Women's Euro 2025: Ranking the best and worst of the home kits
Ah, the home kits of national football teams. A safe haven where experimentation is kept to a minimum to preserve precious national identity, right? RIGHT?
Perhaps not when it comes to the 16 home strips that this summer's Women's European Championship contenders will wear in Switzerland next month.
Advertisement
There are the good, the bad and the downright ugly to review, so to complete the set after running the rule over the away kits, Nick Miller returns — with a little help from Steve Madeley — to rate or slate every home shirt we will see at Euro 2025.
Let us know whether you agree with their critiques in the comments.
(Design: Eamonn Dalton/The Athletic; Getty Images)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool star's next move
What is Robertson's next move? Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano provided an update on the left-back's situation. He said: "We don't expect Andy Robertson to go to Atletico Madrid anymore. Advertisement "Andy Robertson was a candidate, a strong candidate, for Atletico Madrid. They had concrete conversations, then the player was taking his time to decide his future, also out of respect with Liverpool, where he's still loving the club, the fanbase and all the people at the club. "... [We are] waiting to see what he will decide for his future." As such, the defender merely took too long for Atletico's liking, and so the Spanish club moved on. Whether the idea of moving to Atletico is something that Robertson was on board with, we don't know, but he was assessing his options, and it was not a straightforward decision. Advertisement Earlier in June, the full-back said his contract talks with the club were 'good' ahead of potentially entering the final year of his deal and he added that he was looking forward to preseason once he had spent a few weeks on holiday with his family after a long and tiring title winning season. However, since then, Milos Kerkez has been signed and the Hungarian admitted his admiration for Robertson, hailing him as 'the best left-back that played in the Premier League', in his interview via the club website, adding that it was important to be playing alongside a player with such experience. As such, many will be hoping that Robertson sees out his deal, becomes a mentor for Kerkez for the season, and filling in the gaps when required to, before getting a historic send-off from the Anfield faithful in May 2026 when he can then find somewhere to finish off his career before he retires. But a lot of conversations with Liverpool and other clubs will be had before we can feel confident in those events happening and while he won't go to Atletico Madrid, he could move elsewhere.
New York Times
37 minutes ago
- New York Times
Bortoleto clearly in the groove
The Red Bull Ring hosts Round 11 of the 2025 Formula One world championship Getty Images Formula One is back in Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, where Lando Norris will start on pole for tomorrow's race. The McLaren man has dominated the majority of the sessions so far this weekend, and he did so again in qualifying — enjoying the buffer of more than half a second to Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, which will start the race alongside him on the front row. It was an ideal response from the Brit after he ran into the back of his McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri at the Canadian Grand Prix last time out. Piastri will start third while defending champion Max Verstappen could only manage P7 in his Red Bull — sneaking ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, who made it into Q3 for the first time in his F1 career. Provisional grid: 1>NOR, 2>LEC, 3> PIA, 4>HAM, 5>RUS, 6>LAW, 7>VER, 8>BOR Grand Prix: Lights out at 9am ET Lights out at 9am ET Join the conversation: live@ GO FURTHER Is Austria F1's most beautiful track? Plus, Norris leads early at the Red Bull Ring Getty Images Gabriel Bortoleto is through to Q3 for the first time in his F1 career — and he has been in the top 10 of every session so far this weekend. So he is clearly in a very good groove. Great stuff from the rookie. Meanwhile, according to the FIA: 'the grass fire was caused by a car going off track, rather than by sparks flying off from cars on track, as in previous cases. 'Additional dampening of the grass will take place during the break between Q2 and Q3.' Brilliant from the Brazilian. Gabriel Bortoleto makes it into Q3 for the first time in his F1 career — and it will be the first time Sauber has appeared in the final 10 minutes of qualifying this season too. Outstanding. Not so fortunate were this quintet, who miss out on the top-10 shootout… 11: Fernando Alonso (AST) 12: Alex Albon (WIL) 13: Isack Hadjar (RB) 14: Franco Colapinto (ALP) 15: Oliver Bearman (HAS) ⏰ 0:00 The checkered flag soon follows for Q2. The second Williams of Alex Albon is struggling now… ⏰ 0:30 Woah, that's an excellent lap from Gabriel Bortoleto. Can he and Sauber break into Q3 for the first time this season? Huge 1:04.846… ⏰ 3:38 Of course, while the red flag came at a handy time given everyone had completed their first run — it also means they will only head out at the last moment to get their final lap in. So right now, everyone is sat in their garage waiting for the right moment. It could get congested out there… ⏰ 5:41 Fires out. Let's get Q2 in the bag... On the fire that has caused the red flag, there was a test back at the Spanish Grand Prix for the cars being fitted with steel skid blocks and not titanium, as is normal per F1's technical rules, to try and reduce the sparks that caused similar fires in China and Japan over the last two seasons. The FIA decreed: 💬 'Titanium skid blocks will remain the mandated material for the remainder of the season. However, teams are requested to have stainless steel skid blocks available at all events, as they may become mandatory if similar grass fire incidents occur as seen in Suzuka early this year. 'Additional testing of stainless steel skid blocks will be conducted at selected events throughout the season to support further evaluation.' Race control confirms we'll be back underway in four minutes. Count it down, people. I'm right there with you… If I had a pound for every time there'd been a red flag for the grass being on fire in F1 this season... I'd only have three pounds. But it's strange it keeps happening. Getty Images ⏰ 5:42 The timing isn't too bad here, with most of the drivers having already completed their first run in Q2. And unlike free practice, the clock does stop under a red flag in qualifying until we're ready to resume. ⏰ 5:42 We're all stopped with a red flag. The circuit grass is on fire. It's like Japan all over again! ⏰ 7:37 Another slow start but we're hitting our straps now, including Max Verstappen who slides his way around the Red Bull Ring — and yet he sticks his Red Bull to the top of the time sheets. That is until the two McLarens go quicker, with Lando Norris clocking a 1:04.410‚ just 0.146s ahead of his teammate. ⏰ 15:00 Straight back on it with Q2. That's 15 minutes to decide places 11 to 15 on tomorrow's grid. Away we go… Getty Images Another Q1 exit there for Yuki Tsunoda — but it is by far the closest he has been to Max Verstappen since they started as Red Bull teammates. The short track in Austria means the margins are always going to be smaller, with Tsunoda's 0.263s deficit to Verstappen worth an enormous 12 positions. The closest Tsunoda had got to Verstappen prior to this race was last time out in Canada, where he was 0.464s off. Carlos Sainz is soon on the radio too, saying there was damage to the front of his WIlliams and that it was 'undriveable'. At the pointy end, Lando Norris was fastest in that opening session with a 1:04.672 from Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, and Isack Hadjar. Which was an unlikely top five. Even for Q1. That was a little too close to call for George Russell, but he pulls out enough to claim P11 after Q1. Not so lucky was the Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda, who is already on the radio to complain about his lack of front grip. Here are the exit out in Q1… 16: Lance Stroll (AST) 17: Esteban Ocon (HAS) 18: Yuki Tsunoda (RBR) 19: Carlos Sainz (WIL) 20: Nico Hulkenberg (SAU) That is also a third successive Q1 exit for Sainz. Ouch. ⏰ 0:00 That's it. The checkered flag is out. And Yuki Tsunoda hasn't gone quicker. He also doesn't have enough for another lap. Disaster for the Red Bull. George Russell in real danger still too… ⏰ 1:04 Time ticking away. This is looking a struggle for the Mercedes and Apline drivers, as well as Yuki Tsunoda. Who can save themselves from here? And who isn't going to pull it off? Getty Images ⏰ 5:02 Franco Colapinto, an Alpine and a lot of gravel being kicked up in the air during Q1. The Argentine driver's best time is currently worth P13, but the times will come down plenty over the remaining five minutes.
Hamilton Spectator
44 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Spain hopes for Bonmati recovery at Euro 2025 and bids for ‘historic generation' status
MADRID (AP) — Spain's final preparations for the Women's European Championship have been upended. Again. Three years ago, Alexia Putellas tore an ACL days before the competition. This time, a different Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder's tournament is in question after Aitana Bonmatí was hospitalized with viral meningitis . Bonmatí came down with a fever during practice Friday and later checked in to a Madrid hospital. The team planned to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament, where it is considered one of the favorites after winning the 2023 World Cup, even though it has never reached a Euros final before. Spain coach Montse Tomé revealed after Friday's 3-1 victory in a friendly against Japan that the 27-year-old star tested positive for viral meningitis. 'The word is scary, but the doctor tells me that she is under control. She will remain in the hospital and we don't know for how long,' Tomé said. Spain's first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B. Stability after Rubiales scandal Bonmatí's setback aside, Spain had been enjoying some peace and stability now that the Luis Rubiales scandal is behind them. Spain is arriving for Euro 2025 just a few months after Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault for an unsolicited kiss on player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony. The conviction helped end one of the worst chapters in the history of Spanish soccer. The kiss sparked outrage and marred the nation's celebrations of the team's first major title in women's soccer. It ignited an unprecedented crisis that left the Spanish federation and women's soccer in turmoil. Spanish society called for more support for women, and sports officials ultimately were forced to review outdated protocols and improve the conditions for the women's team that is among the main title favorites at Euro 2025. 'I remember when I used to come to play for the national team and I didn't enjoy it. I just wanted to go home, to be honest,' playmaker Bonmatí, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner , said a few days before falling ill. 'It was tough to play here. The situation wasn't good. But now everything is better, there is more stability for everyone and that benefits the group.' The crisis prompted by the kiss on Hermoso — who was not called up by Tomé for the Euro 2025 squad — helped expedite changes that players had been demanding for a long time, including by some who refused to play for the national team even before the World Cup. 'The conditions have changed a lot,' said Putellas , another two-time world player of the year. 'Especially in terms of travel, nutrition, training. Things have changed radically. Now we are enjoying conditions that are at the top level of the men's team. It's something that has taken a lot of effort and work by many people.' Putellas said it's clear that the structure provided for the women's team is much more professional now, including in areas such as marketing and communication. 'We are finally where we wanted to be for some time,' she said. 'Because we have pushed for it, and also because a lot of people have helped us. Now we are just ready to compete and enjoy it.' Rubiales was convicted in February and ordered to pay more than 10,000 euros ($11,700) in fines. He was prohibited from approaching Hermoso or communicating with her for a year. Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence. Rubiales was acquitted of a charge of coercion for allegedly trying to make Hermoso downplay the kiss on the lips. Tomé left out Hermoso from the squad saying that 'there's a lot of competition in her position.' Spain established itself as one of the powerhouses in women's soccer by winning the World Cup and following it up by lifting the trophy of the inaugural Women's Nations League in 2024. It then just missed out on a medal by finishing fourth at the Paris Olympics, when it lost to Brazil in the semifinals and to Germany in the bronze-medal match. Spain still a favorite Spain has never reached a final at the European Championship. Its best result was a last-four appearance in 1997. It was eliminated in the quarterfinals at each of the last three Euros. Still, it's a team that includes Barcelona and Real Madrid stars — and they've been playing well. In early June, Cláudia Pina scored twice in Spain's 2-1 victory over defending European champion England in the Nations League. 'We have been carrying the 'favorite' tag for a few years now, since we won the World Cup,' Bonmatí said. 'We are used to it and we take it with responsibility. There are other top teams and we need to respect them.' Even if Bonmatí needs time off, Spain will feel confident in the group stage. Spain had a 4-0 record this year against Portugal and Belgium — all in the group stage of the current Nations League edition. That included a 7-1 home victory over Portugal in April. 'Winning the European title would come as a confirmation that this is a historic generation for Spain's women's soccer,' Bonmatí said. ___ AP soccer:
