Women’s Euro 2025 live: England hope to avoid scrap as Wales out to ‘spoil the party’

If given the choice, who out of Sweden or Germany would England prefer to play should the holders make it past Wales and into the Euro 2025 quarter-finals on Sunday night? After a frenetic opening 10 minutes in Zurich, where Germany were able to carve Sweden apart at will, the answer appeared obvious. A little over 20 minutes later, as Sweden counter-attacked their way to triggering a capitulation in the Germany defence, that answer had completely flipped again.

If there was any question about how England would prepare for Sunday’s “derby” against Wales, Sarina Wiegman actually revealed it the moment the build-up started. The coach had been asked whether goal difference had been a consideration in the minutes after the 4-0 win over the Netherlands.

“No,” Wiegman responded. “We discussed how to play at our best.”

As classically simple as that sounds, and as different as this game is to the Dutch, it does illustrate the mentality running through the squad now.

England defender Alex Greenwood admitted the big-rivalry billing for their final Euro 2025 group-stage encounter might hold more weight for their Welsh opponents than it does for her.

A win against their fellow home nation – the lowest-ranked team in the tournament – would be enough to book defending champions England a place in the quarter-finals, while newcomers Wales would require a victory of four goals or more, as well as France beating the Netherlands.

Greenwood’s cool demeanour and downplayed approach to the opposition was in direct contrast to Wales captain Angharad James, who, when sat at the same St Gallen table moments before and asked if she wanted to knock England out, said: “Of course you do. It’s in our blood. It’s in our DNA.”

But quizzed as to whether or not she felt the same sense of rivalry, Greenwood conceded: “Maybe not as much. I think, for me personally, it’s another game.

“It’s now the most important game that we’re going to play and I think that’s how I look at it, that’s how I treat it. I think for the fans and everybody around it, the rivalry is brilliant.

“I think the atmosphere tomorrow is going to be great and something we should all look forward to, but from a personal perspective, it’s another really important game.”

Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson not shying away from the chance to “spoil the party” ahead of facing England at Women’s Euro 2025,

“These women have fought for so long, many of them their whole careers, to have this opportunity and I will not allow us to feel like we’re just here to just participate. So we will continue to celebrate.

“England, of course there’s a storyline. Why wouldn’t we go towards a rivalry? This will only benefit the women’s game. We’re going to give them as much as possible, push them to the very end.

“And it is the very end. We’re in an incredibly close group. England will be forced to play a strong line-up because it is such a close group and there’s also a goal differential. So for my women, we get to show up and spoil the party and that’s a wonderful job.”

Wales captain Angharad James said the motivation to beat England and knock the holders out of Euro 2025 is “in our blood and DNA” as the rivals prepare to meet in the final round of the group stage.

Wales are the lowest-ranked nation at Euro 2025 and landed in the group of death at their major tournament debut, being drawn alongside the last two champions in England and the Netherlands as well as France.

Wales are all-but eliminated after a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands was followed by a 4-1 defeat to France but James said her team-mates are focused on delivering a performance to be proud of.

Sarina Wiegman speaking ahead of England’s game against Wales at Euro 2025.

“I hope we will see a game where we have a lot of the ball and we play very good in possession, so we don’t let it become into a fighting game.

“I am not worried [it will become a fighting game]. I think Wales are very compact and they can fight and are really together but also when they have the ball they can play direct.

“We are trying to prevent that, and the best way is to be good on the ball yourself and move the ball quickly to exploit the spaces.

“For them it is a big game but for us it is too. We want to win and get through the group stage. There is passion but we have passion too. We want to be really focused and good on the ball. We have to be patient.”

Sarina Wiegman says England have to make sure their Euro 2025 derby against Wales does not become a “fighting game” and urged the Lionesses to focus on their own performance in order to reach the quarter-finals.

After beating the Netherlands 4-0 England can reach the quarter-finals with a win over rivals Wales, who are making their tournament debuts at the Euros and are the lowest-ranked side in the 16-team competition.

Wales are all-but out of the Euros and require a four-goal win in their final group game against England while also needing France to beat the Netherlands.

All 23 players in the England squad trained this morning in Zurich before travelling to St Gallen for their Euro 2025 match against Wales tomorrow evening.

In terms of team news, England made some key changes for the Netherlands game and looked to have found a settled formula with Lauren James on the right wing, Ella Toone in midfield and Jess Carter at centre-back. Sarina Wiegman could name an unchanged team in order to build some momentum and consistency.

Possible England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, Toone; James, Russo, Hemp

Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani scored one goal and made another as her side cruised into the knockout stages of the Euro 2025 with a 3-0 win over Poland on Tuesday that eliminated the Poles.

The win also guaranteed Germany’s berth in the last eight after they beat Denmark earlier on Tuesday, with the Danes joining Poland in exiting the competition.

The Germans and Swedes occupy the top two spots in Group C on six points and meet in Zurich on Saturday to decide who will win the group after Sweden’s aerial bombardment from the wings proved too much for the Polish defence.

Wales have been all-but eliminated from Euro 2025 after a 4-1 defeat to France in Group D.

Rhian Wilkinson’s side were put to the sword by Les Bleus in St Gallen, despite Jess Fishlock scoring her country’s first-ever goal at a major tournament.

Clara Mateo, Kadidiatou Diani, Amel Majri and Grace Geyoro bagged for France to leave Wales needing to beat England and manufacture a nine-goal swing in goal difference in Sunday’s final match.

Even if they can achieve that unlikely feat, they also need France to beat the Netherlands.