The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 is underway, and already, the tournament is delivering drama and excitement. England and Wales are both facing the challenge of reflecting on opening defeats, while anticipation builds for the Group A match between Norway and Finland.
England's Opening Defeat
England, the defending champions, suffered a 2-1 defeat to France in their opening match. Leah Williamson, the captain of England, expressed her disappointment, stating that the team "weren't good enough". The Lionesses found themselves struggling against an impressive French side in Zurich. Issues in defending, particularly on the wings, contributed to goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore.
Sarina Wiegman, England's head coach, acknowledged the disappointing result and emphasized the need for the team to move forward. Wiegman noted that England started well but "played themselves out of the game by playing short passes". She also pointed out a lack of tightness in their play.
Despite the defeat, Wiegman remains confident in her players. She believes the team has a very interesting and exciting group and is focused on being ready for the challenges ahead.
Wales's Tournament Debut
Wales also experienced a setback in their first major women's tournament match, losing to the Netherlands. Details about the match and the team's reaction are still emerging. However, the experience gained from participating in the tournament will be invaluable for the Welsh team as they continue to develop and compete on the international stage.
Norway vs. Finland: A Group A Showdown
In Group A, Norway and Finland are set to face off in a highly anticipated match. Both teams secured victories in their opening games, adding extra significance to their encounter. Finland edged out ten-player Iceland with a 1-0 victory, while Norway overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Switzerland 2-1.
The match between Norway and Finland promises to be a tightly contested affair. Norway, ranked No. 16 in the world by FIFA, holds a slight advantage over Finland, ranked No. 26. However, their recentEuro 2025 qualifying match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Gemma Grainger, Norway's coach, acknowledged Finland's opening game win and emphasized the importance of backing it up with another strong performance. She also expressed respect for Finland's playing style, recognizing them as a tough team to play against. Marko Saloranta, the coach of Finland, acknowledged that the fact that both teams won their opening match may affect the game. He also added that another win would almost certainly mean a place in top two.
Norway will be through to the quarter-finals (as group winners) if they beat Finland and Iceland do not beat Switzerland. Finland will be through to the quarter-finals (as group winners) if they beat Norway and Switzerland do not beat Iceland.
The match is scheduled to take place on July 6th at the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion.
Looking Ahead
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament. While England and Wales are dealing with the disappointment of their opening defeats, they have opportunities to bounce back and make their mark. The match between Norway and Finland will be a key battle in Group A, with both teams vying for a spot in the quarter-finals.
