2 days ago
Euro 2025: Predictions and the players to watch
Later this week, Euro 2025 will kick off in Switzerland and every match will be live to watch across RTÉ platforms.
Ahead of Wednesday's big kick-off, former Republic of Ireland team-mates Rachel Graham and Méabh De Búrca joined the RTÉ Soccer Podcast to preview the 16-team tournament - which the Girls in Green narrowly missed out on via the play-offs - on a group-by-group and discussed some of the leading lights that are likely to take the championships by storm.
As for which nation will emerge triumphant after the final in Basel on 27 July, both De Búrca and Graham felt the reigning World Cup holders still stand above all others right now.
"Spain, it's hard to look past them to be honest," said ex-Ireland international De Búrca.
"They're going well and the confidence after the World Cup, I think all expectation will be on them.
"I wouldn't expect England to be too far behind but France as well I think are probably due a big tournament and I always like to watch the French team play."
Shelbourne midfielder Graham was in agreement about the three likeliest contenders.
"I don't think there are any other three that you would say," she said.
"I just think Spain are just so strong. It's very hard to see past them. I think England and France are the ones that are going to put it up most to them.
"So I'll go for a Spain win, but it would great to see Spain-England or Spain-France in the final."
When it comes to players to watch across the 16 teams on show in Switzerland, beyond the stars of Spain like double Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, Graham pointed to youngsters capable of making a mark.
"Even in England, there's Aggie Beever-Jones, who's currently at Chelsea, 21, and has come in recently enough into the English squad and has done really well," she said.
"Then they've young Michelle Agyemang who's only 19. She came on a couple of weeks ago and scored with near enough her first touch, on her debut, and definitely has shone at the underage level in England and she's definitely a young player I'd be excited to look at.
"And then there's a couple of good wingers. There's Esmee Brugts, who plays for Barcelona. She's on the Netherlands (squad) and an exciting winger. It's a good mix in this tournament. There are some really well known players that we're looking forward to but there's definitely some good young talent as well in a lot of the squads."
De Búrca also picked a mix of experience and youth among her players to keep an eye on.
"(Alessia) Russo I think for England, she was more of a game-changer or a sub in the last tournament. I'd expect her to be starting now," she said of the Arsenal striker, while also spotlighting her team-mate Lauren James of Chelsea and tipping Vivianne Miedema to give the Netherlands a much-needed edge.
"The likes of Grace Clinton as well, another young player for England too, that I think is due a big tournament.
"In terms of young players, maybe one that will stand out in the Spanish team is Vicky Lopez. She's only 18, a winger as well, and her along with (Salma) Paralluelo who already lit up our screens at the World Cup, she's only young as well and along with Claudia Pina, who's 23 which is still relatively young."
