Defending champions England are to face Wales, France and the Netherlands in a “tough” however “exciting” Ladies’s Euro 2025 group stage.
The Lionesses go into subsequent summer season’s event in Switzerland among the many favourites after profitable on residence soil in 2022.
However they face a troublesome begin to the competitors, with a gap group recreation on 5 July in opposition to France, who beat the Lionesses 2-1 in Might to prime the qualifying group.
Then comes one other powerful encounter with supervisor Sarina Wiegman’s native Netherlands 4 days later, earlier than a recreation in opposition to event newcomers Wales on 13 July.
Rhian Wilkinson’s facet will likely be enjoying on the finals of a serious event for the primary time after beating the Republic of Eire in a play-off.
They’re the lowest-ranked staff within the event at 30 in FIFA’s world rankings and can have their work minimize out in opposition to Group D opponents England, the Netherlands, and France who sit in fourth, tenth and eleventh respectively.
Talking after the draw, Wiegman stated: “I think we have a very interesting, exciting group. It’s very tough.
“You simply should take it because it comes and be prepared on 5 July. That is how I strategy it.
“Everyone goes to a tournament to win it and so do we. I’m confident in my team.”
Picture:
England’s Sarina Wiegman with the trophy after the draw. Pic: Reuters
On going through Wales, she added: “There’ll be some rivalry when we go on the pitch. I’m looking forward to that game.”
The very best-ranked staff within the event, Spain, who beat England in final 12 months’s World Cup remaining, had been drawn in Group B.
They face neighbours Portugal, in addition to Belgium and Italy of their group.
Germany, who had been runners-up to England within the final event, face Poland, Denmark, and Sweden in Group C, whereas hosts Switzerland play Norway, Iceland, and Finland in Group A.
UEFA Ladies’s Euro 2025 teams
Group A: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland
Group B: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy
Group C: Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
Group D: France, England, Wales, Netherlands
The 16-team event will likely be held throughout eight venues in Switzerland from 2-27 July, with Basel internet hosting the ultimate.
UEFA will publish the total schedule with kick-off instances following the draw.
In the meantime, UEFA has confirmed an enormous rise in complete prize cash for the event to €41m (£34m).
A press release learn: “The UEFA Executive Committee approved €41m in prize money for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, representing a 156 percent increase on the figure from 2022.
“Taking part nationwide associations will now additionally distribute a assured proportion of the rewards – between 30 % and 40 % – to their gamers for the primary time.”
