Spain is still the team to beat at Women’s Euro 2025

Three games into Euro 2025, Spain very much look like the frontrunners they were billed as before the start of the tournament. Wins over Belgium, Italy and Portugal saw the 2023 Women’s World Cup winners make the quarter-finals without even reaching second gear. They are the team to beat heading into the knockout rounds.

None of this is surprising. Spain is home to the best team in the women’s club game with several Barcelona players included in Montse Tome’s squad. The country has become the dominant force at the top of the women’s game in Europe, yet the national team have never got their hands on the Women’s Euro trophy.

Alexia Putellas is a star for club and country. The Barcelona midfielder has contributed three goals and four assists for Spain at Euro 2025 so far, underlining his standing as arguably the best player in the world at this moment in time. After suffering injury misfortune at previous tournaments for Spain, Putellas is making Euro 2025 her own.

“It was a tough time, like any injury that any athlete has if it’s serious,” said Putellas, reflecting on the last Euros which she missed through injury. “They leave you with those lessons and you savour every moment. Maybe when you enter a cycle of competing, competing, competing, you don’t stop to appreciate everything. But I’m enjoying every day here at the Euros.”

Aitana Bonmati’s preparations were affected by her being hospitalised with viral meningitis. Thankfully, the Ballon d’Or winner recovered in time to feature from the bench in the opening match against Portugal, although there is still a sense that Bonmati is yet to find her best form. The knockout rounds could see her reach a new level.

Even in Bonmati’s absence from the starting lineup against Portugal, Spain were able to turn to 18-year-old Vicky Lopez who shone as part of the midfield unit. Lopez showcased the depth of talent available to the world champions who already have their next generation lined up. This could be the start of an era of Spanish dominance.

Esther Gonzalez is one of the best attacking focal points in the women’s game while Claudia Pina gives Spain another source of goal-threat and creativity on the left side of the forward line. The world champions have several ways to harm opposition teams. They will take some stopping at Euro 2025.

There are rivals who could feasibly still get the better of Spain. Sweden have caught the eye at Euro 2025, also winning all three of their group stage games to make the final eight. Peter Gerhardsson’s team have the attacking quality to go the distance, as Germany found out to their cost in a 4-1 demolition.

France made an early statement by comprehensively overcoming England in their opening fixture of the tournament. Sandy Baltimore and Delphine Cascarino look to be in strong form with Marie-Antoinette Katoto also putting to bed the ghosts of the last European Championships when she suffered an ACL injury.

Despite the aforementioned loss to France, England can’t be discounted either. The defending champions have grown into the tournament and delivered a statement of their own by beating the Netherlands 4-0. The likes of Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Chloe Kelly are difference-makers who can decide a game against the very best opponents.

What’s more, Belgium and Italy showed in the group stage that it is possible to create chances against Spain, exposing the space in behind their high defensive line. Against stronger opponents in the knockout rounds, this could be a problem for the world champions. This could be their Achilles heel.

Switzerland will hope to use the energy of being the host nation to beat Spain in Friday’s quarter-final meeting. The world champions have tough tests to come at Euro 2025, but the target is well and truly on their back. This is, by many metrics, Spain’s tournament to lose – and they don’t look like losing any time soon.