UEFA Women's EURO 2025 - Switzerland

[SportLightning]

Well, Switzerland has won the right to host the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 which will be the 14th edition. This will be the first time that Switzerland has hosted the UEFA Women's Euro. It will also be the second time that Switzerland has hosted a major UEFA tournament after the UEFA Euro 2008 which Switzerland co-hosted along with Austria. Switzerland beat out the joint Nordic bid of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden by five vote in the second round (14-9). France was eliminated in the first round with one vote after multiple problems recently. If France did won the bid, it would've been controversial since the French bid was considered the weakest. The first round, Switzerland, Poland and the joint Nordic bid had 4 votes each and France had one vote. Poland was eliminated in the tie-break with three votes the joint Nordic bid had three votes and Switzerland had six votes.

Here are the host cities in which the tournament will take place.

• Basel – St. Jakob-Park, capacity 38,512
• Bern – Stadion Wankdorf, capacity 31,783
• Geneva – Stade de Genève, capacity 30,084
• Zürich – Letzigrund, capacity 26,104
• St. Gallen – kybunpark, capacity 19,694
• Lucerne – Swissporarena, capacity 16,800
• Sion – Stade Tourbillon, capacity 16,263
• Thun – Stockhorn Arena, capacity 10,398

[SportLightning]

Qualifiers will begin on February 1st November 30th to next year for the remaining 15 spots. Switzerland already qualified automatically as host.

[Durban Sandshark]

Getting it up to the top of this thread as this event is already in progress over Switzerland right now. And to let everyone know what's going on. 

Already we know the first two groups will have their top two teams advancing to the elimination round with just another group round to spare. Norway and hosts Switzerland top Group A--incidentally, both were in such a Group A together two years ago in NZ with 2023 WWC co-hosts New Zealand and The Philippines, and those two advanced out of a weak group. Sweden and Germany both likely make it out of Group C that just wrapped up today's games with the latter coming back from behind versus Denmark.

Disappointing campaigns indeed for Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Belgium and outclassed debutants Poland with Ewa Pajor finally getting a taste of some major international competition after many years trying. Spain, the reigning WWC champs, thrashed Belgium's Red Flames 6-2 and then Portugal tying Italy 1-1 to keep themselves in contention for advancement from Group B. For the first four, there was a chance of possibly advancing but those groups are tough.

But they're certainly not as tough and loaded as Group d: defending champs England's Lionesses, France's Les Blues, The Netherlands' Orange Lionesses (2017 champs), and newcomers Wales starring Jess Fishlock, also finally getting a chance to play in a major international women's soccer competition. We'll get into England later on but it looks as though they're in trouble following a disappointing 2-1 loss to France in the first round--and already dealt with some serious roster turmoil leading up to this. It would be a serious embarassment if those two Home Nations get a double elimination on the same day after losing their opening games.

Speaking of Wales, their Red Dragons team bus was involved today in a minor crash en route to a since-cancelled team practice but nobody was injured out of that. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson, a Canadian and was playing on Team Canada for its hosting WWC campaign exactly a decade ago, was on a separate vehicle travelling with captain Angharad James to a FAW press conference and wasn't involved in it:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/welsh-womens-soccer-team-involved-in-minor-bus-crash-on-way-to-euros-practice/

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c939nvzykk1o

I think it's time that maybe the EURO Women's tournament should be expanded to 24 teams starting with 2029. A tournament like this in Europe these days is becoming largely and rapidly a Western European affair.

The very nice ITV UEFA Women's Euro 2025 animated puppet-like intro inspired by and using the Swiss glockenspiel cuckoo clock, the cable cars, Swiss train, and the Matterhorn preceded by the brief Women's Euro 2025 Amazon ad with a guy knitting a Wales red dragon hat that a couple of his female pro-Azzurri fans admire as they gather to watch some of that UEFA Women's Euro 2025. 

 

[Rob2012]

One of the most insipid England performances last week against France, followed by one of the best I've seen last night Vs the Netherlands

 

[Rob2012]

Mad first half of shooting yourself in the foot from Germany last night. Sweden looking quietly very good, but I think that scoreline was flattering.

England v Wales later. Hopefully no upset, get the job done girls!

[Rob2012]

Too easy for England, and France going up the gears vs Netherlands as well (who have been fairly disappointing).

Think we're probably in the nicer half of the draw finishing 2nd in the group - for a few reasons that France defeat opening game might be a blessing in disguise.

[yoshi]

It feels like Spain, France, England and Sweden form a pretty clear top 4, maybe with Switzerland as possible spoilers. Feel sorry for the Netherlands too, any other group and they'd be through. That said it's still probably worth avoiding Germany, we all know what happens in those matches 

[Durban Sandshark]

On 7/13/2025 at 5:33 PM, yoshi said:

It feels like Spain, France, England and Sweden form a pretty clear top 4, maybe with Switzerland as possible spoilers. Feel sorry for the Netherlands too, any other group and they'd be through. That said it's still probably worth avoiding Germany, we all know what happens in those matches 

Based on that top 4 you just described, I got this sneaky feeling that France will disappoint again here with all that talent. England's got more talent than Sweden's Blagult but with the significant roster changes leading up to this, it could be tough. I predict the England-Sweden match will go down to penalty kicks with England just squeaking out. Would be monumental if Switzerland shocks Spain; this could actually happen right at their home as Spain continues learning how to be the hunted following the WWC. Germany's gonna Germany. Yet the France-Germany one may be a good one given the support both have with each of their national federations too. Norway-Italy is the weakest but don't underestimate either team. Nevertheless neither won't get far.

The Netherlands was disappointing but I'll cut some slack due to being in such a tough group the Oranje Leeuwenin were in and a 16-team field that doesn't allow third-place teams to advance out of their groups; just the top two. So have Denmark and Belgium's Red Flames in terms of disappointment.

[Rob2012]

Well England did that the hard way. Terrible opening half hour, superb comeback, gutsy extra time, then THE worst penalty shootout I've ever seen. 

But who cares, semi-finals here we come!

[Durban Sandshark]

You can certainly say that they did much better results-wise in the end than what their even worse American counterparts did against Sweden two years ago at this time--STILL VERY ANGRY AT THE WHOLE DAMN PROGRAM ABOUT THE WHOLE DAMN THING THERE AND SINCE DISOWNED AND NEVER EVER FORGAVE THEM!!!!  🤬

Now how about Italy too?

[yoshi]

Genuinely the worst shootout in history  What was the Swedish manager thinking putting the keeper up to take the most important penalty?! Still, I guess we're through, but still nowhere near 22/3 level. Italy will smell a chance...

[Durban Sandshark]

1 hour ago, yoshi said:

Genuinely the worst shootout in history  What was the Swedish manager thinking putting the keeper up to take the most important penalty?! Still, I guess we're through, but still nowhere near 22/3 level. Italy will smell a chance...

It happens (see Jose Luis Chilavert and Mackenzie Arnold). I don't question keepers taking chances on them. Just saw the highlights. Man, easily one of the worst PKs I've seen without question--on both sides! Get ready for the debate on whether 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg should've taken the decisive penalty back home in Sweden. Guess that's karma for 2023 but doesn't excuse the other side back then in no way.

[Durban Sandshark]

PS: Peter Gerhardsson now ends his time as Sweden coach.

[Rob2012]

'Football is a simple game. Twenty-one women chase a ball for 120 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.'

[sebastien1214]

Amel Majri's run is the perfect illustration of the regression that French women's football has been undergoing for at least 5 years (while all other European nations are progressing). It reminds me of the women's tournament at the Olympics last year, where I said on this forum that I expected nothing from our women's team and that they would surely be knocked out by Brazil (which happened).

[yoshi]

You know that feeling you get early on in a tournament when you just feel like Germany winning it is inevitable? Been a fair time since that's been felt in a men's tournament. But it's happening here. Honestly at this point if we get through Italy first, I'd rather play Spain...

[Rob2012]

Another final for England. Routine.

On 7/19/2025 at 11:33 PM, yoshi said:

You know that feeling you get early on in a tournament when you just feel like Germany winning it is inevitable? Been a fair time since that's been felt in a men's tournament. But it's happening here. Honestly at this point if we get through Italy first, I'd rather play Spain...

You know, I think there are two teams giving this feeling now. Germany being Germany. England...also being Germany.

Spain ought to beat both from what we've seen of these three teams. But if I'm Spain I'm not liking the look of the next two games based on how the tournament has gone so far.

Edited July 22, 2025 by Rob2012

[yoshi]

I'll be honest... probably didn't deserve that. But no team wins tournaments without a bit of luck. I'd genuinely prefer to play Spain than Germany - if Sarina puts the strikers on before the 80th minute for once, I think Spain will leave enough gaps to score. 

[Rob2012]

 

11 hours ago, yoshi said:

I'll be honest... probably didn't deserve that. But no team wins tournaments without a bit of luck.

I don't think we were lucky. Italy got the lead then decided to defend and time-waste and we were largely dominant for a good portion of the second half. What I would say is we were uncreative. Put it out wide, get in a cross, watch the Italians clear it, rinse and repeat. Italy impressive defensively, but we didn't make it too difficult for them mostly.

After the equaliser the momentum was obviously with England. I wouldn't call it luck that we won, but we're grinding out results at the moment. That might hit the buffers if we have to play Spain, though I definitely take your point they might leave gaps that Italy didn't. But I just think they Spain look a level above everyone and that might not matter.

Edited July 23, 2025 by Rob2012

[Rob2012]

 

[Rob2012]

[Durban Sandshark]

On 7/23/2025 at 4:50 AM, Rob2012 said:

After the equaliser the momentum was obviously with England. I wouldn't call it luck that we won, but we're grinding out results at the moment. That might hit the buffers if we have to play Spain, though I definitely take your point they might leave gaps that Italy didn't. But I just think they Spain look a level above everyone and that might not matter.

Kinda agree. One major difference with the Sydney WWC final match--and this was something I wanted to touch on back then but didn't--was that England now has Beth Mead and Leah Williamson back in the fold from their injuries that prevented them from competing against Spain and the WWC as a whole two years ago. Could this be the difference maker now for England. Their qualities like leadership were certainly missed in razor-thin margin games like that, and proved that Spain had a little quality I thought then in that game. Then again, Spain could still defeat them here again given their rich team depth and playing above everyone with their equally world-class talent despite their vulnerability to leave gaps. Who knows, maybe Sarina Weigman and her England squad might happily pull another rabbit out of their hat in their grinding during this game.

[yoshi]

Still not starting our main strikers...I guess 5 major finals in a row gives Sarina the right to do stuff like this 

[yoshi]

Hmm. Oh. Still not conceding unless we're 5 down with 2 minutes to go 

[Rob2012]

Thankfully Spain couldn't keep up that intensity of press. Second half has been much more of a contest.