By OkayGoal 
The European Championship is arguably the second-largest international competition in the world, second only to the World Cup. Europe has consistently been the strongest federation overall in football, and the biggest stars will be out to bring glory to their country. Only 16 teams qualify, with half of the field advancing to the quarterfinals on the way to a champion being crowned. Let’s take a deep dive into the group stages and preview the women’s Euro 2025.
GROUP A
- Top scorer: Viola Calligaris 3
- Key Players: Lia Walti, Alisha Lehmann, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Group stage (2017, 2022), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Topped their group at the 2023 World Cup ahead of Norway and co-hosts New Zealand (whom they eliminated with a Matchday 3 0-0 draw).
Switzerland hosts the competition for the first time in its history. It’s a significant event for a nation that has never advanced past the group stage of this competition. Now, as hosts, everyone will expect the Swiss to advance from their group. They are, unfortunately, without their best player, Ramona Bachmann. However, this team still has plenty of experienced talent.
Alisha Lehmann is one of the most famous women’s footballers on the planet and will have plenty of eyes on her performance. Lea Walti and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic are creative players who can score. Do the Swiss possess the necessary defense to advance? The matchup with Iceland will likely determine their fate in this group; if they win that game, they’re likely to get to the quarterfinals.
- Top scorer: Frida Maanum 7
- Key Players: Frida Maanum, Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ada Hegerberg
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Winners x 2 (1987, 1993), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Only three times since 1987 have Norway not reached at least the semis: 1997, 2017 and 2022.
Norway has won this competition twice and boasts some of the world’s best players on its roster. The biggest story is the return of Ada Hegerberg, who voluntarily withdrew from Norway’s player pool for five years in protest of better conditions and treatment. Even without Hegerberg, Norway was expected to advance out of the group stage in 2022, but they failed to do so. Now, with Hegerberg back and alongside superstar players like Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten, Norway should win this group, and anything less would be a disappointment.
- Top scorer: Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir 3
- Key Players: Glódís Viggósdóttir, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, Sveindís Jónsdóttir
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Quarter-finals (2013): Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Fifth qualification in a row; they were the first team to beat Germany by three goals in a competitive game since Brazil in the 2008 Olympic semi-finals.
Iceland is one of the teams flying under the radar and could be a potential dark horse in this competition. They made the quarterfinals in 2013 and have as good a team as they’ve ever had. They are experienced in defense, with Glódís Viggósdóttir of Bayern Munich leading the way. Dagný Brynjarsdóttir is a former NWSL player who will anchor the midfield. Lastly, Sveindís Jónsdóttir, a star striker at Wolfsburg, has just made the move to Angel City, and this competition will be a showcase for her. The Iceland team is tough to beat, and they have a great chance to eliminate Switzerland and advance to the quarterfinals.
- Top scorers: Nea Lehtola, Emma Koivisto, Jutta Rantala, Linda Sällström 2
- Key Players: Emma Koivisto, Jutta Rantala, Natalie Kuikka
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Semi-finals (2005), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Their semi-final run in 2005 was on debut.
Finland made a surprise run to the semifinals in 2005, but this competition might not go as well for Finland. Their strength is their defense, with stars like Emma Koivisto and Natalie Kuikka leading the way. Both are key figures who need to lead the charge and anchor the defense. This team will have a hard time scoring goals. If they can stop teams from scoring and steal a game 1-0 or pick up a draw or two, they might be able to sneak out of this group, but it’s not likely.
GROUP B
- Top scorers: Jenni Hermoso, Salma Paralluelo 3
- Key Players: Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Claudia Pina
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Semi-finals (1997), Women’s EURO 2022: Quarter-finals, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Winners
- Key fact: Since 2022 have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, UEFA Women’s Nations League, FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups and Women’s U19 and U17 EUROs.
It sounds crazy to say that Spain has never won the women’s Euro, but Spain’s run of dominance hasn’t been as long as it feels. Regardless, this is their golden generation, and they are indeed the favorites to win the competition as defending World Cup champions. Their loss at the Olympics should be a huge motivator coming into this, and most of these players just lost the Champions League final to Arsenal while playing for Barcelona. Expect Spain to come out and dominate this group with 99.9% certainty; anything else would be a cause for concern and a big surprise.
- Top scorer: Diana Silva 6
- Key Players: Kika Nazareth, Diana Silva, Jessica Silva
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Group stage (2017, 2022), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Had never qualified before 2017 but now in their third straight Women’s EURO, as well as making their World Cup debut in 2023.
Portugal is looking to make a splash and get out of the group stage for the first time. Their federation is steadily growing, having made its World Cup debut in 2023. NWSL fans will know about Jessica Silva, who has made seven appearances for Gotham. Silva scored for Portugal at the last Euro and in 2025 Euro qualifying. If anyone is going to get them through to the next round, it’s her and Diana Silva who will have to do the job.
- Top scorer: Tessa Wullaert 5
- Key Players: Tessa Wullaert, Sarah Wijnants
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Quarter-finals (2022), Women’s EURO 2022: Quarter-finals
- Key fact: Finished above Iceland and Italy in their 2022 group to earn their first women’s senior knockout tie, losing to an added-time Sweden goal.
Belgium is an experienced participant in the women’s Euro, having made it to the quarterfinals before. Tessa Wullaert is their go-to goal scorer who needs to produce the offense required to get them out of this group. If Belgium is to emerge from this group, it’ll have to defeat the Italians to do it. Belgium is a strong team, but they need to demonstrate that they have the depth on their roster to advance out of this group, which includes Spain and Italy.
- Top scorer: Manuela Giugliano 3
- Key Players: Manuela Giugliano, Barbara Bonansea, Cristiana Girelli, Sofia Cantore
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Runners-up (1993, 1997), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Until going out in the group stage in 2017, Italy had never failed to make the last eight.
Italy boasts a strong attacking team with multiple strikers who can take control of a game. Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea have been playing for Italy for more than a decade, and Sofia Cantore is a star in the making. After not making it out of the group stage in 2022, the Italians will be eager to make it to the quarterfinals this time. Expect them to finish second in the group and advance with Spain as group winners.
GROUP C
- Top scorer: Lea Schüller 6
- Key Players: Guila Gwinn, Sjoeke Nusken, Lea Schuller
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Winners x 8 (1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013), Women’s EURO 2022: Runners-up
- Key fact: Germany came from behind in three of their five qualifying wins.
The Germans will be without Lena Oberdorf due to injury, and Alexandra Popp has retired from the national team. Yet, this German roster boasts plenty of depth, featuring big names across the board. Lea Schüller has been their key goalscorer in years past, but their defense and goalkeeper are what make them very formidable. Ann Katerin Berger and Guila Gwinn are two of the best in the world, and Sjoeke Nusken had a great season at Chelsea. Germany isn’t as loaded as Spain, but they’ll be one of the favorites to get to the semifinals at the least.
- Top scorer: Natalia Padilla 5
- Key Players: Emilia Szymczak, Ewa Pajor
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Never previously qualified, Women’s EURO 2022: Did not qualify
- Key fact: Have never previously even reached the play-offs for a major tournament but did win the 2012/13 Women’s U17 EURO with players including Ewa Pajor, Paulina Dudek, Sylwia Matysik and Ewelina Kamczyk, who scored the only goal of the final against Sweden.
Poland has qualified for the Euros for the first time in its history, but this group has achieved extraordinary things before. Led by Ewa Pajor, Poland won the U17 Euros in 2012/2013, and now this group has a chance to continue that momentum forward for a growing women’s footballing nation. Pajor has lived up to her potential, becoming a star at Barcelona. Pajor will have to put the team on her back to help Poland advance out of the group stage, as Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are all tough to beat.
- Top scorers: Janni Thomsen, Amalie Vangsgaard 3
- Key Players: Pernille Harder, Signe Bruun, Nadia Nadim
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Runners-up (2017), Women’s EURO 2022: Group stage
- Key fact: Qualified for all eight tournaments since the introduction of the group stage.
Denmark came close to winning the Euros in 2017 but took a step back by not advancing past the group stage in 2022. Pernille Harder is one of the best strikers in the world and will have to be at her best to help Denmark emerge from this group. Signe Bruun and Nadia Nadim are two solid veterans who will help, but is that enough of a supporting cast for Harder when Germany and Sweden feature deeper rosters overall? Denmark can make it out, but Pernille Harder would have to be in the Golden Boot race to do it.
- Top scorers: Filippa Angeldahl, Stina Blackstenius, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd 4
- Key Players: Magdalena Eriksson, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfo
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Winners (1984), Women’s EURO 2022: Semi-finals
- Key fact: Sweden were also World Cup finalists in 2003 and Olympic silver-medallists in 2016 and 2021.
Sweden is a formidable and deep team that poses a threat to every single team in the competition. Their entire starting XI plays for some of the best teams across Europe, and their defensive style while scoring from set pieces has always been successful. The Swedes have some strong attackers as well, Stina Blackstenius scored the game-winning goal for Arsenal in the Champions League Final. Sweden is good enough to compete with Germany and win the group; it’d be a big shock if they didn’t make it to the quarterfinals.
GROUP D
- Top scorer: Marie-Antoinette Katoto 3
- Key Players: Griedge Mbock Bathy, Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Semi-finals (2022), Women’s EURO 2022: Semi-finals
- Key fact: Since an eight-team Women’s EURO was introduced in 1997, France had gone out in the last eight every time before making the 2022 semis by beating holders the Netherlands in extra time.
France is moving forward with a new generation of players as the federation decided to leave legends like Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer behind. With no Renard, Griedge Mbock Bathy will have to lead the defense now, and Kadidatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto have to be the goal scorers they’ve been for PSG and Lyon, respectively. After making the semifinals in 2022, is this the year they finally break through and get over the hump? This is the group of death with England and the Netherlands in the picture; France will have their work cut out for them with a new generation of players at the forefront.
- Top scorer: Alessia Russo 3
- Key Players: Leah Williamson, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Winners (2022), Women’s EURO 2022: Winners (hosts)
- Key fact: Coach Sarina Wiegman has won the last two Women’s EUROs: with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022, both times as hosts.
England are the defending champions and will be one of the favorites to win the Euros again. Spain and Germany could be tough to contend with in the knockout rounds, but France and the Netherlands already make this a tough Group of Death. If England can make their way out of this group, don’t count them out to repeat. Leah Williamson is their anchor at the back, and Alessia Russo and Ella Toone are the key figures in the attack. The x-factor for England is Lauren Hemp and her ability to create when Russo and Toone have been kept in check. If Hemp plays well, this team will at the very least make the semifinals.
- Top scorer: Jess Fishlock 6
- Key Players: Jess Fishlock, Angharad James, Sophie Ingle, Elise Hughes
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Never previously qualified, Women’s EURO 2022: Did not qualify
- Key fact: Making a major tournament debut having only previously got into the play-offs for the 2023 World Cup, losing in extra time to Switzerland.
Wales’ qualification for their first Euro is an incredible story. Jess Fishlock has been among the world’s elite for quite some time, but she finally gets to show what she can do in an international competition. Between Fishlock, Angharad James, and Sophie Ingle, Wales has some tremendous talent; it’s just sad to see them in this group. It would take a miracle run for Wales to make it out of this group, but if they pulled it of,f it would be the story of the tournament for sure.
- Top scorer: Lineth Beerensteyn 3
- Key Players: Dominique Janssen, Danielle van de Donk, Vivianne Miedema
- Pedigree: Women’s EURO best: Winners (2017), Women’s EURO 2022: Quarter-finals
- Key fact: Two years after their home EURO triumph, the Dutch were World Cup runners-up in 2019.
The Dutch aren’t far removed from their Euro win in 2017. Their last tournament was a disappointment, as they were bounced in the quarterfinals. This Dutch roster is strong and features their usual suspects. Dominque Janssen and Danielle van de Donk are two of the more reliable players in the world, to go with the rest of a strong roster. The biggest key, which should not be a surprise, is Vivianne Miedema. If Miediema plays in the form she was in two years ago, this team could win the whole tournament, but if she doesn’t find the net enough, they might not make it out of the group. France is susceptible with a new roster, that matchup against the French could decide who is the second team to make it out of this group.
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