Grouped with France, the Netherlands and Wales, things won't be easy for the European champions, but there are many reasons to believe
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BuyGoalkeeper
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From
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BuyHome
Home Kit
Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the pastFeatures classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL
From
£84.99
BuyAway
Away Kit
Celebrates the squad's impact on future generations of female athletesFeatures bursts of bright colours accenting a fearless blackAvailable in S, M, L, XL and 2XL
From
£84.99
BuyGoalkeeper
Goalkeeper Kit
Comes in the traditional green colourwayLogos centralised for a retro look Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL
From
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This summer, for the first time, England's Lionesses will head to a major tournament as the defending champions. Three years after Chloe Kelly's extra-time strike defeated Germany at Wembley, Sarina Wiegman's side head to Switzerland looking to retain their European Championship title, with the manager herself looking to win this tournament for the third time in a row, having also lifted the 2017 trophy with the Netherlands.
It's not going to be easy. England have been drawn in the 'group of death', alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales, which will be a difficult pool to escape from full stop. Squeeze through in second, though, rather than topping the table, and it's extremely likely that their quarter-final opponent will be Spain, the team that beat them in the Women's World Cup final two years ago.
Further complicating the Lionesses' title defence is the loss of two key players, in Mary Earps and Millie Bright. Wiegman wanted both to be part of her squad this summer, but neither will be, with Earps' retiring from international duty just a week before the England squad was named and Bright withdrawing from selection in order to prioritise her mental and physical well-being.
But it's not all bad news. This is still a fantastic team, one capable of great things, as GOAL breaks down six reasons why the Lionesses successfully defend their title at Euro 2025…
GettyExperienced squad
One of the main reasons England have the ability to win Euro 2025 is because their squad is packed with players who know exactly how to get over the line on this stage. No fewer than 13 names involved this summer were part of the side that triumphed in 2022, with them well-versed in the demands and pressure that comes with this sort of occasion.
It's not just at international level that these players know how to handle those factors, either. So many of them deal with that sort of stuff week in, week out at club level, representing the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Manchester United. It's the best position this England team has ever been in in terms of high-level experience.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWorld-class talent
It's not just that the players in this England squad are experienced – they're also extremely talented. Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp can all lay claim to being among the very best players in their positions in the world, and it is quality like that which can win games on the biggest stages.
This is a great team that works well as a group and so often that delivers results. But in the moments that it doesn't, in the moments when England need someone to step up and deliver a bit of magic in order to get over the line, they have that as well.
Getty ImagesIn-form Russo
Among the top-quality players in that squad is Alessia Russo, who is still making in-roads when it comes to being one of the best strikers in the world, but who comes into this Euros off the back of her best-ever season. The Arsenal star earned a share of the Women's Super League Golden Boot and was central to the Gunners' Champions League triumph, with so many other areas of her game thriving alongside her much improved goal-scoring.
That success hasn't been limited to club level, either. Russo's increased clinical touch has also been on show for England, with a deadly finish against Spain at the start of last month perfectly illustrating the confidence she has in front of goal right now. That's going to be absolutely vital to the Lionesses' chances of success.
Getty ImagesInjury fortunes
A few months ago, if someone wanted to compile a list of reasons why England wouldn't win Euro 2025, injuries would've surely been one of the first to come to mind. Hemp underwent knee surgery in November, Greenwood followed suit a month later, and then Stanway joined the club at the end of January, all before James' season ended prematurely in April thanks to a hamstring issue. There were less than three months before the Euros was set to begin when all four were serious doubts for the tournament.
All would've been huge losses for different reasons: the attack, and its depth, would've been seriously weakened without Hemp and James; Greenwood is perhaps England's best centre-back, while Bright's subsequent withdrawal would've only intensified issues there; and had Stanway missed out, there would've been a lot of pressure on young Grace Clinton in a midfield role she's still learning.
Fortunately, then, all four have recovered in time. It's a huge break for an England side that has not had its rub of the green in recent years, with all of Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead having missed the World Cup in 2023. This time, they've got a much fuller squad to work with.
