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Lionesses line up Netherlands GFXGetty/GOAL
Ameé Ruszkai

How England should line up for crucial Euro 2025 clash vs Netherlands: Beth Mead must be sacrificed to facilitate Lionesses' formation change

Opinion
England
Women's EURO
B. Mead
S. Wiegman
J. Carter
N. Charles
England vs Netherlands
Women's football
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The 2022 winners would be the first holders in European Championship history to crash out in the group stage if they lose to the Dutch on Wednesday

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England have it all to do at the European Championship after suffering a shocking defeat to France in their opening game. The Lionesses were lucky to only lose 2-1 to Les Bleues, having been incredibly poor defensively throughout the game, and now they need to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday in order to keep their destiny in their own hands. A draw would see Sarina Wiegman's side avoid elimination for now, though it would leave them relying on a result to go their way when France meet the Dutch on matchday three.

So, how should Sarina Wiegman approach this crucial meeting with her home country? The England boss must be thinking a lot about what to do in the left-back position in particular, as that continues to be a serious weakness in her XI. The Lionesses do not have any natural options to play the role, with centre-back Jess Carter exposed badly by an in-form Delphine Cascarino on Saturday.

That's not the only decision Wiegman will be pondering, though, as GOAL takes a look at how the European champions should line up in Zurich...

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Frequently asked questions

The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 starts on July 2 and runs until the grand final on July 27. The Women's Euro 2025 will take place across Switzerland, featuring stadiums in Basel, Geneva, and Bern.

If you're looking for your chance to secure Women's Euro 2025 tickets, fret not. We've got all of the intel for you to get a seat at this international tournament in Switzerland.

You can buy England Women's Euro 2025 tickets on the official UEFA website or through England Football. However, since the general sale of tickets has long been open and was allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, there might now be only a limited number of official tickets available through these sites.There are a number of tickets available on the secondary market. StubHub is one of the leading retailers for those seeking to buy tickets through alternative channels. StubHub's website guarantees you will get tickets in time for the event you are attending and a valid entry ticket, so you'll be able to enjoy the tournament, even if you're looking for tickets to the Women's Euro final, semi-final, quarter-final, or any other event.

UEFA Women's EURO 2025, which is the 14th edition of the Women’s European Championship, is being held from Wednesday, July 2 to Sunday, July 27. Switzerland is staging the tournament for the first time, and the host nation will be hoping that playing in front of their fervent home fans will prove to be a good omen. The Netherlands were the host nation when they won the Women’s Euro 2017, and England reigned supreme on home turf at Women’s Euro 2022. Women’s Euro 2025 matches will be staged in eight Swiss cities: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, St.Gallen, Lucerne, Thun & Sion.

Other major timelines for the events you might want to note include:

Here's a closer look at where you can watch the Women's Euro 2025 from where you are:

  • United Kingdom - BBC, ITV and STV
  • Australia - Optus Sport
  • United States - FOX Sports. FuboTV
  • Latin America - ESPN
  • Spain - STVE
  • Germany - ARD - ZDF
  • France - TF1

Women’s Euro 2022 was won by the tournament hosts, England. Chloe Kelly was the goalscoring heroine as she netted the winning goal in extra time against Germany. It was the first time an England senior team had won major footballing honours since the men’s side had won the FIFA World Cup in 1966. The Lionesses were led by Sarina Wiegman, who had coached the Netherlands to glory five years earlier at Women’s Euro 2017.

The 16 teams playing at Women’s Euro 2025 are split into four groups of four teams. The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals. The groups were confirmed during December’s draw in Lausanne and are as follows:
Group A: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland

Group B: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy

Group C: Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden

Group D: France, England, Wales, Netherlands

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