How the Lionesses can win tactical battle with Spain in Euro 2025 final

Times

27-07-2025

As England's footballers gathered in the players' lounge at their hotel on the outskirts of Zurich and tuned in to watch Spain's semi-final against Germany, Arjan Veurink, Sarina Wiegman's assistant, was taking his seat at the match at Letzigrund stadium.
Opposition scouting during international tournaments is usually conducted by a travelling group of scouts, or analysts based at St George's Park watching remotely. But on Wednesday night, England's scouts — Emma Coates (also the under-23's head coach) and Gemma Davies (her assistant) — were joined at the game by Veurink as well as the senior team's analysts.
Mind you, there were few, if any, surprises from Spain for Veurink and his expanded party, as England and Spain are well-acquainted. Two years ago, Spain defeated England 1-0 in the World Cup final; the Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí said victory that day was a matter of 'settling the score' after England beat them en route to winning the Euros in 2022.
But it is their most recent matches, this year in the Nations League — England won 1-0 in February and Spain won 2-1 in June — that have been most closely reviewed over the past few months at St George's Park, as Wiegman and her staff have asked that critical question: how do England beat Spain?
In reaching their answer, Wiegman and her team will have considered the four phases of play in football: when a team has the ball (in possession), when a team is without the ball (out of possession); and the moments when they are moving between having the ball or vice versa (also known as positive or negative transition).
Together, these phases are the framework for Sunday's tactical battle.
Spain have averaged 72.2 per cent of possession at Euro 2025. When they have the ball, Ona Batlle, the right back, usually tucks in to create a back three. Ahead of them, Patri Guijarro anchors the midfield as the pivot, in a 3-1 shape.
Olga Carmona, the left back, takes a high and wide position, while Mariona Caldentey takes responsibility for the right wing.
Alexia Putellas and Bonmatí — Spain's most creative and influential players — feature in the channels either side of Guijarro, and Esther González leads the line, supported by Clàudia Pina to her left.
Spain's ability to impress themselves upon their opponents starts with that 3-1 shape. Most opponents recognise this and subsequently sit off Spain, attempting to mark Guijarro and limit her ability to get on the ball.
Germany used this tactic in the semi-final to good effect: their 4-5-1 formation when defending — with players positioned tightly, offering little space between them — forced Spain wide and limited their ability to attack the penalty area. Germany restricted Spain to five shots in the second half; when Spain moved wide, the Germany wingers dropped to support the full back and prevent their opponents from creating two-v-one situations.
England used a similar tactic against Spain in February, again forcing them wide — Spain's best chances came as they combined in those areas and drove infield. However, they were unable to attack centrally as they usually do.
When Spain have possession and the passing lanes into Guijarro are blocked, the centre back Irene Paredes often steps into midfield with the ball at her feet in an attempt to draw an opponent forward and create space for her team-mates. Yet it was noticeable that in both England's 2-1 defeat by Spain in June and in Wednesday's semi-final against Germany, Paredes and her team-mate María Méndez were dispossessed on halfway when striding forward.
Alessia Russo, England's striker, may look (as she did in June, in the example below) to run from her blind side and pinch possession, and will need her team-mates ready to spring forward and attack with her.
In the example below, Germany nearly capitalise on their striker tackling Mendez, and the team counterattack into the space left by Batlle.
While England are one of the most possession-dominant teams, and have the greatest stylistic similarity to Spain, they often change their approach during matches, as Wiegman is a tactically flexible manager.
England average 1.75 direct attacks (a measure for counterattacks) per 90 minutes at Euro 2025.
The key will be to choose when and where to be direct, and the moments to settle.
Germany's 87 long balls in the semi-final forced Spain to turn around, chase and reset, breaking their rhythm. By repeatedly playing long, Germany limited Spain's ability to press and keep their opponents pinned deep.
With Russo, who made 19 runs in behind against Netherlands in the group stage, leading the line, England have a threat that can expose Spain's high defensive line. But when England wish to slow the tempo, and rest in possession, they need to get their playmaker Keira Walsh on the ball with her team-mates nearby.
In their 2-1 defeat by France in the group stage, England attempted to play direct. They positioned Georgia Stanway and Lauren James upfield, ready to support Russo, Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead with second balls — but in doing so, they left Walsh isolated.
Consequently, there was a large gap between Walsh and the defenders, and the rest of the team. A similar theme emerged in the first half of England's semi-final against Italy: again, Walsh was disconnected from her team-mates.
When England improved in the second period, the players were much closer together, which allowed Stanway and Russo to combine with short, snappy passes and short, sharp runs. Keeping Stanway, and a third midfielder — Ella Toone or Grace Clinton — close to Walsh when building from deeper areas may help England control the game.
Despite the possession and out-of-possession phases comprising the majority of matches, moments of transition (and chaos) tend to be the most influential; this is why so many goals are scored on the counterattack, as the defending team is unsettled and unstructured.
When Spain lose possession, they tend to get back into shape quickly; the centre forward González usually drops infield immediately to protect the centre of the pitch.
But as Spain build with a back three and position Carmona high and wide, there is space in the channels outside María Méndez, the left centre back, and Batlle, the right back who tucks infield, to attack on the break.
If England win possession, getting the ball forward into those channels quickly — with long, direct passes — may be fruitful, as Spain are not as quick at covering those areas compared to protecting the centre.
From here, runs directly into the area or crosses to the back post are a promising option: Chloe Kelly's crosses over the top of defensive lines have been very effective — as shown when she set up Lucy Bronze to score against Sweden.
As for England, their priority when losing possession will be to get into their defensive shape and stop Bonmatí and Putellas receiving possession between the lines.
Being able to spring a surprise on their opponents at some point will be important, too.
Many of the Spanish players have played with Walsh and Bronze at Barcelona, and both groups know each others' habits and weaknesses, having faced each other so often at club and international level.
An in-game tweak, or substitute that can take advantage of tired legs — as Kelly and Michelle Agyemang have done to great effect already — may prove the difference, especially in transition.
Euro 2025 finalSunday, 5pmTV ITV