The Women’s Euro 2025 draw is upon us, and the excitement is palpable! England, the reigning champions, and Wales, making their debut, are both eagerly awaiting to see who their opponents will be. The draw is taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland, and promises some thrilling matchups. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:
- When: Draw takes place on December 16th, 2024, 5 PM UK time.
- Where: Lausanne, Switzerland
- Who’s involved: England, Wales, and 14 other top European teams.
- Key Point: England is in Pot 2, which could lead to a ‘group of death’.
- Wales Debut: Wales is participating in their first ever finals.
- Competition Dates: Matches start July 2nd, 2025, with the final on July 27th in Basel.
The Draw Ceremony: A Swiss Spectacle
The draw ceremony kicked off in Switzerland with a mix of local flavor and Euro-pop vibes. A Swiss hip-hop artist, Stress, originally from Estonia, even got the crowd hyped with some Swiss French rap. Despite the vibrant performance, the audience, mostly comprised of suited officials, seemed less enthralled.
England’s Confidence and the ‘Group of Death’
Jill Scott, a Euro 2022 champion, expressed that the English team is feeling confident about the draw, but the Lionesses might be facing a tough road ahead. Due to the seeding system based on Nations League performance instead of world rankings, Pot 3 is stacked and some believe that it’s stronger than pot 2, where the English find themselves. England, despite being fourth in world rankings, sits with Denmark, Italy and Iceland, ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th in the world, meaning that whichever group they land in will be likely be a tough competition. There’s even talk that England might end up in the dreaded ‘group of death’ for the tournament.
The Science Behind the Draw: Group A and B Advantages
There’s a bit of science to the draw, too. A rather geeky stat shows that no team has ever won the Women’s Euros after being drawn outside of Group A or Group B! The winners of Group A generally get the easiest route in the knockout stages. This means if teams want to have a smoother path to the final in Basel, they’ll want to end up in either Group A or B.
Wales Makes History
Wales is participating in their first ever major international tournament, and they’re starting from the bottom pot. This tournament will be a huge moment for the team, and all their fans will be hoping that they can progress from their group and make a splash in the competition.
Key Dates for Euro 2025
Mark these dates in your calendar:
- Group Stage Matchday One: July 2-5
- Group Stage Matchday Two: July 6-9
- Group Stage Matchday Three: July 10-13
- Quarter-finals: July 16-19
- Semi-finals: July 22-23
- Final: July 27
Where will the matches take place?
The matches for the Women’s Euro 2025 will be taking place across various cities in Switzerland. These cities include:
- Basel
- Bern
- Geneva
- Zurich
- St. Gallen
- Lucerne
- Thun
- Sion
The final will be held in Basel at St. Jakob-Park.
Who are the favorites?
While England is the defending champion, Spain, the world champions, are among the favorites, and a lot of teams will be looking to get a win. The Lionesses however will be trying to make history as they try and win back-to-back Euros.
This year’s tournament is shaping up to be a nail-biter with plenty of surprises. Who will rise to the occasion? Stay tuned to find out!
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