𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

For the seven England players enjoying their first ever tournament call-up, there is a new sense of wonder at being part of a team that is a genuine cultural force. A giddy excitement could be sensed around some of the Euro 2025 campaigns, that you can now see all over England.

“Admire England,” one starts, but “Fear the Lionesses.” The campaign goes on to say ,“Chloe’s calm, Kelly’s chaos”, “Leah charms, Williamson commands”.

It might be an apt theme on a few levels, some unintended. Because, when you speak to people around Sarina Wiegman’s camp, there are almost two sides to most discussion around the team. That marks a shift in itself, given we aren’t really seeing the unifying optimism of Euro 2022, or the deep resolve of the 2023 World Cup. At least not yet. Instead, there’s a split around general expectations for Euro 2025. England are simultaneously cast as having a strong chance of retaining their title, and being vulnerable to an embarrassing group-stage elimination.

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has joined up with the Spain Euro 2025 squad in Switzerland after after being treated for viral meningitis.

Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, was absent for her country’s 3-1 friendly win over Japan on Friday as she received treatment at a Madrid hospital. She was discharged on Sunday.

The Spanish Football Federation shared photos on social media of the 27-year-old arriving at the team hotel late on Monday.

The arrival of Bonmati, who has scored 30 times in 78 matches for her country, will be a big boost for the world champions, but it remains to be seen when she will be available to play.

Prince William has delivered an inspiring good luck message to the Lionesses ahead of Euro 2025.

The Prince of Wales visited England’s women’s football squad at the St George’s Park national football centre in Staffordshire on Monday, June 30th.

During his visit, William spoke to the England Women’s manager, Sarina Wiegman, and then presented all 23 members with new match jerseys.

In his speech to the team, William stated, “I know how you are going to play – you are going to play with freedom, you are going to play with camaraderie and teamwork.”

England received a warm send-off from fans as they began their travels to Switzerland by leaving St George’s Park on Monday.

The Lionesses played their send-off friendly against Jamaica on Sunday – winning 7-0 – and will now be training in Zurich in the days leading up to their opening game against France on Saturday.

Fans will be allowed to bring bottles of water to the stadium for some of the games at the Women’s European Championship, which gets underway on Wednesday, as a heatwave has sent temperatures in Switzerland to over 30 degrees.

European soccer governing body UEFA said on Tuesday that the normally strict security rules would be relaxed to allow fans attending matches on the first two days (July 2 and 3) of Euro 2025 to bring a half-litre plastic or aluminium water bottle into the stadium. No glass bottles will be allowed.

The usual conditions attached to Euro 2025 tickets state that no “bottles, jugs or cans of any kind, as well as other objects made from plastic, glass or any other fragile materials” may be brought into any of the stadiums, with exceptions made for medical containers.

According to meteorological service MeteoSwiss, the temperature in Basel is expected to reach 35 degrees ahead of Switzerland’s opening game against Norway on Wednesday evening, with similar temperatures expected throughout the country.

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.