus to Spurs, Romero to Atlético and, most surprisingly, Barry to Everton. Elsewhere, we try to make sense of the situations at Sheffield Wednesday and Morecambe, neither of which feel particularly good. Plus Tom Garry joins us to review the first games from Euro 2025 and your questions answered. Support the Guardian here. You can also find Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Women's Euro 2025: Guardian writers' predictions for the tournament
It feels as if Spain and a revitalised Germany have the wind in their sails to meet in Basel, even if Aitana Bonmatí's illness is a real worry for the world champions. Spain will win out on the night. England know the ropes and cannot be ruled out but their path to glory looks complicated. Nick Ames I am going England-Spain, a rerun of the 2023 World Cup final. It would mean England finish second in Group D to go in the other half of the draw. Between those two, head says Spain; heart, of course, says England. Sophie Downey Spain against Germany is the most logical final. Although England could disrupt that if they click, my instinct says Spain-Germany. Spain should get the job done and win their first Euros. They have never reached the final but have the strongest squad, in terms of technical skill, a relatively kind group draw and more days to rest and recover than their rivals in Groups C and D, so this should be Spain's year. Tom Garry I'll go for Spain to win it, and it'll be Germany, England or the Netherlands. Those are the four best teams in the tournament. Emma Hayes Spain to beat Sweden in a disappointingly mid-paced final that feels like something of an anticlimax after their all-time classic against Germany in the semis. Jonathan Liew France and Italy with the former winning. France are serial underachievers but they have been in hot form under Laurent Bonadei and, combining technical excellence with pace-suffused fluidity, are more dynamic than many rivals. They possess the weapons to win a first major tournament. Italy – much improved under Andrea Soncin's management – look classic dark horses. Louise Taylor Don't make me do this. I have a terrible feeling England will finish second in the group and face Germany in the quarter-finals. That will be a tricky test but I'd back them to get past it and go all the way to the final, where they would meet Spain and lose to the world champions. Suzanne Wrack Lea Schüller remains a formidable spearhead for Germany and, in a side who have carved recent opponents wide open, should add healthily to her tally in Switzerland. Alessia Russo could challenge her but may find England's assignments too nip-and-tuck. NA Clàudia Pina – one of the most natural strikers in the competition. This is the 23-year-old's time to shine on the back of a brilliant season for Barcelona, where she finished as the top goalscorer in the Champions League. SD Pina could blow defences away. Even if she isn't chosen to start every game, she could be even more lethal coming off the bench against tiring defences. A tally of five or six goals may be enough for the Golden Boot and I would back Pina to notch at least four during the group stage on the form she displayed towards the end of the club season. TG I'm going to say Alessia Russo. I think Alessia is in a great place and I think since Renée Slegers has taken Arsenal on, she and Kelly Smith deserve huge credit for the development of Alessia. EH Sandy Baltimore: bit left-field (pun intended), but hear me out. Played as a wing-back for much of her career but now adding goals to her game: five for France and a brace in the FA Cup final. France's stacked frontline will allow her plenty of space to operate and she could easily go on a run. JL Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The Lyon striker – she joins from PSG on Tuesday – has 38 goals in 55 appearances for France and combines precision finishing with often unplayable physicality. After rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in the group stage of Euro 2022, then missing the 2023 World Cup, this could finally be the 26-year-old's moment in the sun. LT If you're predicting Spain to win then it's hard not to predict Pina to pick up the Golden Boot. She's been in formidable form and, although goals can come from a variety of Spain players, I think Pina will do very well. Were the Netherlands not drawn in such a tricky group I'd have fancied Vivianne Miedema. SW Iceland look strong, reliable and more than well placed to compete seriously in a winnable Group A. They have a habit of staying in games and, if they were to avoid Spain in the last eight, could travel far. It is also worth watching out for a hugely improved Italy. NA Italy are my dark horses. Andrea Soncin has overseen something of a rebuild and refresh since he took over in 2023. They have been in steady form since, taking the scalps of Spain and Germany among others. Roma's playmaker Manuela Giugliano is one to watch. SD At least one of the seven teams in Group A and B who are not Spain will reach the semi-finals. That's guaranteed, so while that won't be a 'surprise', whoever makes it from that relatively low-ranking set will be an unlikely name for a semi-finalist. There is little between the seven but I am leaning towards Italy, who have recorded some excellent results since the World Cup. TG You have to talk about the French, while Italy are a good side and Belgium have the qualities to be disruptive. EH Italy have claimed some big scalps in the past 12 months and if they escape a tough group the draw could easily open out for them. JL Wales. The NWSL title in the United States is notoriously hard to win but the Wales coach, Rhian Wilkinson, pulled that feat off at Portland Thorns in 2022. Wilkinson has turned a highly motivated Wales into extremely awkward opponents and, with Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle in a high-calibre midfield, they look capable of reaching the quarter-finals of their first major tournament. LT Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Is this Norway's time to not be disappointing? The draw has certainly helped them and if they top the group that should give them momentum going into the knockouts. I don't expect them to go far, but with Ada Hegerberg, Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen, Frida Maanum, etc the quality is there. SW Nobody with any handle on the England setup is blind to the prodigious talent of Aggie Beever-Jones. Now Europe should discover the Chelsea striker's gifts first-hand. She has made a flying start at international level and should prove an explosive option from the bench. NA Beever-Jones will bring the impact from the bench. The 21-year-old is playing in her first major tournament and has just enjoyed the season of her young career. If the Lionesses need a goal, they know they have someone in the ranks with an instinctive eye for one. SD For the viewer who may not be a women's football diehard, this should be the tournament when Cláudia Pina breaks into the mainstream and receives wider recognition. Meanwhile, England's Michelle Agyemang can go into this tournament with no fear and if she gets a chance off the bench she can show she is a future superstar. TG Pina is someone who has got huge, huge potential. For England, we could talk about Grace Clinton for example, but I'm always going to say Beever-Jones, because if England need a different type of goalscorer in another moment in a game, I think she's capable of delivering on that front. For Germany, watch out for Jule Brand; she is so exciting to watch. EH Vicky López. Still only 18 but long regarded as one of Europe's most promising talents, López went to last summer's Olympics for Spain but didn't play. Has featured more often for Barcelona this season and this could be the tournament that puts her name in lights. JL Manuela Giugliano. The Roma playmaker says she models her game on that of Andrea Pirlo but, at 27, is still to see her lofty domestic standing transposed on to the international stage. That could be about to change for a dead-ball wizard blessed with superior vision, a stellar passing range and a knack of making impeccable defensive interceptions. LT Lauren James has had an injury-hit season for Chelsea but when fit she has looked sublime. The forward seems to have matured her all-round game, her defensive work rate as impressive as her attacking, and this could be the tournament where she really stamps her name on the international stage. In training she has looked phenomenal and her assist against Jamaica on Sunday, after coming on for her first minutes in three months, showed her importance to England from a creativity point of view. SW Further evidence that standards at the game's elite level continue to reach new heights – in a country that should be perfectly set up to host a smooth, joyful summer tournament. NA I think the next month will be the best illustration of how far European football has continued to develop over the past three years. Any of five or six teams could win it and no side are infallible. In terms of the tournament, I am looking forward to seeing everything that Switzerland has to offer. This is a huge moment in their women's football journey and I am sure they will seize it. SD The three group matches between England, France and the Netherlands – all three of whom are capable of going all the way – should make for blockbuster viewing. The pressure riding on those early fixtures will be immense; they are akin to semi-finals, in terms of standard, but they are going to be entertaining us inside the first 11 days. I'm also looking forward to the mountainous scenery from the window seat of a Swiss train. It is a beautiful country. TG Nowadays players have got more access to the support they need to be the best versions of themselves, so the quality is going to be so much higher. There may be a bit of a shifting of the order, too; this may be a tournament where we talk about a Belgium or an Italy and not a Sweden and a Norway. That's not to say that will happen, but there could be a shift. EH The Dutch fans. Obviously. JL You mean apart from the Swiss chocolate museum in Lucerne? Watching Wales and their 38-year-old, but still world-class, midfielder Jess Fishlock at their first major tournament. The final Group B game between Italy and Spain in Berne looks intriguing, too. Off the pitch, seeing Lake Lucerne, the Alps and the Abbey Library in St Gallen, said to be one of the world's oldest and most beautiful. LT A cheese fondue. Does that need elaboration? It's all I've been thinking about for months. On the pitch, Spain are obviously the favourites but the fact any one of several teams (Spain, England, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands …) could win this tournament makes it hugely exciting. Set against the backdrop of stunning Switzerland, it will be memorable. SW
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's Euros on track to beat 2022 attendance record 🏟️🇨🇭
Ticket sales for this summer's Women's Euros is set to surpass the attendance record set in England in 2022. UEFA have announced that 550,000 of 673,000 available tickets have been sold for this summer's tournament in Switzerland Uefa says 550,000 tickets have been sold for the upcoming Women's Euros so far, with 673,000 available in total across the tournament. #WEuro25 — Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) May 12, 2025 An impressive tally just underlines how the women's game continues to go from strength to strength. The overall attendance at Euro 2022 was 574,875, with an attendance of 87,192 for the final at Wembley setting a new record for any individual Euros match, men and women. That tournament was held in football-obsessed England, a country with a population almost 60 million people. To see the overall attendance record set to be broken in Switzerland, population 8.9 million (as of 2023) is an incredible step for the women's game. By way of comparison, in the men's game, the Premier League has attracted an average of 40,471 supports per game for the 2024/25 season, compared to an average attendance of 12,236 in the men's Swiss Super League. To see the 2022 record closed in on in a smaller country with a smaller footballing fanbase just shows how the women's game is going from strength to strength. 📸 LINDSEY PARNABY - AFP or licensors
The Guardian
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Liverpool's 20th league title awaits, WCL and FA Cup semis, and more
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Good morning and welcome to the second of our matchday live blogs, teeing up all the day's action and bringing you insight from our various reporters across the grounds, as well as reaction from yesterday's action. Today all roads lead to Anfield and a likely 20th league title for Liverpool – if they can get at least a point against Tottenham Hotspur. At the same time (4.30pm BST) Manchester City and Nottingham Forest lock horns in the FA Cup semi-final to see who will meet Crystal Palace at Wembley next month. What a win it was for the Eagles over Aston Villa yesterday by the way … There's also Bournemouth v Manchester United in the league at 2pm, plus the Women's Champions League semi-final second legs (Chelsea 1-4 Barcelona and Lyon 2-1 Arsenal is how they stand on aggregate) plus a smattering of other games. We'll be having a Q&A with our women's football correspondent Tom Garry later on. Get your questions and emails in wherever you're soaking in today's football. On Friday we had Liverpool fans touching base from Bolivia. It's certainly a seismic day Reds all across the globe. Share
