EURO 2025: Big games, bold voices, new strength

The Women’s EUROs kick off this month, and as ever, it’s shaping up to be a month full of drama, noise, pride, and passion.

But this year, it’s not just about what’s happening on the pitch. There’s a deeper story running alongside the football, and it’s one that’s starting to shift the culture of the game for good.

The tournament runs from 2 to 27 July, hosted by Switzerland, with eight cities set to bring the colour and atmosphere we’ve come to expect from a summer of women’s football. There’s no doubt the competition is fierce as England, France, the Netherlands and Wales all find themselves in a stacked Group D, and it all starts with a bang.

England’s opener against France on 5 July in Zurich is one of the headline fixtures of the group stage. Add to that their clash with the Netherlands on 9 July, and a home nations derby with Wales on 13 July, and you’ve got three blockbuster games in ten days.

But amid the build-up, there’s been a noticeable theme - player withdrawals. Not just the usual knocks and niggles, but players stepping away to protect their mental and emotional wellbeing.

England defender Millie Bright recently ruled herself out, citing the need to prioritise recovery, both physically and mentally. It’s a growing trend across international squads with athletes recognising when they need to pause, not push. And instead of hiding it, they’re speaking out. There’s something powerful in that honesty. It signals a shift in how strength is defined in elite sport.

This tournament is asking an important question: how do they support players when the spotlight burns brightest?

Millie Bright of Chelsea FC
Source: uefa.com

England celebrate Ella Toone’s opening goal in the final
Source: uefa.com

Because the pressure is real. The women’s game has grown rapidly in recent years. With that comes bigger expectations, more media attention, and a calendar that rarely stops. And yet, the infrastructure for mental health support, rest, and recovery hasn’t always kept pace.

It’s that duality that makes the build up to the EUROs feel different. We’re watching a game that’s still evolving, still growing not just in quality, but in culture. Players are showing us that vulnerability isn’t weakness. That stepping back can be as brave as stepping up.

So while we’ll be glued to the big match-ups and lastminute winners, there’s another story unfolding too; one about care, balance, and what it really means to succeed.

So let’s talk about it all; the goals, the glory, and the game-changing honesty happening both on and off the pitch this year.

So let’s talk about it all;
the goals, the glory, and the game-changing honesty happening both on and off the pitch this year.