The much-anticipated draw for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday, and it has delivered a mouthwatering group for the defending champions, England. The Lionesses find themselves in Group D alongside European heavyweights France and Netherlands, as well as their British neighbors, Wales.
A Star-Studded Affair
The draw ceremony was a star-studded event, with football legends from across Europe in attendance. The likes of Ian Wright, Raphael Varane, Leonardo Bonucci, Veronica Boquete, Caroline Seger, Xherdan Shaqiri, Sami Khedira, and England’s own Jill Scott graced the stage to assist with the draw proceedings.
The atmosphere was electric as the teams were drawn into their respective groups, with gasps echoing through the room when it became clear that England, France, and Netherlands would all be pitted against each other in Group D. According to a source close to the English delegation, “It’s a tough draw, no doubt about it. But this is the kind of challenge that the girls relish. They’ve proven themselves against the best before, and they’re ready to do it again.”
The Group of Death?
Many pundits and fans alike are already dubbing Group D the “group of death” due to the caliber of teams involved. France, ranked third in the world, will be hungry for success after falling short in the semi-finals of Euro 2022. Netherlands, meanwhile, will be looking to reclaim the title they won in 2017, with the added motivation of facing their former coach, Sarina Wiegman, who now leads England.
Wales, making their debut appearance at the European Championships, will be no pushovers either. The Dragons have been on a steady rise in recent years and will relish the opportunity to upset their more fancied opponents. As one Welsh insider put it, “We’re not here just to make up the numbers. We’ve earned our place at this tournament, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”
A Tantalizing Tournament Ahead
The rest of the draw has also thrown up some intriguing matchups. Group A sees hosts Switzerland joined by Norway, Iceland, and Finland in what promises to be a competitive group. Spain, the reigning world champions, headline Group B alongside Portugal, Belgium, and Italy, while Group C features eight-time winners Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden.
The tournament, which kicks off on July 2, 2025, will be played across eight host cities in Switzerland. The group stage will run until July 13, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the quarter-finals. The final, set to take place at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on July 27, promises to be a fitting climax to what is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament.
The Road to Basel Begins
For England, the road to defending their title will be a challenging one, but it’s a challenge that Sarina Wiegman and her team will embrace wholeheartedly. The Lionesses have gone from strength to strength under Wiegman’s guidance and will be confident of navigating their way through a tough group.
As the countdown to Euro 2025 begins, fans across Europe will be eagerly marking their calendars and making plans to follow their teams’ fortunes. With a host of world-class talent on display and some mouth-watering matchups in store, this promises to be a tournament that will captivate audiences from start to finish.
The stage is set, the teams are ready, and the road to glory begins now. Let the countdown to Euro 2025 commence!
