Women’s Euro 2025 Talk | Italy progress to the quarter-finals with Spain finishing top of Group B
Italy reached the quarter-finals despite a loss to Spain who ended the group stages with a 100% record. Elsewhere, Belgium beat Portugal with a late goal and end their tournament on a high.
Group B’s games come to their conclusion, and even though they did not win the game in the end, Italy are a talking point as they reached the quarter-finals and gave Spain a lot of problems with an impressive showing.
They exposed a few flaws in Spain’s game yet even with that, the world champions still had enough to go all the way and win it. The top individuals stepped up and shone not just in that entertaining affair, but also in the other game as Belgium hurt Portugal’s hopes of pulling off a surprise run to the QFs.
These last few group games are liking a bit of late drama as well, but at least it makes it all intriguing, and maybe that could happen with tonight’s Group C games as well as all eyes will surely be on Sweden vs Germany. Before previewing that and Poland vs Denmark though, here’s our analysis of yesterday’s action…
Italy are through despite being beaten by Spain
They might not have won the game, but it was celebrations all-round for Italy as they reached the quarter-finals of these Women’s Euros. The victory for Spain meant they ended the group stages with a 100% record, although in this one, Italy certainly gave them a few questions to answer and tested their backline.
We all had a feeling Spain would be dominating the game, yet it was actually Italy who started off the better side, and they were rewarded for their efforts. Elisabetta Oliviero made it 1-0 after an unintended error by Mariona Caldentey to intercept the ball in the area came to Oliviero to fire into the net. Even before going ahead, they had a few chances early on including Elena Linari hitting the crossbar with a header off a corner moments before the opener.
Despite going behind, from a Spain perspective it ended up being nothing more than a setback as Athenea del Castillo received the ball from Alexia Putellas in the penalty area, and levelled things up not long after they went one down. It was one of those typical goals that we have seen from Spain before and a few times at this tournament, with the intricate passing and clever movements from individuals.
Even as the first half went on, Italy carried on their attacking moments, and it was interesting to see Italy really go for it against the world champions, but the issue with that is if they turned over the ball it would leave a few open spaces due to the fact that Italy were committing a few bodies forward as they like to do in attacking phases. Equally however, they were getting some joy in behind Spain’s back line, which created this quite intriguing clash of styles between the two sides, and ultimately made the first half an entertaining affair.
It ended 1-1 at half-time, and then in the second half Italy began with the same intensity. Unfortunately for them, Spain found a way through quickly this time, and Patri Guijarro capitalised on a clearance that wasn’t hit away with enough power, and the midfielder was able to volley in to give Spain the lead.
From there on, it kind of felt like the world champions started to gain control of the match, with Italy’s intensity not lasting as the second half went by. They ended the game with a staggering 796 passes attempted - the highest total by any team in a single match during the 2025 tournament so far. The match was put to bed late on as Esther González, who didn’t start the game came off the bench, and then scored after Alèxia Putellas had a shot saved, but not fully claimed by Laura Giuliani and then González could easily poke home her fourth goal of the tournament, making the outright leader in the scorers charts now.
Alexia Putellas was the star again for Spain, grabbing two assists and being a pivotal link-up to all of her teammates as Spain looked to establish their control and let the game go how they wanted it to by the end once it reached its conclusion. She has managed to contribute to seven goals in the group stages overall, which is a joint record in the tournament’s history along with Beth Mead, who had the same number of involvements in 2022 at the group stages.
As a result of how it went in this one, it means Spain top Group B and await a quarter-final tie with the hosts Switzerland on July 18th in Bern. As for Italy, they will be taking on Norway on July 16th in Geneva.
"We’ve started very well, we’re meeting the objectives we set for ourselves, and we have to keep working, keep being patient — above all, stay humble — and now look ahead to the next match."
Spain coach Montse Tomé speaking after the game
"The first half was of the highest level, in the second we perhaps played with more focus on Portugal-Belgium in Sion than on our own. We came to play against Spain, the world champions, and we managed to do so for one half."
Italy coach Andrea Soncin speaking after the game
Late drama for Belgium to end the tournament with a victory
The talk heading into this game was all about whether Portugal could get the win needed to at least give them a slim chance of reaching the quarter-finals at these Women’s European Championships. However, their tournament ended with a little bit of a whimper as they lost late on to Belgium and then finished bottom of the group because of it.
Going behind early on was a sign that Portugal were not going to have it easy despite Belgium having nothing but pride to play for, as Tessa Wullaert put Belgium in front after three minutes. A low cross was swung in by Jill Janssen and there was the Belgian forward to score her first goal of the tournament.
Not a lot else happened as the game went by, and Portugal didn’t have the same energy that they ended with in the game against Italy considering they desperately needed goals if they were to have any hope of completing an already difficult task. A six-goal swing was needed by Portugal, but as time went by, it was clear that what they wanted was not going to happen.
However, they did get an equaliser in the 87th minute as Telma Encarnação came off the bench and looked like she had saved Portugal from ending their tournament with a defeat. However, it was after this that the chaos and complete madness arrived in a fairly quiet game for the most part. Still a big moment for the 20-year-old Encarnação as she scored her first major tournament goal.
Should add before this that Belgium did have a goal ruled out to go 2-0 up, with a foul in the build-up on Andrea Jacinto checked by VAR costing Mariam Toloba a goal at the Euros. Then after the equaliser happened, Belgium went down the other end and thought they had the winner thanks to Amber Tysiak, but then VAR stepped in again and it was ruled out for an offside (somehow if you have seen a clip of the goal). But for Belgium, it all ended happily anyway as Janice Cayman grabbed the winner by scoring off a rebound to her initial effort which was blocked in front of the goal.
So a positive end to the tournament for Elisabet Gunnarsdóttir’s side after a difficult tournament and it was nice to see goals for two of their experienced stars Tessa Wullaert and Janice Cayman considering the fact it has the potential to be the last time they both play at a major tournament as they are in the later stages of their careers. Wullaert scoring her 94th goal for her country is a good moment for her as she still holds that responsibility as such a key individual in this Belgium side.
Ending on Portugal, it is sadly the end they wouldn’t have wanted, and their run of never reaching a knockout stage at a tournament continues. The emotions were obviously high within the Portugal squad after the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. They are a team that is still trying to find their way a little and you have to wonder if they will have learned a lot from this tournament that they can apply to qualifying for the World Cup in 2027.
"I think in this EURO we grew a lot from game to game. At this level, the smallest details come at a high cost. Every mistake we made ended up being punished, and we weren’t able to punish the opposing teams when they made theirs."
Portugal coach Francisco Neto speaking after the game
"I am happy I managed to score at this tournament. But, for me, helping the team to secure a victory, our only victory, is way more important to me."
Belgium’s Tessa Wullaert speaking after the game
Group C Games Preview
It’s pretty straightforward with Group C’s permutations heading into today’s action, as Sweden and Germany already have their spots in the quarter-finals confirmed after both won their first two matches over Denmark and Poland. It leaves the match between these two top sides as a pivotal one with both of them wanting to finish in the top spot.
Heading into it, Sweden are on an 11-game unbeaten run and have performed quite well so far starting with the 1-0 victory against Denmark, when they played better than their fellow Scandinavians. Then last time out against Poland, they were even better, even while maybe they could have scored more than the three goals that they managed to put past their opposition.
Over this tournament so far, Sweden have been strong on defence, having limited Denmark and Poland to a combined total of six shots on target. Now they probably should expect to be tested properly a lot more against a strong Germany side, who have scored 24 goals in their last five games and conceded just two goals.
There aren’t any new injury concerns for the two nations after the last two games, but there will be that element to both teams about whether they do make a few rotations in their starting XI’s.
In the other game Poland against Denmark, it’s all about pride with neither wanting to end the tournament without getting a single point. The Danes had shown improvements against Germany, and would have felt aggrieved at the manner in which they lost it considering what happened with Emma Snerle and her getting hit with the ball to her face, and then going off injured because of a head injury concern. In a team news update, it was confirmed that she will miss this final group game due to what happened in that incident.
One other element of this fixture is that it is the last game Andrèe Jeglertz will oversee as head coach of the Danish women’s national team. As we all know by now, he is Manchester City’s new head coach after that was confirmed the day before Denmark’s opening game of the tournament. On paper, Denmark are the better side, so there’s hope for them that they end their tournament on a positive note.
As for Poland, it’s the end of their run at a first major tournament, and they will be aiming for history as they are yet to score a goal at this tournament, let alone get a single point. They won’t want to end their time in Switzerland disappointing without having had that big moment of finally scoring their first ever Women’s Euros goal. They’ll have to show a lot more courage in getting the ball forward and creating opportunities for Ewa Pajor to get on the end of and score.
We could expect a few changes to both of these teams for this one as it feels like a better scenario in being able to rotate options and give others a chance at playing. For Poland, they will hope that Paulina Dudek is available after she missed the last game due to a foot problem.
What are you expecting from today’s games? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!