HOW ENGLAND CAN BEAT SPAIN IN EURO 2025 FINAL
With a mixed bag of results coming into the competition, there was concern that the Lionesses wouldn’t even progress from their group – which included high-ranking France and the Netherlands. Every round it has felt like they were almost going out. But the Lionesses keep sending themselves – and us – to the brink and then finding a way to thrive. Weirdly, reaching the final against Spain feels like a bonus with all the trials and tribulations and the emotional rollercoaster we have all been on with this team.
But England know they have not performed to the levels we all know they are capable of and world champions Spain present another huge test. Here are some of the key areas that could prove crucial in Sunday’s final. England can learn something from Germany’s performance in the semi-final against Spain – that was a really good blueprint for how you can exploit their high defensive line. Spain’s defenders leave so much space between themselves and the goalkeeper – Cata Coll – and that is a big area that they have to try and defend if they don’t get their pressing structure and out-of-possession play spot on.
The likes of Irene Paredes, Laia Aleixandri and Maria Mendez like to get tight to forward players and don’t allow space and time for their opponent to face up and turn, which I think is a good thing for England. All of England’s dynamic and creative forwards are capable of exploiting that and with good hold-up play, which Alessia Russo has, you can get at Spain. Russo will need to draw pressure, bring others into the game, win first and second balls and get flick-ons in behind for the creative forwards.
