Defending champions England and tournament debutants Wales both suffered defeats in their opening Euro 2025 matches. Can they recover in their next Group D fixtures?
BBC Sport’s football analyst, Rachel Brown-Finnis, offers her predictions for all 31 games in Switzerland.
She accurately predicted five of the first eight group stage matches, including the Netherlands’ win over Wales, but was surprised by France’s victory against the Lionesses.
The outcome of that match also eluded the majority of you, with only 16% predicting a win for Les Bleues. Like Rachel, your overall score was 5/8, and you also incorrectly predicted wins for Finland over Iceland and Italy over Belgium.
Will you and Rachel fare better in the next round? You can submit your own predictions for the upcoming group games below, including England versus the Netherlands and France against Wales.
Brown-Finnis has also selected her predicted top two teams from each group to advance to the knockout stage, providing her reasoning for each choice.
She is forecasting another Euros title for England, but believes Wales will not progress beyond the group stage.
Rachel Brown-Finnis spoke with BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
Brown-Finnis’ Pre-Tournament Picks: Norway (Winners) and Switzerland (Runners-Up).
Norway’s slow start against Switzerland was stark, but their performance transformed in the second half, both in and out of possession.
They appeared a different team after halftime, rallying from a goal down to defeat the hosts. I anticipate they will build on that performance, now aware of the required level.
Finland’s victory over Iceland showcased their strong defensive organization and resilience, but I still believe Norway will find a way through.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 1-0
While it feels like the tournament has just begun, this match is crucial for both teams. If the earlier Group A game ends in a draw, the loser here is eliminated.
Iceland, the higher-ranked team, will undoubtedly believe they can secure the necessary result. However, their previous encounters in this year’s Nations League resulted in two draws.
Switzerland’s defeat to Norway was disappointing for the hosts, but I thought they performed fantastically in the first half. I don’t believe their lead slipped due to a lack of effort or performance decline.
The shift in that game was primarily due to Norway’s tactical changes and the Swiss failing to adapt. Even then, they were somewhat unlucky not to gain anything from the match.
If Switzerland can replicate that intensity here, with the crowd’s support, I believe they possess the quality to get their tournament back on track.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 2-1
Brown-Finnis’ Pre-Tournament Picks: Spain (Winners) and Portugal (Runners-Up).
Spain’s 5-0 victory over Portugal was incredibly impressive. It’s clear how much they’ve improved since the 2022 European Championship, where England defeated them in the quarter-finals, and they are just getting started in this tournament.
Many teams have undergone personnel changes since that tournament and the 2023 World Cup, but none have improved as significantly as Spain.
Against Portugal, we saw the consequences when a team fails to adapt to Spain’s dominant style. You must acknowledge you won’t have much possession, sit back, and play on the counter. Portugal didn’t do that and paid the price.
I don’t expect Belgium to make the same mistake, but it’s still difficult to see them getting anything from this game. Losing to Italy was a significant blow to their hopes of advancing from the group, and this is a much tougher challenge.
Belgium has played Spain four times in recent months, in the Nations League and Euro qualifiers, losing each time.
Some of those defeats were heavy, but Belgium caused them problems at times too.
I’m unsure how close they’ll get to the world champions this time, but at least they know what to expect.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 2-0
Portugal was quite naive against Spain. They have quality, but not enough to take risks against the world champions and expect a result.
This game will be much closer, and I anticipate a reaction from Portugal after their growth in recent tournaments. They know they must perform here, or they’ll be going home soon.
Italy may be confident after beating Belgium in their first game, but they can be quite open at times, and I’d be surprised if they find this straightforward.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 2-1
Brown-Finnis’ Pre-Tournament Picks: Germany (Winners) and Sweden (Runners-Up).
8 July, 17:00 BST
St Jakob-Park, Basel
World Ranking: 3rd v 12th
Best Euros Finish: Germany: Eight-time winners between 1989 & 2013. Denmark: Runners-up in 2017.
Germany started well with their win over Poland, but losing captain Giulia Gwinn to injury was a significant blow, ruling her out for the rest of the Euros.
I still think they have the squad depth to see off Denmark, and they already look composed and like they have found some rhythm, but this won’t be easy.
The Danes badly need to get something out of this game, and Pernille Harder will be desperate to kickstart her tournament after hitting the bar in their defeat against Sweden.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 2-0
8 July, 20:00 BST
Allmend Stadion Luzern, Lucerne
World Ranking: 27th v 6th
Best Euros Finish: Poland: First-time qualifiers. Sweden: Winners in 1984
Poland put in a spirited performance against Germany, but still lost on their debut at a major finals.
It’s hard to see them getting anything here, either. Sweden’s win over Denmark was massive for their hopes of getting out of the group and I am expecting them to get another victory here too.
Like Wales, Poland are finding out that the level of tournament football at a European Championship really is the best of the best.
When you look at the world ranking of the teams here, then Europe is the strongest continent, which is why it’s so hard to get out of your group – let alone go all the way and win it.
For teams who are at their first major finals, it is a case of looking upwards – not just in terms of everyone else’s world rankings, but with factors like experience and confidence too.
Sweden have got lots of know-how at major finals and that should help them get the win they want before they face Germany in their final group game.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 0-1
Brown-Finnis’ Pre-Tournament Picks: England (Winners) and France (Runners-Up).
9 July, 17:00 BST
Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich
World Ranking: 5th v 11th
Best Euros Finish: England: Winners in 2022. The Netherlands: Winners in 2017.
England started well against France but after having a goal ruled out for offside they were just not good enough in the first half.
The Lionesses improved and dominated possession after the break but still didn’t manage any shots on target until the closing stages.
That defeat means this is a must-win game for them but, if they are going to beat the Netherlands, they will have to be much better at the basics.
Too many simple passes went astray on Saturday night, and we didn’t see the kind of sharp and polished England performance that we have become used to.
We know England can be better, and I do think they will be much improved against the Dutch, but they will have to be careful because Vivianne Miedema looked like she is back to her best with her brilliant goal that broke the deadlock against Wales.
It was a reminder of her class, and also how she is not a player who needs loads of chances, but makes her opportunities count – which is why she has scored 100 goals and counting for her country.
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Miedema scores 100th goal to give Dutch the lead
Miedema can sometimes look disinterested, or seem uninvolved, but that’s just how she plays – it means she is sometimes underestimated, when she is always dangerous.
I still believe England will rise to the challenge, however, even if manager Sarina Wiegman may have to review the tactics she used against France – they looked much more threatening when Michelle Agyemang came on late on, compared to when Alessia Russo was up top on her own.
When it comes down to games like this, where they have to get the three points, I would always back England and Wiegman to find a way of winning.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 2-1
9 July, 20:00 BST
Arena St Gallen, St Gallen
World Ranking: 10th v 30th
Best Euros Finish: France: Semi-finals in 2022. Wales: First-time qualifiers.
France were worthy winners against England. They got a bit of momentum in the first half, and took control.
Wales will know what to expect after watching that game, because Les Bleues looked pumped, and never gave England any easy possession of the ball at all, but stopping France is a huge ask – they looked fresh and fiery and their intensity and work-rate was simply relentless.
Wales had a way of playing against the Dutch that worked for a while – they defended in numbers, worked hard and pressed hard, and tried to attack on the break when they won the ball back – but they couldn’t sustain it.
They found out the hard way what happens when you give players like Miedema too much space and time on the edge of your area, and if they drop off against France, then their quality will shine through too.
Brown-Finnis’ Prediction: 3-0
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