Women's Euro 2025 England Profile

The Women's Euros kick off this week with England again among the favourites and set to defend their crown.

As we build up to the tournament itself, I've decided to do a profile on their team which includes a short assessment of their squad, the group they're in, the teams they'll be facing in that group, and who is likely to be in their starting line up.

Let's see what I think of their chances.

PREDICTED STARTING UP

Hannah Hampton will definitely start between the sticks as she has the no.1 jersey and has been the starting keeper for the last few games. She'll no doubt have big shoes to fill in replacing Mary Earps following their retirement from international football a few months ago.

In terms of the defence, Lucy Bronze will again start at right back as she's still one of if not the best in that position. She's been England's first choice right back for a while now and looks set to be again heading into this tournament, which could possibly be her last as she'll be 35 when the World Cup comes around in 2027.

In central defence, Leah Williamson will obviously start there as she's the captain and the best central defender England have in their squad. Alex Greenwood will be the player that I think will play alongside Williamson as she's the next best central defender in the squad behind Williamson. The pair of them have played together in each of England's last two games and will be expected to do so again at the Euros.

Niamh Charles will be the player that slots in at right back as she the first choice in that position and has been for the last year or so. Jess Carter has filled in there at times more recently, but Charles should still get the nod as she's the first choice in that position and more of an out and out left back than Carter, who is more of a central defender.

In terms of the midfield, I think England will play with two sitting midfielders as they're going to be up against tough opposition during the group stages in France and Holland who both have very good attacking players, and they've also played with a midfield two in recent games.

Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway will be the players who will be play as the two deep-lying midfielders as they've been the preferred two in recent games. Walsh was obviously going to take one of the spots as she's the only defensive midfielder in the squad and one of the best in her position. Stanway may be better as a no.8 than she is as a no.6, but she does have a lot of energy and she can use it to get back and help her team out defensively.

Ella Toone meanwhile will take the no.10 spot as that is arguably her best position and the best player England have to play that role.

In attack, Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp will occupy the wide positions as they've been the preferred players in those positions more recently. Mead was always going to start as she's one of England's best players and was their main man when they won the Euros in 2022. Hemp did have a long spell on the side-lines due to injury, but I'm still expecting her to start as she's now back fully fit ahead of the tournament.

The player to lead the attack in the no.9 has to be Alessia Russo following the stellar season she had with Arsenal where she netted 20 times in all competitions. 12 of those goals came in the WSL and won here the golden boot.

THE GROUP

The Lionesses are in a tough group for this tournament as they'll be facing two quality sides in France and Holland. But they do have one winnable game against Wales who they should be more than capable of beating.

Their group may be tough, but I still think they can get out of it as they have a good enough squad to do so. Holland are not the team they were and although France have some talented players in their squad like they usually do, you still don't know which version of them will show up. I think England could beat both of them and win the group.

THEIR SQUAD

The Lionesses have a good squad on paper as most of the players in it were part of the side that won the Euros in 2022. But is probably isn't as strong as they've lost three key players in Mary Earps and Fran Kirby to retirement, and Millie Bright to injury. All three of those players were a crucial part of that side that won the Euros in 2022 whilst Earps and Bright were both massive to the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final in 2023.

They do still have a number of options in their attack including Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp. If England are in need of a goal during the latter stages of a game, Sarina Wiegman will be able to look to her bench for answers because of the options she has in attack. She did this at the last Euros she'll be hoping to do the same again this time round should England need inspiration from their bench.

PREDICTION: Semi Finals

They haven't been the same team since they won the Euros in 2022 in that their performances haven't been consistent enough. But they should still go far because of the quality of players they have in their squad and the manager they have in Wiegman. I don't see them going all the way though because I think Spain will again break their hearts and knock them out in the semi finals.