Euro 2025 Preview Part 1: Switzerland expects, Spain seek revenge, and watch out for Germany!

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2:06Welcome to Upfront. I'm Chloe Morgan. And I'm Rachel O'Sullivan. The Euros are finally here. That week has arrived. We've been waiting for it and now it is finally at our doorstep. we've got a bumper two-part tournament preview for you. Today we're taking a close look at Group A, B and C and of course Spain, England's biggest rivals for the trophy. But preparations haven't exactly been perfect in the Spain camp, stay tuned for that and much much more.

2:42Rach, you've been in Switzerland since last week, give us an update. I can't even, there's no I was expecting like a podcast from the top of a Swiss mountain I was expecting fondue in the background I was expecting I don't know like at least like a Toblerone or something but I can't you're not giving anything away at the moment mate not yet um I did try some rochstie which was very nice that was a um Swiss dish I haven't gone for the fondue yet I feel like I need a few more people to share that with because that is quite a cheesy uh affair um but that's definitely on the list yeah it's been fun.

3:14We've been here for the last few days in Zurich. It's very warm. I'm currently now in the bedroom with the windows closed for the benefit of the podcast, so I hope everyone can appreciate that because it is hot and there is no air conditioning in this flat that we're in. But yeah, it's lovely. It's beautiful as expected. Done some wandering around. It is expected to cool down a little bit by the end of the week, I think. And when I say cool down, I mean like still mid-20s. But I think there might be a bit of a break in the weather, which is probably beneficial I think for the for the players on the pitch how was Glasto I should ask oh man I thought you'd never ask but before we get on to Glasto I mean what's the excitement been around the tournament I mean we're now in the tournament week like are you starting to see sort of like more fans like arriving in the city centers are you starting to see sort of more like flags and bunting and things like that going up like what what's the actual vibe on the ground yes there's definitely been bunting up since we've been here and they've got some like giant football's dotted around the place as well, which is quite cool.

4:11Actually, yeah, the last kind of couple of days, like Saturday, I started to see more people in national team shirts, which I hadn't really noticed when we first arrived. So that's kind of slowly creeping in. I've met one or two people that are here for the tournament as well. So we're getting there. I feel like today, tomorrow, when we go into the city, it's going to look a little bit different and you'll start to feel it growing. I guess the difference is that it's kicking off in Basel for Switzerland as opposed to here. so it might not feel the same buzz until maybe they have their first match.

4:40Oh mate, I feel so jealous. I feel so jealous that I'm not there. Like having been obviously in England when the Euros came to town before, I just feel like, it just feels like really upsetting that I'm not in the place where we could hopefully be bringing home a second on the Trot trophy. But I digress. We have so much to cover before we even think about the possibility of that happening. And yeah, you know, Glastow this weekend, Rach, it was um I mean it was bloody it was it was just like a really surreal moment so a big big love to the in motion crew Salon um Lucy Al Greenwood um who invited me on one of the talking stages the information stage on Saturday and to discuss all things women's football you know the Euros I was on the stage with um Carly Telford and Jill Scott and they were talking about like the impact of the 2022 Euros and sort of what they're most excited for and you know trying to also do a bit of um bit of you rage to kind of reassure and sort of calm people down you know there was a bit of squad turbulence before but you look at the likes of you know Hempo and Williamson and Bronze and Leslie O 'Russo and Chloe Kelly and like you look at how star-sided the squad is I mean there's absolutely no room for panic we're absolutely fine so that was lovely but we had um yeah a bit of a sellout crowd there's about 200 250 people and you know some of those people admittedly had come to the stage because it was the only area that had shade from the blazing hot sun but stayed for the shade as in like but also stayed for the conversation but yeah it was a really surreal moment being on a very small stage at Glastow and seeing our little post with my name headlining next year yeah like 1975's eat your heart out Lewis Capaldi you can shift on but enough about me so let's kick off and talk about group A it makes sense to kind of start with the A team um the group with loads of crosses in it as Rach called it I feel like I called it something better than that but sure i just okay there was definitely something smarter there's a lot of flags with crosses in various different locations yeah i mean it's aesthetically quite pleasing as a group yeah yeah and i remember thinking that as the things were being called out i was like wait a minute something's seems like if everyone has a cross in their flag i mean england didn't end up in it but it just seemed really funny that it was like when you see them all lined up you're like that's so weird um and also arguably probably the toughest group to call so I'd say it's the least group of deathy because I don't want to offend anybody by saying there's an easy group um but I definitely think maybe the hardest one to call I could not tell you now who I think would be sure and sure out and out favorite so in a way I'd say but even then you're but even then you're like but will they I don't know right I mean like you okay so like just to give context here so group a I appreciate there's a lot of teams in the competition we need to start with the facts first and foremost before we get stuck into what these teams are going to do.

7:28So Finland, Iceland, Norway and the host Switzerland. Iceland and Finland actually start the tournament opener at five o 'clock on Wednesday, which is slightly unusual to not to have the tournament host start the game. Switzerland face Norway later 8pm on the same day at the tournament's biggest stadium, the St. Jakob Stadium in Basel. the opening ceremony will be held before kickoff and the theme is the summit of emotions which is going to be loads of people like crying and laughing on the pitch all different emotions I was going to say what are you kind of expecting from the opening tournament?

8:02do we have any kind of inkling about like you know performances or like how they're going to approach like the big opening game? it's going to be flags isn't it? they love flags all different weird shaped flags and then there's going to be children playing parachute in the middle of the pitch isn't that normally what happens? and then people going around waving flags around them I mean that's kind of the vibe what more can you do? you can't damage the pitch you can't have too many pyrotechnics just in cases you know you don't want to set anything on fire so I feel flags are always the way to go especially at a major tournament It's hard to say that I mean this is supposed to be this is pitch as being bigger and better than the previous year but like when you look at something like do you remember when the Olympics came to the UK and the opening ceremony was in West Ham Stadium and you had like the Queen flying in and then James Bond was protected and there was taxis everywhere this is the level that I'm expecting so we'll wait and see But if it's slightly lesser than that, like absolutely won't be disappointed.

8:52We heard from Craig King a couple of weeks ago about the situation for Switzerland. There's a lot of excitement, but Ramona Barkman tearing her ACL has been a huge blow. I mean, Rach, how do you think that's going to impact things? I mean, that's a huge one to be suffering in the lead up to the tournament. It is, but it is a blow to lose her. But I do think, you know, they've got other young players coming through. I think there's a lot more going for them that they can lean on being the host team, being in the group they're in. You know, they're really going to feel like this is our opportunity to get out of the group.

9:26They're going to lean on their leaders for that to help them get through any kind of, you know, nerves and opening game nerves and stuff like that. But we saw how important the crowd was to England. We saw how important the crowd was to the Netherlands in 2017. So I think there's going to be a lot that the crowd can give the team. They are definitely underdogs in this tournament. And I think England went into it as one of the teams that could have won the Euros in 2022. I think the Netherlands were a surprise that they won it, but maybe not as much of an underdog as perhaps Switzerland is in this tournament.

10:03So yeah, look, losing Bachmann so close to the tournament as well is a killer. But I think that's if they don't get out of the group, I don't think that would be what you'd necessarily say is the reason. Yeah, 100 percent. And I think you have to look at people, you know, the leadership team that you've got at Switzerland. I mean, Leah Valti has been doing her absolute best, not only on her own channels, but also creating a separate Instagram to kind of boost the economy of Switzerland. Oh, my God. Yeah. of those i mean that she has been doing the absolute utmost like encouraging people to come along for the food for the culture for the walks for the hiking for everything in between um and obviously i mean she is like one of the leadership like you kind of look to someone like that in moments of adversity so yes you've lost you know a very big name and a very experienced head in a tournament but leah volte i think is going to absolutely come through like this is going to be her moment to shine yeah i think look she's had to manage injury this season as well and i do think this season has very much been about get Lea Valti to the Euros and her minutes have been managed, you know, so they may have to do a little bit of that during the tournament.

11:08But the fact that they've gotten her to this stage is a good thing. And yeah, she's absolutely Miss Switzerland through and through. I don't even think I'd realise she set up a separate Instagram account, but it very much feels like, you know, the tourist industry of Switzerland just went, yeah, here you go, go for it. She's been doing an incredible job. I don't think people need that much encouragement to come for the scenery. Like we know it's beautiful. We know the country's lovely. If she could provide some like discount codes or like some suggestions of like cheaper places to visit or to eat out or any of that like kind of money saving tips from Switzerland, I think would be very much appreciated because we will absolutely come for the beauty.

11:51That's not the thing that we need encouragement for. No, true story. but yeah absolutely massive shout out to her I think she's probably done the most in terms of trying to promote the kind of tourist industry around Switzerland for the Euros so well done because the ticket sales are absolutely smashing it obviously I think there is a bit of a dampened expectation around Switzerland but a realistic one given the group that they're in and obviously given that the team's competing and sort of how well they've done in previous competitions Switzerland have never made it past the group stages at the Euros Norway beat them twice in the Nations League.

12:26Let's touch a little bit then on Norway, one of the other cross-bearing flags in the competition. English manager Gemma Grager has led Norway since February last year and she's done absolute business for the squad. You might remember Caroline Graham-Hansen criticising the coach staff at the World Cup in 2023. Ada Hegerberg recently made Norway's captain i mean rachel what do we kind of see as their chances getting out of the group stages obviously we talk year on year about norway kind of having this elite squad of these incredible players these you know absolutely worldy athletes but they're never quite reaching the potential that everyone expects them to no and like i'm not sure jemma granger has necessarily found the magic key yet or the way to make this squad work together and get absolutely everything they can out of them I think that's always been the issue with Norway.

13:21Norway have always scared me when you look at their squad and you just think, my God, they are stacked. And they just, it never seems to come together for them in a major tournament. Now, I think they have to get out of this group. I think what's really interesting is that they faced Switzerland and Iceland in the Nations League in this year, which I just find weird, awkward, a little bit dull then watching the same teams. and I would argue in a Nations League group of France, Iceland and Switzerland they should be doing better than two wins two draws and two losses they only scored four goals which I think is a surprise given how front heavy and attacking heavy this squad is more often than not when you look at Norway you think they need to shore up defensively you know, Guru Bergsvand has had to pull out which is the last thing they'll need and that'll be the area of the pitch where you think okay, they need to kind of improve that area if you like.

14:17So to see that kind of stacked squad only getting four goals in the Nations League you're thinking not ideal preparation. So yeah I can never quite understand why things don't quite work for Norway in major tournaments in the last couple of years. They lost 2-0 to Sweden there the other night which won't be ideal and there has been murmurings in Norwegian in the Norwegian press about Ada Hegelberg she was made captain which I always find it a surprise when you make maybe it's not a surprise but if you're striker if you make a striker particularly Hegelberg is probably towards the latter stages of her career I'm not saying she's going to retire but the latter stages off the back of an injury you know that player isn't necessarily going to be playing 90 minutes every game so you're going to end up having to rotate your captain quite often but yeah there's been a little bit of murmurings about the fact that she keeps being selected given she's not been hugely prolific in front of goal for Norway over the last kind of six months, year.

15:18And you've got players like Elisabeth Terland on the bench. So I wouldn't say disquiet or discontent necessarily, but I imagine it is quite frustrating as players to be like, we are fucking stacked. Why is it not clicking? So we shall see. I think they should get out of the group. I think Norway should top this group. They really should. But whether that will happen for them, you know, Switzerland just had their sendoff game beat Czech Republic 4-1. you know four different goal scorers I think as well so in terms of kind of confidence going into that tournament that's exactly what Switzerland needed for Norway they'll be frustrated to have lost to Sweden and be coming into the tournament off the back of a loss as well no definitely I think you've kind of answered so we had a really good question in from Leila on Instagram said she said why aren't Norway terrifying people they are such a team and I think like you said there it just definitely really feels like things have clicked but you know I'm looking through the Norway squad and it's just every single name is a complete gem you've got Vildebrand, Risa, you've got Ingrid Engen, you've got Frieda Marnum, you've got Lisa Narsland, you've got Guru Wrighton, Celine Bizet, Caroline Graham-Hanson, Edda Hegerberg, I mean Elizabeth Turland, you just, that is just an absolutely stacked squad but I think there will be a point where a manager will get the best from a team and they will all come together and it will just click and I think when that happens that is going to be one of the most terrifying moments of any kind of European or world competition but I do feel like they are due that moment, that's the scary thing I feel like they're on the edge of that kind of happening.

16:45And people might underestimate them, which would be a bad idea. 100%. Yeah, I think going into this competition, you would be looking at Norway and their run of form and how they do in European competitions and thinking, well, actually, they're probably not going to progress as far as they should be because they've never quite reached their potential. But this could be the year that there's always that hope. So pending, Leila, this could be the year that Norway absolutely petrify people. Yeah, and if they do top the group, they face the runners-up of Group B, which is Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal.

17:19And I think they would rather be facing the runner-up of that group than maybe the runner-up of any other group, C or D. So, you know, potentially not only getting perhaps a more favourable group, but also the more favourable side of the draw. well well well we'll wait and see on Norway but moving on to our third flagged crossed flagged nation um Iceland beat Serbia 3-1 last week in a friendly but before that they hadn't won in 10 matches stretching back to last June uh their goalkeeper Cecilia Ran Runestotia is an absolute unit six foot two voted Syria goalkeeper of the season I mean that is that takes me back to my palace days when I was competing against Emily Orman who was just starting to become the sort of number one she was six foot one and her feet her foot size I think was I think she was like size eight or size nine and she had the wingspan of a bald eagle and I think at that point it really was uh the writing was on the wall for the rest of my career having been only five foot eight yeah you weren't going to get any taller so yeah like I think like regardless of how much calcium intake I really had like there was no way that I was just going to get to those kind of levels.

18:31And she'd been training as a goalkeeper since the age of three. So that's an absolute coup to have a goalkeeper who, yeah, does have a bit of an advantage, I've got to say. Yeah. And I feel like Iceland, Iceland bloody love a draw. My God, like they had like four draws in the Nations League and 0-0 with Switzerland, 0-0 with Norway, 3-3 with Switzerland, 1-1 with Norway. and then they weren't like too far off against France. They lost 2-0 to France and then I can't find the other game, 3-2. So, you know, it's funny because I kind of associate Norway as a team, Iceland with a team who don't maybe score very many but they don't also concede very many which I guess is why we end up with so many draws.

19:17But then you look at that 3-2 and 3-3 and you're like, okay, hang on, you can score. You can put two goals past France but you can't seem to then score enough to win the bloody game. So yeah, they're very much not giving anything away in their Nations League group against three of the two other teams that they're going to be facing in League A which kind of makes it tricky to know how they are going to be when they come up against them. I guess they'll look at it and say we know we can score goals against Switzerland. You know, they're going to look at that Finland game who obviously they didn't face in the Nations League.

19:46They're going to want to pick up three points against Finland and then it's going to be about I think them and Switzerland. maybe vying for second place. So do you reckon Norway first, Switzerland, Iceland, second, third, and then Finland got to be counted as the underdogs in this group, surely? Yeah, and maybe they'll use that to their advantage. You know, they'll look at that and go, well, they've all played each other and maybe they think they know lots about each other, but they haven't really played us. So maybe we've got a little bit of an ace up our sleeve in terms of not knowing what to expect from us.

20:18You know, we look at the last Euros, they came dead last in the group without a win. And I think they'll want to improve on that. They'll want to at least get some points on the board. I think they'll look at that group and say, this is a group where we could get points on the board. You know, they'll definitely look at the Switzerland and Iceland game. They look at the Norway game. I think they'll look at all of them and say, we can on our day make it very difficult for these teams. So, yeah, I still think it's going to be a struggle for them to get out of the group. I think Norway should top it.

20:44And then I think it's between Switzerland and Iceland. And I hope Switzerland do it because I always think it's great for the host nation to at least get out of the group and continue on that excitement and build that momentum. Heart says Switzerland, head might say Iceland for second place. We saw the same thing with Australia in the Women's World Cup where, you know, at the start of the competition, there was kind of mixed, it was a very kind of like mixed bag with people sort of like being a little bit excited but weren't sure how far Australia were going to progress. By the time they were getting into like the quarterfinals.

21:10It was unreal. It was like, there was just gold and green and like just everywhere. It was everywhere. That's what you want. it didn't matter what business they were in they were like finding ways to link themselves to the national team and cheer on the national team every conversation in the shops in the coffee shops, the amount of people just every day that were chatting about the Tillys and one of my key standout memories before the semi-final against England was sitting in our local coffee shop around the corner from our little base in Sydney and two women probably in their late 60s chatting about the football about how, oh, I've never watched it before, me neither oh, but you're going to come over tonight and we'll watch it and yeah, and they were all going to have a little watch party.

21:50And me and Soph ended up turning around and chatting to them about the whole tournament. And it just kind of, it was emblematic of what had happened in the country with the progression. And it'll be interesting to see, yeah, if Switzerland can get out of the group, if that can have a similar impact. You know, it's a much smaller country. And I imagine, you know, much like, I mean, it's not quite a small nation like Ireland, but when you start to punch above your weight in a sport, it's quite an exciting thing for a country. So, yeah, fingers crossed for them. Coming up after this, we take a closer look at the world champions.

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25:15all right rage a bit of an unsettling week for spain and group b um obviously not an easy group and this one we have spain belgium italy and portugal um spain beat japan 3-1 on friday in their final warm-up game but itana bombati watched the game from a hospital bed um unfortunately she was diagnosed with viral meningitis but thankfully she has now been discharged but on Saturday Monster Tommy said we can't talk about deadlines for Bon Matty's return I mean obviously that's a bit of a that's a massive thing for a squad and for a player to go through so close to a massive major international tournament I mean the main thing is that she gets better that's always the priority and she shouldn't be pushing to get back into the squad and and yeah taking any kind of risks for their health but at the same time obviously you know that's going to have an impact on one of the best players going into the tournament yeah I mean from what I'd heard they seemed quite like oh like I'm sure she'll be back with the squad soon and she's going to be joining up with the squad in the next day or two stuff like that and I just I mean like I'm not a medical expert but I just feel like if you have something that puts you in hospital how can you be in any kind of way prepared to be playing football now I'm sure they'll manage her very well.

26:33My immediate recollection was when Miedema, after contracting COVID during the last Euros, and literally just getting back into the squad for the quarterfinal against France and being made to play like 120 minutes. And she was absolutely dead on her feet. The amount of times during the game she had to double over and cough. So for me, my hope is that the player's health is the priority, not the football. I know they want to win this tournament and they're absolutely, probably the outright favourites, so long as that is very well managed because I don't want to see another situation like Miedema where they were being made to play.

27:15And look, when I say made to play, I'm sure the player probably really pushed for it and I'm sure Itana Bonmanty wants to be involved as much as possible, but that decision should not be the players, it should be the medical experts. So hoping that that is all managed correctly. But yeah, really hoping that she's fit and healthy soon. If we see her amazing, she's obviously an incredible player to watch live, but priority being her getting better. yeah 100 % and I think you know even if let's not sort of be under any illusion that even if Bon Mati isn't sort of fit enough to play that that squad isn't still completely and utterly stacked yeah but like thought like obviously thoughts from us at the upfront team we want you know to see the best players at the tournament but yeah it's got to be managed in the right way as you said Rach let's touch then a little bit about what happened in the last Euro competition when England and Spain met.

28:09It feels like years and years ago, but also yesterday, Spain were just beaten by England in that quarterfinal in Brighton. That was the one game I couldn't make it down for. And I remember I was watching it in a conference room because we were at a panel event. And I honestly, you know that those games, you just remember exactly where you were and exactly what was happening in every moment. So obviously, I mean, Spain led for most of the second half. England then equalised in the 84th minute and they felt there was a massively clear foul on Paredes. Yeah, but there wasn't. I mean, Rach, I mean, do we...

28:46I mean, there is a chance that obviously these two sides meet up. I think it is in either the quarterfinals or the semifinals, depending on... Or the final. Or the final. But yeah, I mean, it honestly depends on obviously where they finish in their respective groups. But yeah, what do you think that matters? Because obviously we've just had the Spain-England game, it didn't go England's way. Yeah, but England beat Spain earlier on in the Nations League. So I think, you know, as a team... It's been quite topsy-turvy, I think, with the results between these two sides. Yeah, but I think as a team, and top teams will tactically know how to beat Spain because, you know, no team is infallible.

29:22Every team is beatable. And I think the difference with that is more often than not, when you're a top team and you have to play Spain, your style of football has to change. and it's how good you can be at adapting your style of football against Spain. So, yeah, I think it very much depends on if they get a game plan right. If England do end up facing Spain and whether they get the game plan right or not, I make that sound super easy. It's obviously not. But yeah, I think Spain are without doubt favourites in the tournament. Everyone I've spoken to thinks Spain are the favourites. You know, I think in terms of preparation, beating Japan there recently, if you remember Japan, we're the only team to beat Spain in the World Cup in 2023.

30:02I think they beat them 4-0 and then Spain went on to win it so I think that will be really good confidence booster for Spain to be able to get a win like that comfortable win 3-1 ahead of the Euros you know their group has some I know we're going to get on to them Belgium, Italy, Portugal some tricky customers but they will be feeling that they should definitely top this group 100 % and I think I've just had a really helpful note in from producer Finn so he said that if England win their group and Spain win Group B if they both then win their quarters they'll play in the semi-finals so we will potentially have a matchup between england spain before we even hit the final as we did in the last euros um yeah that's always going to be like the headline spicy fixture but hoping that obviously we get to that stage in the first place interesting i completely calculated that wrong oh well thank you so much for that fit there is a lot of ifs buts and maybes in that so yeah um okay let's touch on portugal then they are up first against Spain on Thursday night Switzerland does have a large Portuguese community so their fans can be one of the stars of the tournament I mean that's the other win isn't it whether you have the best fans at a tournament like the Women's World Cup I mean Jamaica absolutely incredible Ireland absolutely unbelievable I mean like some of the fan groups also become some of the biggest stories of the competition and I think I mean yeah for all intents and purposes Switzerland are going to be up there but Portugal sound like they could be I I mean, have you seen any sort of Portuguese contingents sort of running around Switzerland at the moment?

31:33Not yet. Not yet. I'm not sure how many of their games are going to be in Zurich. But yeah, I think, look, they've not had perhaps the best run in. Obviously, again, like many teams in the Nations League already faced Spain, sorry, in the Euros have already faced Spain in their Nations League groups. And they will definitely not want to remember their 7-1 defeat and 4-2 defeat. they'll look at that and say at least we know we can score goals so that's one thing they also lost to Belgium a fellow Group B member they lost 3-0 to Belgium again not ideal preparation but they did beat them 1-0 in the first game of their Nations League group so they'll know they can I think with Portugal it's just a lack of consistency in terms of how they show up you know when you looked at the first game where they beat England compared to the game where England absolutely trounced them.

32:28It was like two different teams. So it's going to be about them finding that consistency when they absolutely need it. And also whether the likes of Kika Nazareth is going to be back fighting fit for them. I think she'll definitely be key, but has been out with an injury. So yeah, it's how things fall into place for Portugal. But I think they're going to look at the likes of Belgium and Italy and hope that potentially that could be where they pick up some points. But even that's not guaranteed. No, definitely. And I think, you know, talking about sort of key players there, you mentioned Keika Nazareth, you know, just coming back from injury, not particularly going to be as much sharp as you would have wanted one of your key players to be.

33:05She actually quoted a really lovely poem on her return from injury on social media. She said, but wait for me, because no matter how long the road, I will return. So looking forward to her hopefully being back and being on the pitch and sort of being one of those those key faces that we see. But it still sounds like it might be a little bit up in the air, potentially even too early. OK, let's touch on Belgium then. They gave England a tough time in the Nations League, beating the Lionesses 3-2 in April, then got battered 5-0 by France in their final warm-up game, though. So inconsistent, I think.

33:39Yeah, they actually played another warm-up game against Greece and they won 2-0. So, you know, they were like, listen, that's a much better way to start than to be worrying about getting absolutely battered by France. And similar to Portugal in that they are just that kind of inconsistent and you know they beat Portugal 3-0 as you said lost 5-1 to Spain against something they're not going to want to remember but their first game out against Spain 3-2 and they lost that 3-2 but I'm pretty sure they went 2-0 up against them so again I think for a lot of these teams just the knowing you can score against Spain with limited possession is is super important in terms of your mentality going into it they will rely particularly against Spain on that kind of counter-attacking football, which they are very good at, especially if Tessa Wollert is fit and firing.

34:27So it's just about shoring up defensively. Sometimes, and again, the same can be said with Portugal, sometimes they can be really solid in defence. Sometimes they fall apart like a wet cake. So it's the what turns up on the pitch. But again, those games, Belgium v Portugal, Belgium v Italy, Portugal v Italy, they're just going to be such tasty fixtures because I feel like in some of these groups, you might kind of say, OK, I really think this team's going to come first but it's the common second that is really up for grabs and I think it's that race like when you mentioned their coming second it's like well that's going to really impact like how your run is in the competition and how far you could potentially go and like you have to also bring it back to you know how far you go also translates into prize money and things like that like there is there's a lot on the line for these like for these players and also just having the attention sort of on you for the majority of the tournament does wonders for you know domestic football and things like that so yeah it's um it's a lot on their shoulders but I do love like a group where you just don't know quite what's going to happen you kind of have a bit of an idea but a lot of these groups they're not dead certs at all like even England's group is is hard to know who's going to come first and second so don't know honestly I was you know what at Glasto I was asked to give a view on like who on like the lionesses like coming out of the group stages and I said like it's not a given it's absolutely not a given that we make it out of the group stages i was like and i got booed on stage at glastonbury and it's one of like one of my most defining moments i just um yeah i really took that away from me as a big win um who could say they were booed at glaston and i was but actually i think it's a really fair point and if you know football you know that that is a very accurate description of group d you know and i think the same as can be said for i think other teams in group d are probably saying the same like obviously it'll be it'll get to it it'll feel like a disaster if they don't but literally the two most recent Euros winners and France who can't win a major tournament for some reason with a super stacked squad and every year you're like this is their year this is the year they're going to do it so it can be quite terrifying Well that's what I was trying to say but before we talk about Group D because I appreciate that is another pod so save it Rach don't even go down this avenue just yet let's finish off then with Italy they are the likely favourites for second place in this group.

36:41They crashed out in the group stage in 2022 and it was a 1-0 defeat to Belgium that sealed their fate. So there'll be like a little bit of a hangover, I think, potentially being in the same group this time round. We need to make a correction that sadly Aurora Garley hasn't made the Italy squad. She was in the camp but didn't make the cut. Yeah, I thought she made it. I was so sad when I saw that because they didn't release their squad until after our last record and I thought, oh, she's in camp. I thought she'd made it. So yeah, I'm absolutely good at her. Yeah, I mean, it just feels like it's been one thing after another.

37:15Obviously, she suffered the early ACL back in, it was in September, wasn't it? One of the first couple of games. Really early on, yeah. Yeah, there was that spate of Everton ACLs. And yeah, then to miss out on a major tournament, that's a massive thing. And such a lovely player. I was fortunate enough to work with her, I think it was in a little shoot in September and she is honestly like one of the funniest, most charismatic, like lively, energetic people. Like that, even having missed that from the squad, I think it's going to have a big impact. So yeah, not only just her talent on the pitch, but who she, like the presence that she brings off of it.

37:48So wishing her all the best with the rest of summer and hoping that she can enjoy the tournament from the sidelines this year. Absolutely. I think more broadly though, for Italy, you know, I think Dark Horses for me, I think they've been quietly going about their business you know they've managed to avoid any of these teams in the Nations League they did well in League A in the Nations League and coming second in a tough group with Sweden and Denmark and Wales of course and you know I think since the last Euros if I'm right in saying they've beaten Germany and they've beaten Spain and now that's going back to I think it was too late 2003 when they beat Spain.

38:30But, you know, not too many losses. You know, 2024, 2025, they've had two losses to Denmark and to Sweden. They drew 1-1 with Spain on the 29th of October, so the latter stage of 2024. They've drawn with the Netherlands. You know, so I think quietly going about their business, they've got a good blend of experience and some young, exciting players coming up as well. So I think they could make a really good challenge for second place in this group okay all right I rate that I do rate that um I mean you've got 35 year old striker Christina Garelli still going strong scored two in the 4-1 win against Wales recently so yeah I think it's going to be a really exciting kind of group to see how Italy gets on with this but yeah I think the expectation is there that they they will progress um I have just seen some very sad news about Luana Bula, who has now been ruled out of the Euros due to an injury.

39:27Tottenham Hotspur have just confirmed on their Twitter. Yeah, another sad, sad story. Just so last minute and so, yeah, so sad to see that these things come out sort of a couple of days before. It's that fear, isn't it? Like even watching the game last night, every time a player went down, you're just like, get up, get up now, get up. It's such a difficult balance of playing pre-tournament friendly and not getting injured. All right. Well, thoughts to Luan. Obviously not ideal at all. And yeah, hoping for a very speedy recovery. Coming up after this, Group C featuring Germany, a tasty head-to-head and a dangerous debutante.

40:19all right mace we've run through a we've run through b so it only makes sense that we'd run through c so poland germany denmark and sweden five time champions germany were finalists in 2022 of course what a day that was watching the germany side look very upset as the lionesses lifted the all-time massive euros trophy uh since then they've crashed out in the group's ages of the world cup and got an olympic bronze so a bit of a mixed bag for german fortunes over the last couple of years um been a massive period of transition ever since paris last summer alexandre pop and several other important players retired um they obviously beat austria 6-0 and the netherlands 4-0 in their final two games of the nations league there's a couple of big tests coming up uh for germany in this group rage i mean who are you most excited to kind of see in this in group c who's the big fixture that you're kind of thinking oh yeah sweden denmark group c yeah is the most obvious one but i think sweden germany is going to be really tasty germany are cooking i think people should be worried about them um you know i think there was a little bit of as you said transition particularly after the disappointment of the World Cup Von Tecklenburg obviously kind of stepped away for a while and then left and that was difficult and you know even now there's been a few I remember that drama I forgot about that one yeah even now there's been a few murmurings from players who didn't get picked and stuff like that but I think there's been some praise for the new manager and you know their scoring goals which is people need to be concerned I think about Germany because humbling the Netherlands 4-0 in the lead up to a major tournament and then putting six past Austria who normally, difficult breakdown should be a concern for others in the group I do think that they will top this group even now that Alexandra Popp has stepped away Schuller has kind of stepped in into her shoes, filled her boots and a lot of exciting players I think in the squad as well as well as some like mature heads who've been there before and I just always find Germany just seem really calm coming into major tournaments, which is what I expect.

42:32So I think this is maybe the group of death one, because I think, you know, Germany, Sweden, particularly Denmark at times on their day can do the business. And, you know, and then you're coming up against a team like Poland, appreciate it's their debut, but with Eva Peor and their team, you know, you, I mean, we'll touch on Poland, but you park the bus and get a long ball up to her, you've got a player who more often than not is going to put in the back of the net. So you can't write them off. So yeah, I just think for me, Germany should get out of this group. I think they're up there for me as one of the favourites for this tournament.

43:11I think they'll be really keen to put the last couple of years to bed and just show that they are absolutely back. And then I think when it comes to Sweden, Sweden are such an interesting team because they go so far in tournaments and a bit like France then just don't get across that final hurdle. Now, I think they won it way back and France haven't actually won a major tournament. But still, I just feel like Sweden on their day can absolutely do the business as well. So this is the whole thing about major tournaments and what makes things so exciting is how teams turn up in the right moments and in the big moments.

43:47and that's what makes it super exciting because, you know, we've seen Denmark and Sweden be a much closer affair, but then Sweden absolutely batted them 6-1 in the Nations League. So again, another example of why the Nations League is so weird because now we're seeing Sweden and Denmark again. I mean, they'll be sick of each other. Oh, it felt like the Chelsea-Man City, is it the quadruple matchup in March that we all absolutely know and love. But yeah, Sweden-Denmark does feel like the spicy game that everyone's going to be looking forward to. Obviously, you've got Peniel Harder versus Magda Eriksson as well.

44:21That always provides a little bit of juicy drama when you've got two loved-up couples going head-to-head. Like you said, Rach, these two countries played each other in the Nations League at the start of June and Sweden thrashed the day in 6-1. Who else but Sina Blackson has scored a hat-trick inside 53 minutes, which is absolutely unbelievable. But it kind of just feels like this is as big a match-up as it is for the players on the pitch, and it is the fans off the pitch. this is always one of those like fan rivalries that you just love to see going head to head i mean but are you guys going to this game are you there yeah yeah yeah don't i'll be at that one i'm really looking forward to it i think i'm seeing germany sweden as well um so that'll be interesting and perhaps denmark poland i think um are the games i'm getting in that group so uh yeah that's definitely one on my kind of list that i'm really looking forward to i think even the Germany-Poland game is going to be super interesting because, you know, your debut in a major tournament is hard enough as it is.

45:24But to be facing Germany, the eight-time European champions, the record holders for Euros wins, is quite the challenge. And it just kind of makes me think, I mean, it wasn't quite the same as Ireland facing Australia in the World Cup opener, but you were facing the host team. So there was all of that pressure around it. And for your debut, you almost want that extra bit of spice because it gives you something else to think about. You're underdogs already going into this tournament. You're even more of an underdog now going into this game against Germany. I feel like the pressure's off more because no one expects you to do anything against Germany.

46:01So it kind of, I'd almost personally as a player, I mean, you tell me, I would rather almost my first game be a game like that where the focus isn't on it being your first game in a major tournament. the focus is holy shit we're playing Germany whereas if you're playing like even Denmark in your first game yeah a tough game but you're like we could do something out of this and then you'd be disappointed if you didn't so almost getting the most difficult game out of the way just almost gives you something else to focus on rather than the whole holy shit it's our first game oh 100 % I think I mean when you're putting yourself in a position where you're going to have tens of thousands of fans watching you it is the first time in the competition you want to do well for your country you want to do well for you know the fans you there's so much expectation sort of riding on your shoulders to at least sort of show a good offering I mean no one's expecting that Poland are going to win the Euros like that expectation isn't there but you also want to give a good account of yourself for your first you know competition like you saw you know what it meant to like the Irish players in the Women's World Cup like you know getting those first like you said rates that first goal that first win those first points like all of those are like monumental things to achieve in the first place and I think you know when you look at But in June, I mean, 10 ,000 fans turned out for Poland's win over Romania and the Nations League.

47:14That was a new national record for them. So everything they do kind of feels like a new record and a new way of progressing, you know, Polish football in the women's space. And it is growing. You know, they've been involved in, they had the under-19s, Euros. You know, I think they're hosting the under-20 World Cup next year as well. So they're really kind of, it's growing. It's definitely growing. And I think even just getting to this major tournament can be a big deal for them in terms of the growth of the game. Definitely, 100%. And I think just a light touch then on Sweden. I know we've mentioned a little bit about their face-up against Denmark.

47:48But, I mean, obviously, they were thrashed by England in the semifinals back in 2022. The squad is absolutely stacked full of experience. I mean, I don't want to have to get into saying this name again, but Fridolina Rolfo suffered a... I'm not going to have to say that one in quite a while. It's because we keep it out of the script for you. We put it in my lines.

48:15Fridolina suffered a foot injury against Denmark, but is expected to be back fit, which would be amazing. And then I was like, do you remember that absolutely iconic moment? The head coach, Peter Jahdson, walking into a broom cupboard. That was one of the most classic moments of any major international tournament. So hoping that doesn't happen again either. but that is our massive roundup of A, B and C Well, we haven't said we think Germany should win this group coming second Sweden should Sweden should get out of this group yeah, they should do I think that sounds like a fairly sensible one I'm happy to agree with you on that Rach to be honest Thank you so much for listening Rach and I are back tomorrow for part two of our Euros preview remember, make sure you hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode throughout the Euros and there are so many of them dropping soon.

49:05Also, hit the link in the show notes to join our official Euro 2025 Fantasy Football League. It is so simple and it works just like the WSL edition. Pick your 15 players and get involved. Subscribe to us on YouTube too as we'll be releasing a match reaction episode on there throughout the tournament. Thank you so much, Rage, and continue to enjoy the rest of your Swiss travels before the chaos really unfolds on Wednesday. Thank you. Thank you.

49:47Upfront is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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50:37That's redcrossblood.org.