The Assist: Euro 2025 comes to a head

Which two nations will make it through to contest Sunday's final?

July 22, 2025

As we reach the semifinal stages at the tournament, GirlsOnTheBall are still on the ground providing their expert insights and exclusive photography for another special edition of the newsletter.

Italy knockout Norway

The first of the quarterfinals pitted Group A winners Norway against Group B runners-up Italy. Le Azzurre are currently ranked 13th in the world and were our dark horses coming into the competition. Norway, meanwhile, sit at 16th and have a history of falling short at major tournaments. This encounter was one of the toughest to call and both sides would have fancied their chances.

Roared on by the partisan Stade de Genève and a raucous rendition of “Il Canto degli Italiani”, Andrea Soncin’s team had the best of the game against a typically passive Norwegian outfit. They might have been left to rue their missed opportunities but for the exploits of their talismanic forward, Cristiana Girelli. The 35-year-old put in a captain’s performance to fire her team into the semi-finals for the first time since 1997 with a 90th minute finish. Her two goals were emblematic of a career for the national team that has spanned 12 years. She headed her side ahead, finding space off Norway’s makeshift left-back Guro Reiten. It was a decision from Gemma Grainger that summed her side up to a tee – a glittering array of round pegs being forced into square holes.

The normally well put together Italian bench, dressed in pristine suits, gradually started to look more bedraggled. Shirts became untucked and ties skewed as extra time loomed, knowing Italy were running out of steam. As it turned out, they had no need to fear. Girelli’s link up with former Juventus teammate Sofia Cantore has been second-to-none. A pinpoint delivery from the latter found her captain at the far post.

England’s comeback

This game definitely takes the prize of most chaotic quarterfinal if not most chaotic game of the tournament. It was not something either of us particularly enjoyed watching and left us, at times, questioning our desire to work in the sport. Football really can be crazy!

Sweden took the game to England. They pegged them back for much of the first half with an intense press and a clear targeting of England’s left side which resulted in two well-worked goals. 2-0 up with 79 minutes on the clock, Sweden were perhaps guilty of thinking that had it in the bag. With the substitution of Swedish captain Kosovare Asllani and introduction of Michelle Agyemang, Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly for England, the game turned on its head. Staring elimination square in the face, Sarina Wiegman opted to change formation and move to three at the back. She pushed Mead into an unconventional central midfield role alongside Lauren James while Agyemang joined Alessia Russo up front. The impact was immediate and saw their oldest player (Lucy Bronze) and youngest player (Agyemang) pull them level with two goals in the space of 103 seconds.

Surely England had the momentum now to go on and win it in 90 minutes, right? Wrong! Extra-time played out with Sweden’s aerial ability looking most likely to send their side into the semi-finals, but it wasn’t to be.

What followed was one of the worst (and most thrilling) penalty shoot-outs we have seen in a major tournament. We’d need another newsletter edition to explain exactly what went down but after 14 penalties, six saves, five goals and three misses, England prevailed. And breathe!

Spain see off the hosts

A true battle of David vs. Goliath took place with hosts Switzerland facing World Champions Spain. Roared on by the 25,000+ fans who marched from the centre of Bern to the stadium, the Swiss impressed with their brave and diligent performance. They frustrated Spain, limiting them to just two shots on target before the break, and stretched them in transition utilising the speed of exciting youngster Iman Beney.

Switzerland went in level, the only team not to concede a first half goal to La Roja this tournament. While Pia Sundhage nailed the gameplan, she had less control over the fatigue felt by her inexperienced side. The Spanish remained patient, knowing they had the quality both on the field and on the bench to wear down a resilient Nati side. With the introduction of Athenea Del Castillo in the 62nd minute, it took the Real Madrid winger just four minutes to make her mark, finishing off from a deft Aitana Bonmatí back heel. It was just the bit of magic they needed from a player who can unlock a defensive unit in a flash. Five minutes later, Clàudia Pina stepped up with a peach to put the final nail in the Swiss coffin in trademark fashion.

The quarterfinals were characterised by penalty misses and Spain kept well on trend, missing one in each half as Mariona Caldentey then Alexia Putellas faltered in front of a cacophony of boos. For all of Spain’s recent successes, they are still chasing their first European title and booked their spot in the semi-finals for the first time since 1997.

A word on Switzerland, however. Being amongst the Swiss fans in the stadium on Friday was a moment we will remember for a long time. The atmosphere was celebratory and the noise intense as they supported their side from the first minute to the last. Switzerland may have bowed out of the competition but their team and their fans have certainly turned up, creating a previously unseen momentum for the women’s game in this country. The responsibility now lies with the federation to capitalise on this to ensure they turn this moment into a movement. 

Germany defeat France

Germany clearly watched the Sweden-England game and said, “Hold my stein!” Nothing is ever simple when it comes to these old foes, other that Germany’s winning record. This victory against the odds marked the Germans’ 12th in 12 against Les Bleus at a major tournament.

Christian Wück’s side came into this encounter battered and bruised and needing a makeshift backline due to both recognised right-backs being out with injury (Giulia Gwinn) and suspension (Carlotta Wamser). Matters were not helped when Sarai Linder suffered a foot injury in the opening minutes that saw her forced off after 20 minutes no matter how many rolls of tape the physios applied to try and seemingly hold it together. By that point, her team were already down to 10 and behind after the experienced Kathrin Hendrich decided to pull on Griedge Mbock Bathy’s hair in the box. Picked up by the VAR cameras, she was given her marching orders with Grace Geyoro dispatching the subsequent spot kick.

What was unexpected by everyone - especially me who had written a whole preview about their defensive frailties – was the resilience Germany showed over what would be 107 more minutes of football. They levelled through Sjoeke Nüsken with one of the only chances of the game. France had two goals disallowed for offside. Nüsken had a penalty saved in the second half. Ann-Katrin Berger produced one of the best saves we will ever see to prevent an own goal. Melvine Malard hit the bar from distance with the final kick of the game. It was truly bonkers!

In comparison, the shootout was more routine bar Sara Däbritz, brought on specifically for the penalties, hitting the bar and Berger dispatching the all-important fifth penalty as if she took those shots every day of the week. The German goalkeeper is known for her coolness as she stares down the opposition taker and she saved two, including the decisive one that sent her team into the semi-finals.

Based on the FotMob ratings across the four quarterfinals, here is our automatically selected Best XI, with German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger taking our top score.

It’s safe to say that every team left standing at the Euros were made to work for their place in the semifinals. 

England vs. Italy (today): The last time they met was in a friendly back in February 2024 where the Lionesses ran out 5-1 winners but a lot has happened to both sides since then. Italy are a very versatile, technical outfit who possess players with the passing range that can dismantle their opponents. They like to spray the ball out to the flanks and use the pace of their wide players and will surely look to follow Sweden in targeting England’s fragile left side. England, however, have the physicality, creativity and depth off the bench that Le Azzurre lack and will go into this as clear favourites to reach another final. 

Germany vs. Spain (Wednesday): Spain will be relishing the opportunity to take on a depleted Germany side who just battled through 120+ minutes of football with a day’s extra rest. This will surely be a battle of technique and patience against Germany’s new-found grit and resilience. They will need to show the same discipline with 11 as they did with 10 but Spain’s midfield have a tendency to run the show and La Roja will inevitably dominate the ball. The World Champions may prove a step too far for Germany after they managed to come through a tough and exhausting semifinal.

As a duo who have followed England in major tournaments since 2013, the manner in which the Lionesses reached their sixth successive semi-final was certainly a memorable one. We won’t necessarily look back on it fondly but, of the 170 England games we’ve covered, this one definitely stand outs.

With one foot firmly out of the tournament and 120 minutes of England never being ahead, we were sure that that would be the end of their journey in Switzerland, and we would need to find a new team to support for the final few matches.

But England clung on and set themselves up for a date with the Italians. You must remember that 9pm kicks offs, plus added time, plus penalties, plus post-match media makes for a very, very late night. Factor in the high heart rate and anxiety that goes along with it, and we didn’t see bed until the very early hours of the morning. 

Despite our busy schedule we have been determined to try and experience some Swiss living beyond eating Rösti and sampling local beers. Our first adventure took us upwards. Twice in fact experiencing the beauty of the mountains around us in two contrasting weathers. First up was Niederhorn on a beautiful sunny day, located 20 minutes outside of host city Thun. Taken up by a relaxing gondola, it seemed the perfect place to celebrate a birthday in the GOTB household. I’m not sure popping bubbles and eating chocolate cake surrounded by that level of beauty can be topped. It can however certainly be contrasted by our trip up Mount Pilatus. As much as we enjoyed our ride in the steepest cogwheel train in the world, the view left much to be desired. Top tip, check the weather before going up!

Our second dip into the local culture was quite literal, with a dip in a Swiss river. Since the tournament began we have been watching in envy as locals float idly by on inflatables coupled with a beer almost every day of the week. So on our very first day off, that’s exactly what we did. Hiring a giant inflatable unicorn, who we aptly named Geraldine after Switzerland’s midfield maestro Geraldine Reuteler, we spent an afternoon floating down the Limmat river with friends enjoying both the torrential downpours and the sunshine that came with it.