It was destiny. A month ago, 16 teams arrived at Euro 2025, but it always seemed like England and Spain would be the last two standing. <\/p>\n
The story of a burgeoning world soccer rivalry writes itself. After all, England vs. Spain is a rematch of the women\u2019s World Cup final from two years ago in Sydney. On that night, Spain narrowly overcame England 1\u20130<\/a> to lift the World Cup, with Olga Carmona scoring the winning goal.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s clash in Basel, Switzerland, will be the sequel. But how can England stop a Spain team that is considered to have the best attacking talent in the world, and has been the most dominant side at women\u2019s Euro 2025? <\/p>\n Don\u2019t look back in anger<\/strong><\/p>\n On Thursday, Keira Walsh didn\u2019t mince her words when she called England vs. Spain \u201ca rivalry.\u201d However, she resisted the urge to say that England would be out for revenge following the World Cup final.<\/p>\n Revenge can be a motivator, but England might be choosing to move beyond that disappointing night at Stadium Australia two years ago. While Walsh referred to that performance from England as not \u201cour best\u201d and a \u201cmassive disappointment,\u201d she believes that focusing on the past could hinder England\u2019s preparations for the upcoming Euro final.<\/p>\n \u201cI think as a football player, you can become too emotional. I think if you\u2019re trying to pull on that too much, then you\u2019re going to be too emotional, and too many things are going on. I think it\u2019s a new game, new team,\u201d said Walsh.<\/p>\n Fourteen of England\u2019s 23 players in Switzerland will have memories from being on the pitch in Sydney at the 2023 World Cup. Only 10 players from Spain\u2019s World Cup-winning squad are competing for a European title. There will be plenty of changes to the two squads.<\/p>\n Cover threats beyond Aitana Bonmat\u00ed <\/p>\n Understandably, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmat\u00ed<\/a> is going to be getting a lot of attention from England\u2019s defense in the final. After playing limited minutes at the start of Euro 2025 due to illness, the Barcelona midfielder has been extraordinary in the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n Bonmat\u00ed had the backheeled assist for Spain\u2019s opening goal against Switzerland in the quarterfinal, and then scored the winning goal from an impossible angle against Germany in the semifinal. She is a magician with the ball, seeing things other players simply don\u2019t.<\/p>\n This on-field angle of Aitana Bonmat\u00ed’s game-winning goal to send Spain to the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Final \ud83e\udd29\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/wIte6B2crL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n But England won\u2019t have the luxury of being able to put two players on Bonmat\u00ed, or dedicate a player to track her every move. That is because Spain\u2019s midfield is the envy of world soccer.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if you try and nullify her [Bonmat\u00ed], you know, I think Patri [Guijarro] has been one of the best players at this tournament, so if you focus on Aitana, then you\u2019ve got Patri, and then you\u2019ve got Alexia [Putellas] and Mariona [Caldentey]. So I think for us, we\u2019re not focusing on one player,\u201d Walsh said. <\/p>\n Putellas currently leads the tournament for goal contributions with three goals and four assists. Spain\u2019s midfielders will drift freely between the lines, meticulously watching how England players move to cover, and then hitting the space with quick passes. The Lionesses will need to be at their dedicated best.<\/p>\n Work hard off the ball<\/strong><\/p>\n In the semifinal, Germany was the first team to hold Spain scoreless in 90 minutes since England beat Spain 1\u20130 in February 2025. Germany\u2019s tactic was to absorb pressure and accept that Spain would have more of the ball, but stay rigid and determined in its shape to prevent Spain from building tempo and working the ball into the box. <\/p>\n Germany had 40% possession in its semifinal against Spain, almost identical to England\u2019s possession share of 41% in the 1\u20130 win over La Roja. The Lionesses will have to accept that this will likely be the case again, and their off-ball game plan could decide the final.<\/p>\n If England presses too eagerly to try and win the ball back, it could open up bigger spaces on the field for Spain to exploit. England will need to show plenty of discipline to marshal space, keep shape, but ultimately not get caught when there\u2019s a turnover. <\/p>\n \u201cI think for us, it\u2019s just about being patient when we don\u2019t have the ball. It\u2019s not about panicking and getting frustrated. I think we just have to be comfortable defending,\u201d Walsh said.<\/p>\n Prepare for the cavalry<\/strong><\/p>\n England\u2019s tournament has been defined by head coach Sarina Wiegman\u2019s adaptability and the performances of substitutes Chloe Kelly<\/a> and Michelle Agyemang. All of the goals in the Lionesses\u2019 remarkable comeback wins in the quarterfinal over Sweden and the semifinal over Italy were either scored or assisted by the duo off the bench.<\/p>\n England\u2019s starting center forward, Alessia Russo, may have only scored once in Switzerland, but her effort has helped wear down opponents, assisting the impactful bench players when they arrive in the second half. <\/p>\n If England can keep the score level or stay within a goal of Spain, then England will always believe that the substitutes can come on and rescue the final. However, the Lionesses aren\u2019t the only ones with game-changers on their bench. <\/p>\n Athenea Del Castillo and Salma Paralluelo provide a very different style of attack from Cl\u00e0udia Pina and Esther Gonz\u00e1lez, should Spain need to mix things up. As seen in the Germany semifinal, Spain is happy to play more directly and execute quick midrange passes to switch the play and attack the space. That extra dimension could be lethal.<\/p>\n More Soccer on Sports Illustrated<\/strong>\n