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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What was Hendrich thinking?
Or indeed, success full stop. The two-time World Cup winners and eight-time Euros champions know how to get the job done on the international stage. They have not won a major trophy since their 2013 Euro triumph however, despite coming close in defeat to England in the 2022 final. This is a new age of German player who have not tasted success of the like that became normal in decades of the past — they will be hungry to go one better than their last Euros showing and pick up the trophy.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Why blockbuster Euro 2025 opener is a huge moment for a ‘new England'
England may be the defending European champions, but this very much isn't a squad hoping that old approaches - or that reputation - carry them through. Sarina Wiegman was unequivocal on the eve of her team's Euro 2025 opener against a dangerous France team. 'We call it a new England,' the manager said. This intent obviously explains a lot of the ructions in the build-up to this tournament, since transition rarely comes without friction. It's also just as well, as England do actually need something new. They need to immediately find their feet, and actually start a tournament well. That isn't something they have done under Wiegman, in her two campaigns so far. The 2023 World Cup run to the final started with a mere 1-0 win over Haiti, secured by a Georgia Stanway penalty. It was the same scoreline even at the beginning of the glorious Euro 2022 campaign, the euphoria of its ending contrasting with an opening 1-0 win over Austria at Old Trafford. A repeat of those performances against France could put England in a tricky position. While it would be a bit much to say this first match is a knock-out of sorts, it could well dictate both teams' entire campaigns. Much of that is because it's so rare for two favourites to play each other so early, and without that much of a safety net. If there's a winner, that team will glean badly needed confidence and momentum, and look set to top the group. If there's a loser, there will suddenly be immense pressure for their awkward fixture against the Netherlands. England have the Dutch up next in their second game. Even a draw suddenly makes the group so much more taut, depending on what the performance is like. If it's a stirring and high-quality 2-2 where both teams show their high ceilings, that's rather different. That's instead a statement, and a vintage tournament game. It's also highly possible. The issue, at this juncture, is that almost anything seems possible for this match. Take time to find your feet and the ground could be moved from under you. Some have pointed out that second place could mean avoiding Spain until the final, but potential champions can't afford to think like that. Such slackening can make you susceptible, something not to be recommended when the Netherlands are waiting. You could say all of this makes it exactly the wrong moment to have so many unknowns about a new team. Wiegman spoke about how she's still been fine-tuning tactics over the past few days, and her eventual formation will be instructive. The same applies to the role of Lauren James, who Wiegman admitted will 'play more' than the 30 minutes she got against Jamaica. Except, as any 'winner' like Wiegman knows - to use Leah Williamson 's description - it's much riskier for a champion team to stick to what they know. That brings the danger of going stale. No one could accuse Wiegman of that, at least in terms of personnel decisions. The manager had to move on, and it's of course possible that changes to line-up could bring changes to build-up. Given how front-loaded England now are, and with James and Stanway closer to full fitness, it might even see the defending champions come out with intent. The mood in the camp is at least in-keeping with that. While insiders talk of a 'nervous tension' due to this unknown - and the very excitement that comes with the start of a new tournament - the atmosphere is very good. 'The youngsters are refreshing,' Jess Carter says of tournament debutants like 21-year-old Aggie Beever-Jones. 'They're not scared, they're fearless… they're a joy to play with.' That can obviously be infectious. It certainly tallies with a 'new England'. Wiegman spoke of how 'the team is in a very good place, really well bonded'. The issues of the last few weeks have ceased to become relevant. The group have been far more concerned with how Alessia Russo's brother, Giorgio, is doing as a contestant on Love Island. 'It's the discussion at breakfast,' Williamson laughs. All of that is why, for all the sense of the unknown with England, this match may be even more dependent on what France do. They have gone through their own transition, since manager Laurent Bonadei decided to move on stalwarts like Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali in order to get 'different results'. Despite that, they are almost England's opposite, right down to how they can start tournaments well but haven't yet figured out how to go the distance. That's because the French have a much greater sense of themselves as a team right now. Bonadei recently described their free-flowing performance level as 'perfect'. That only extends to tactics, though, not their exact level. France were the first team to qualify and won all six of their recent Nations League group games, but England know as well as anyone there's a significant difference between that and doing it in the most serious tournament fixtures. The context means this game in Zurich can certainly be described as that. For all the need to come out strong, and despite England's front-loaded squad, the challenge might even require a more conservative approach. Leaving Keira Walsh to hold midfield on her own runs the risk of France being allowed to run free, particularly left-back Sakina Karchaoui. Wiegman did warn of a 'powerful, quick team'. This is what training has centred on. It forms just another dimension to the fixture. For a team that have done everything in this competition, England are almost on a voyage of discovery. The starting line-ups will reveal one part of the picture, before the opening minutes show a bit more. The final result will then be telling. The "new England" need the start to fit with the description, perhaps in order to reclaim the title itself.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Germany eye return to women's football summit at Euro 2025
Germany captain Guilia Gwinn was named best young player at the 2019 World Cup (Ronny Hartmann) Ambitious and hungry, Germany's women head into Euro 2025 in Switzerland feeling they are on the cusp of another era of dominance. By far the most successful side in the history of the competition, eight-time winners Germany have not lifted the trophy since 2013. Advertisement But with a core of young players eager to honour the achievements of past generations, Germany are hopeful of a return to the summit this summer. Germany open their campaign against newcomers Poland on July 4 in St Gallen, followed by matches against Denmark in Basel, which will host the final, and Sweden in Zurich. - 'We can do it' - Two-time World Cup winners, a run spanning more than 20 years as the dominant team in the women's game in Europe shaped Germany's history and identity as the continent's top side. Since winning their first European crown as West Germany in 1989, the Germans have hoovered up seven more titles. Advertisement Norway, the next best, have won two titles while Sweden, England and the Netherlands have one apiece. In recent years however, the Germans have been inconsistent at major tournaments as other nations have started to catch up. After going out in the quarter-finals in 2017, Germany finished runners-up at Euro 2022 after losing 2-1 in extra time to England. At the 2023 World Cup, Germany suffered a shock group stage elimination for the first time in their history. A year later however, they rebounded at the Paris Olympics to finish third. Captain Giulia Gwinn scored the only goal as Germany beat world champions Spain to win bronze, finishing as the highest-placed European team. Advertisement Coach Christian Wueck's side are young -- only two of the 23 squad members are over 30 -- but many have several years experience in the Germany set-up. Speaking last month in Berlin, striker Laura Freigang said her team was ripe for a shot at a record ninth European Championship. "We believe in the title... We know we can do it. That's the motivation," Freigang said, adding her side had "absolute conviction" they could go all the way. Her strike partner Lea Schueller mirrored those sentiments. "We're Germany. We definitely want to win a title," she said in an interview with last month. Advertisement "We're not just taking part in the tournament for the sake of it." - Red-hot form - Forward Alexandra Popp's retirement last year could have hampered Germany's preparations, but the Germans are well stocked up front, with Schueller, Freigang and Klara Buehl posing a consistent threat. Germany boast impressive depth, but have also been hit by injuries. Midfield enforcer Lena Oberdorf failed to return from a cruciate injury in time, while Eintracht Frankfurt striker Nicole Anyomi also misses out. Wueck, who led Germany to the Under-17 boys' World Cup title in 2023, has been in the hot seat for less than a year but has the side in terrific form. Advertisement Germany have five wins and a draw from six Nations League matches heading into the tournament, with their recent 4-0 win over the Netherlands and a 6-0 thumping of Austria particularly impressive. "It was important for us to have two games in which we delivered our full performance for 90 minutes," Freigang said. "We've learned a lot in the past few months about ourselves as a team. We know what we need... it's time to put it into practice." When announcing the squad, Wueck said Germany were "good and balanced" and that their recent form would "boost" their self-confidence. "We want to play with a mix of joy, enthusiasm, desire and conviction. That's what the team stands for," he said. "If we manage to do that, we'll go very far." dwi/mw/ea
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The potential cost the Lionesses will have to pay out of their own pocket for loved ones to watch them in the group stages of Euro 2025
A study has shown how much each member of England 's Euro 2025 squad may have to pay individually to have loved ones fly out and stay to watch them in Switzerland. The European Championship holders begin the defence of their title next month in a daunting Group D which also contains France, Netherlands and Wales. On Wednesday, it was revealed that England players are contributing their own money to help cover the cost of bringing family members to Switzerland, due to the country's high cost of living. Four Swiss cities - Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern - ranked among the top 10 most expensive cities globally last year, behind only Hong Kong and Singapore. The average price for a pint of milk is as high as £1.67. England will be playing in Zurich as well as another host city in St. Gallen. The FA are providing England players with a financial contribution to support the travel and accommodation expenses of their families. The sum is comparable to what was provided for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia, and it matches the amount given to the men's team. And She Kicks have calculated the full cost of what the group stage for travel and accommodation could be for England players if they paid the full whack themselves. England's camp for the tournament will be in Zurich with two of their matches there. She Kicks, with its data taken on Thursday, report that a flight from London to Zurich on July 1 will cost around £150 for two people. If the unthinkable happens and England are knocked out at the group stages, then their tournament would end on July 13. And a flight back that day currently costs £120-per-person. While the flight prices may not seem too unreasonable to some, the accommodation may not be. She Kicks add that prices for hotel in Zurich throughout the whole group stage in itself (with the first game starting on July 2 and ending on July 13) costing between £1,000-1,300 for one room. If there is some, in the loosest sense, comfort for England their game in St. Gallen against Wales is a short one-hour bus journey - therefore saving the need for another hotel. Speaking about their predicament on Wednesday, England midfielder Georgia Stanway said: 'I'm aware that Switzerland is a very expensive country. Even just for flights, hotels, the cost of living there is extremely high, so we understand the demand it is on fans. And I think that's difficult for us as well because we want to help and support as much as possible. 'A lot of us are putting our hands in our pockets to make sure that our families can get over there. We would love to see as many fans as possible, and we want to thank them in advance because we know it's not cheap.' Team-mate Ella Toone added: 'I think it will be a bit difficult for players' families who are staying out for the whole tournament. I know that I'll always help my family be out there and make memories with us.'
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Women's Euro 2025 TV schedule: How to watch every match
England will chase another major title at Euro 2025 as the Lionesses take on debutants Wales, France and the Netherlands in a blockbuster Group D in Switzerland. Sarina Wiegman 's side are defending champions having lifted the trophy on home soil with a memorable victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final. They will be joined by first-time qualifiers Wales who will make their major tournament debuts in the July finals after a historic victory over the Republic of Ireland in the play-offs. Euro 2025 will kick off in Switzerland on Wednesday 2 July. The final will be played at St-Jakob's Park in Basel on Sunday 27 July. England Euro 2025 fixtures Saturday 5th July vs France - 8pm BST, live on ITV Wednesday 9th July vs Netherlands - 5pm BST, live on BBC Sunday 13th July vs Wales - 8pm BST, live on ITV Wales Euro 2025 fixtures Saturday 5th July vs Netherlands - 5pm BST, live on BBC Wednesday 9th July vs France - 8pm BST, live on ITV Sunday 13th July vs England - 8pm BST, live on ITV Full Euro 2025 fixtures and TV schedule
