Women’s Euro 2025: England v Netherlands, France v Wales buildup, news and more - live

10m ago 08.40 EDT England are ready. "Sometimes it is about blocking out the noise, and just getting on that pitch."

Ready to give it our all ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/iZjKWi6KeH — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 9, 2025 Share

18m ago 08.32 EDT During a pre-match press conference yesterday, England striker Alessia Russo said: “Four days is plenty for us to be back out on the pitch. We’ve had a few great days of training so I think everybody is ready and looking forward to tomorrow.” View image in fullscreen Alessia Russo speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the EURO 2025 Group D match between England and the Netherlands. Photograph: Harriet Lander/The FA/Getty Images Share

30m ago 08.20 EDT “It was the tournament where the Netherlands were going to show they could survive the group of death. That they were not too old and that Vivianne Miedema and Daniëlle van de Donk could still shine at the highest level. “Then it all turned into the Andries Jonker show…” Moving the Goalposts | How the Netherlands’ Euro 2025 campaign turned into the Andries Jonker show Read more Share

39m ago 08.10 EDT Here’s a little reminder of today’s fixtures: England v Netherlands (5pm BST)

France v Wales (8pm BST) Share

1h ago 07.54 EDT If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our Moving the Goalposts newsletter for regular updates on women’s football. You’ll receive stories, features and interviews straight to your inbox twice a week. If there’s any time to sign up, it’s now! Share

1h ago 07.48 EDT Peter has emailed in to say: “Please, Sarina, start Toone and Beever-Jones. Also, Clinton instead of Stanway.” Share

1h ago 07.40 EDT Louise Taylor “After losing their opening game 3-0 against the Netherlands in Lucerne, Rhian Wilkinson and her players are in St Gallen on a mission to prove they belong on the same pitches as Europe’s elite. Their key midfielder Jess Fishlock and her teammates are determined to confound critics who believe Euro 2025’s lowest-ranked team are out of their depth.” European explorers Wales plot an upset in hope of extending Swiss expedition Read more Share

1h ago 07.32 EDT During her pre-match press conference ahead of this evening’s match, Sarina Wiegman said: “It’s going to be an intense game. We knew this was going to be a hard group. What we are focusing on is our game-plan and executing that, doing your task and having conversations with players together and talking together, and that is what we want to do in the game too. “What we are occupied with is playing football, executing a task and sticking together, getting the right connections, working really hard, and doing everything to win the game.” She later added: “We don’t talk about consequences. We talk about the game-plan, what we have to do to be at our best and how we can exploit spaces that the Netherlands leave behind.” View image in fullscreen Sarina Wiegman speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the EURO 2025 Group D match between England and the Netherlands. Photograph: Harriet Lander/The FA/Getty Images Share

2h ago 07.18 EDT Tom Hopkins messaged in to give his take on team selection: “I don’t have any magic answers to the various selection conundrums, but it does strike me that Wiegman is wrestling with the same issue that’s caught out many fine managers - when to break up a successful team and how ruthlessly. So often it seems obvious in retrospect that a team was past its collective peak, but going into a tournament it’s very hard to make that call. “I think one of Alex Ferguson’s greatest strengths was his ability to see that moment (and then, the brutality to act on it).” Share

2h ago 07.02 EDT Gareth Taylor in talks with Liverpool Tom Garry Liverpool have held talks with the former Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor about their managerial vacancy. View image in fullscreen Gareth Taylor looks on during the UEFA Women's Champions League match between Manchester City and SKN St. Pölten. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images Share

2h ago 06.54 EDT Laurence believes that Sarina Wiegman should make a change at the back, with Maya Le Tissier coming into the starting line-up: “The issues for me are at the back without the leadership of Earps and Bright. I’d bring Le Tissier for Greenwood, to provide more defensive stability for Williamson to play out from the back. A more solid defence would give the forwards confidence to be more creative in attack, and push the whole team out of their own half.” Share

2h ago 06.46 EDT One player we could see in action this evening, albeit off the bench, is 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang. The Arsenal striker was introduced for her major tournament debut in the 86th minute against France at the weekend and impressed with her short cameo, adding a refreshing level of energy to the England attack. She is now prepared to make an impact with any time she gets on the pitch. “It’s easy to look at the time and think there’s not enough left,” Agyemang said this week. “That’s the beauty of the game. It only takes 10 seconds to make an impact. Any time is good enough for me, so I’m grateful for that opportunity.” She also said: “Most of the pressure comes from myself. I don’t try to listen to the noise. I appreciate the support from everyone. Focusing on what I can do is most important and then the noise will come around no matter what happens. I just focus on how I can improve my game and how I can help the team.” View image in fullscreen Michelle Agyemang during match between France and England. Photograph: Mathias Bergeld/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock Share

2h ago 06.34 EDT Thanks Dominic! Right, England fans, I want to hear from you! Let me know who you think should be starting against Netherlands this afternoon. James or Toone in midfield? Carter or Charles at left-back? Kelly or Mead on the right wing? If you were in the shoes of Sarina Wiegman, who would you go for? Share

2h ago 06.30 EDT Right, it’s time for me to log off as Emillia Hawkins takes the reins. There’s plenty more buildup to tonight’s games to get through. Share

2h ago 06.21 EDT You wonder how many changes Sarina Wiegman will make to her England side tonight. There was some bafflement after Grace Clinton was left out of the midfield against France, with Georgia Stanway preferred despite having played very little football in recent months. Will Wiegman also be tempted to throw one of her exciting young forward, Michelle Agyemang or Aggie Beever-Jones, in from the start? There’s also the Lauren James dilemma. She produced some promising moments in the France game, but her inclusion means a different structure to the Lionesses side. Lots of questions for Wiegman to answer. Share

3h ago 05.49 EDT Are Sweden one of the teams to watch out for in this tournament? With a minimum of fuss, they’ve won both their opening games without conceding a goal. And they were totally untroubled in last night’s win over Poland, with all three goals coming via headers and Stina Blackstenius in ominous form. Share

3h ago 05.38 EDT Words from the England camp now, and striker Alessia Russo says there is a determination in the Lionesses squad to put things right after a disappointing opening defeat to France. When you have a disappointing result in football, all you want to do is get back out on the pitch and play again, so luckily with tournaments it comes round a bit quicker than normal. Four days is plenty for us to want to be back out on that pitch. We’ve had a few great days of training and getting back to it as a team, so yeah, I think everyone is ready and looking forward to [the game]. View image in fullscreen Alessia Russo will be hoping to inspire England to victory in their crucial clash with the Netherlands. Photograph: Harriet Lander/The FA/Getty Images Share

3h ago 05.23 EDT Miedema puts aside Mead relationship for England game Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema is ready to put aside her relationship with former Arsenal teammate Beth Mead when her side face England tonight. Now at Manchester City, Miedema has been in a relationship with Mead for the past three years, but she'll be trying to knock Mead and the Lionesses out of the tournament come 5pm tonight. If it’s not a nice moment for Beth, it’s not a problem for me. For once we will not be friends. I will do everything I can to win tomorrow. If I have to do something that is not good for Beth, then I will do it. I don’t think she’ll speak to me for a bit [if we win] but it’s tough. I also have some of my best friends on that [England] team. It’s part of football. It’s part of the game. I’ve probably been on the other end of it [more]. I’ll be happy for us if we get through. We both know what we’re going through. It’s a very important tournament. Our golden rule is we do not discuss anything [pre-match]. I don’t know whether she’ll be starting tomorrow or whether she’ll be on the bench. As a Dutch player I will do everything possible to win the game. Miedema will do ‘everything’ she can to eliminate partner Mead and England Read more Share

4h ago 05.08 EDT I’m afraid no summer of football can be dominated by an international tournament alone. Transfer tittle tattle now exists and is unlikely to ever go away. So here’s your daily dose of rumours in the men’s game. Ferran Torres to Aston Villa? If you say so. Football transfer rumours: Ferran Torres to swap Barcelona for Aston Villa? Read more Share

4h ago 05.04 EDT Dutch midfielder Sherida Spitse made her Netherlands debut against England in back in 2006 as a 16-year-old and now, at 35, is still going strong as Europe’s top international appearance maker in the women’s game. She’s no longer a regular starter but could add to her 245 caps (yes, really!) this evening, having been used in defence in recent times by her country. “Her influence on the team is being a leader outside the pitch, but also on the pitch being able to lead the team, to coach the team,” Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker told BBC Sport. “She is in great shape and as fit as the youngsters. This year, she has convinced everybody and nobody has any doubt about her position in the squad. It’s a victory for her. “She likes to laugh, to make fun, but on the other hand is also emotional, open, wears her heart on her sleeve, says what she feels or sees. Not the best player in the world, but she is a really special player.” Share

4h ago 04.50 EDT The prematch sparring between the English and Dutch press has begun in earnest. England v Netherlands media match underway… pic.twitter.com/j9ByzBd218 — Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) July 9, 2025 Share

4h ago 04.27 EDT Draws for England and Wales this evening would leave both teams in a perilous position in Group D, stranded on a point apiece with the Netherlands and France each on four points in that scenario. That would leave both nations in with a chance of qualifying, with whoever winning the final group fixture between the Lionesses and the Dragons only going through if there was a winner between France and the Netherlands. Even so, England for example, would need France to win that game because they cannot surpass Les Bleus on head-to-head record having lost to them. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker for teams level on points in the group stage; then goal difference, then goals scored. Share

4h ago 04.21 EDT While we’re on the subject of Wales, Louise Taylor has been in their camp in St Gallen and has written about a team who aren’t quite ready to end their first major tournament adventure. Can they spring a surprise against France to blow Group D wide open? Their players and coaches certainly think so. European explorers Wales determined to keep place on map at Euro 2025 Read more Share

5h ago 03.41 EDT More from that game – which was Germany’s seventh successive win in the Women’s Euros group stages, conceding just two goals across those matches. Christian Wück’s side were denied twice by VAR early in the game, with the technology facing criticism for how long it took to reach those decisions. A Klara Buhl goal was chalked off and a penalty claim overturned as the Danish infringement was outside the box. Wück said: “I don’t know if the decisions are right or wrong but the football system has to work out how to speed that up.” Schüller completes Germany comeback after Denmark left dazed by decisions Read more Share

5h ago 03.33 EDT There was some concern in Germany’s win over Denmark surrounding Danish midfielder Emma Snerle who was lying on the ground during the scoring of the second German goal. Having taken a ball to the face from a teammate’s clearance, Snerle was clearly in a dazed and distressed state – and was later helped off the pitch – but the referee Catarina Ferreira Campos failed to blow her whistle as Lea Schüller put the ball in the net. “We need to make the rules clear,” Denmark manager Andrée Jeglertz said of the incident. “If we have a player that has a serious head injury you need to blow the whistle and take responsibility as a referee. “I don’t understand why she doesn’t stop the game. There was a similar incident in the first half when the referee didn’t stop the game for a head injury and I question those decisions.” Share

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