The quarterfinals of the 2025 Women’s Euro delivered thrilling matches filled with dramatic turnarounds, tense penalty shootouts, and remarkable performances. The final eight showcased an array of excitement.
In a gripping showdown, Spain, the reigning world champions, advanced past the UK and Germany, the finalists of the previous tournament, securing a spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Italy pulled off a surprise to complete the lineup for the next round, setting the stage for thrilling encounters ahead.
Now, the question looms: who will emerge victorious and reach the final? Here are the strengths and weaknesses of each team:
Semi-finals
Tuesday
Italy vs. England (9pm, Geneva)
Wednesday
Spain vs Germany (9pm, Zurich)
England – Overcoming Challenges
1:00
Marsden: England breathes a “sigh of massive relief” after penalties win
Sam Marsden provides insight on England’s shootout victory over Sweden, which secured their place in the Euro 2025 semi-finals.
England’s tactical approach was on full display as Sarina Wiegman’s team rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Sweden. The formation shifted from a back four to a back three, with Michel Aggieman and Alesia Arsso leading the attack, successfully exploiting weaknesses in the Swedish defense.
The defending champions have shown versatility in navigating various challenges throughout the tournament. Following an opening loss to France, England restructured their defense and moved Jess Carter from left to center.
Additions like Ella Toone have injected energy into the offense, leading to 10 goals over the next two matches. While some issues persisted, particularly targeting Carter’s side, the team began to create more scoring chances.
However, vulnerabilities have emerged, especially on their defensive half. England has made the most mistakes leading to shots in the tournament, highlighting a lack of composure under pressure. Their matches against France and Sweden exposed significant challenges in executing their build-up play amidst aggressive pressing.
England’s midfield struggles have further compounded problems, often blocked in their passing routes. This has led to a reliance on long balls, resulting in numerous blocked passes. No team has had more passes deflected than England, totaling 50.
Italy – Struggles in Ball Distribution
0:40
Italy embraces the “underdog” label against England
Italian defender Martina Renzini expresses confidence in her team despite being labeled as underdogs ahead of the Euro 2025 matchup against England.
Italy made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time since 1997.
Despite a rocky campaign, Italy has exhibited flashes of brilliance while also showcasing some inconsistencies. The Blue team has found the net in every game thus far, relying heavily on Girelli, their primary scorer.
The Italian strategy has leaned towards a direct approach, favoring long passes to maintain vertical play. Though only the UK has completed more long balls than Italy, they have achieved the highest long ball accuracy in the tournament at 60.1%. Girelli stands out, winning the most aerial duels in the tournament with 15.
However, the defensive frailties remain a concern. Italy often shifts between using a back four and a back five formation, pushing up to support the attack but leaving gaps in defense.
The team struggles with sharp passing, having registered more through balls than any other team (16). This has often led to missed chances, as opponents have maintained a high pass completion rate of 82% against them, the third highest in the tournament.
Italy often invites teams to press in their defensive third, which allows opponents to exploit their weaker areas. Opponents have made 10 tackles in Italy’s attacking third, achieving an impressive 75% success rate, the lowest among the semifinalists.
Spain – Dominance and Strategy
1:23
Keogh: Every team is beatable at Euro 2025
Emily Keogh discusses Spain’s 2-0 victory against Switzerland, solidifying their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2025.
Spain has maintained an impressive performance throughout the tournament, leading in overall goals scored (16) while conceding the fewest goals (3).
The world champions have dominated possession and territory, recording 37% of open-play touches in the final third, boasting the highest share of offensive touches. Their midfield, featuring multiple Ballon d’Or winners, provides stability on both ends of the pitch.
Under coach Montse Tome, Spain boasts multiple scoring threats, with four players contributing significantly, including leading scorer Esther Gonzalez with four goals.
Spain’s possession averages 73.5%, the highest in the tournament, making it challenging for opponents to carve out scoring opportunities. Their rivals have only managed 35 touches within Spain’s penalty area, the fewest allowed in the competition.
While Spain seems formidable, weaknesses do exist. One area of concern is the offensive half, where fullbacks tend to push forward, allowing rapid players to exploit channels behind the center-backs.
This strategy proved effective against Italy, where opportunities arose due to swift runs from Sofia Cantore, a tactic favored by manager Pia Sandé. Spain’s center-back pairings occasionally struggle with speed, making them vulnerable during transitions.
Set pieces have also been a point of vulnerability for Spain. Belgium successfully capitalized on this aspect, and Italy has caused them issues here as well. Despite their physical advantage, Spain has the lowest aerial success rate among remaining teams in the tournament at 45%, struggling to win aerial duels.
Germany – Struggling for Control
1:32
Laurens believes it’s “hard” for Germany to beat Spain
Julian Laurens discusses Germany’s chances against Spain in the Euro 2025 semi-finals.
Germany put in a commendable effort, defending valiantly with 10 players against a formidable French attack for over 100 minutes, making history as the first team to mount a comeback with fewer players in the women’s Euro.
The eight-time champions have struggled to meet pre-tournament expectations. With their exceptional wide players, Klara Bühl and Jule Brand, the team has created many opportunities. They lead the competition with 40 carries into the penalty area.
Bühl and Brand are among the top in progressive carries and successful take-ons. However, their midfield has been challenged, compounded by injuries and suspensions affecting key players.
These issues are exacerbated by the suspension of Sjoeke Nüsken due to yellow card accumulation. She has been a standout contributor, ranking highly in various offensive and defensive metrics.
Germany’s midfield has struggled to maintain control throughout the tournament, easily overrun by opponents. This vulnerability became evident against Sweden, who effectively overwhelmed Germany’s wide areas, exposing defensive weaknesses.
Creating numerical advantages in wide positions has emerged as a valid strategy for dismantling Germany’s back line, leading to challenges for their defense under pressure.
Fan Take: The intense rivalry and rising quality of women’s soccer showcased in the Euro 2025 quarterfinals highlight the sport’s growing popularity and competitive landscape. Fans will be eager to see whether underdogs can rise to the challenge or if the traditional powerhouses will dominate, influencing the future of the women’s game.
