The talent goes beyond those starting on the pitch 

Following the Lionesses victory in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, it was clear that every single player was key to their success. Although only eleven are on the pitch at once, all twenty-three play a part in lifting the EURO trophy.

Looking back on 2022, players including Alessia Russo and Ella Toone were used as impact substitutes; they changed the game in the second half. Now, they are regular starters in a squad of European Champions.

Now that the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 is over, the Lionesses are trailblazers in women’s football.

Memories of the summer of 2022 are back, as the nation once again witnesses a European trophy lift. Becoming European Champions for the first time impacted the nation, but becoming European Champions for the second time has created an even stronger legacy.

How much have Sarina Wiegman’s England side impacted the future of women’s football? And how did they repeat history once again this summer?

It will be a game of luck, with both teams statistically capable of beating each other. It will be a game of who can score first and who can clear their defensive lines. It will be a game of who takes their chances and who is brave enough. Overall, it will be an interesting game with pure emotions playing a huge factor. 

One year and year months later, there is a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. The world-class Spain against England. The Lionesses are in their third consecutive major tournament final under head coach, Sarina Wiegman, despite their recent performances in the last few years. 

The UEFA Women’s EURO is underway, with each nation selecting twenty-three players to head on the plane to Switzerland. However, there can only be one goalkeeper in the starting eleven. With the evolution of women’s football, the number of goalkeepers is rising, finally putting their vital role in the limelight.

In the quarter finals of the competition, four entertaining yet dramatic matches unfolded: England, Spain, Italy, and Germany progressing to the final four. Two of these fixtures went down to the wire, with the sides being separated by a penalty shootout.

With the semifinals upon us, each nation relies on their key players to deliver when it matters most. From experienced leaders to rising stars, these are the standout names to remember as the final fixtures unfold. 

In Switzerland this summer, the last four nations remaining have a wealth of talent: Italy, England, Spain and Germany. Only two will reach the final, but all four countries have something to be proud of.

When the UEFA Women’s EURO in Switzerland came calling, Sydney Schertenleib knew she had to deliver. The eighteen-year-old young prospect made her major tournament debut on home soil. The Swiss international is emerging as a rising star of the game.

Not only is the young player shining for her country, but also for her club, FC Barcelona Femení. During her time in Spain, she has contributed to the retaining several accolades: Liga F feminine Champions, the Copa de la Reina, and Supercopa feminina trophies. With such a successful Spanish club, making her mark on the team is no easy challenge.

The UEFA Women’s EURO is an opportunity to shine a light on the rising stars in the women’s game. More and more young talents are emerging, with several making their major tournament debuts this summer.

These individuals are the future of women’s football. Young players bring a new perspective to the game and continue the positive legacy within the sport. Although so many youngsters are rising to the occasion, there are five players who have taken the major tournament by storm: Michelle Agyemang, Vicky Lopez, Iman Beney, Alice Sombath and Wieke Kaptein. 

As the quarter finals approach, the competition intensifies, with pressure mounting even further. Every team that makes it to this stage of the competition has a twelve and a half percent chance of taking home silverware. Then, this increases to twenty-five percent if you win the quarter final. Who will make the final four? Who will increase their chances of making history? And who will go home?