Basel Beckons: Can the Lionesses Roar One Last Time?
England face Spain in the Women’s Euro 2025 final, chasing back-to-back titles and redemption on the grandest stage of all.
Back Where It Matters Most
And so, once again, we arrive at the brink. Basel awaits, with its cobbled streets and shadowed memories, ready to stage the finale of a summer that has gripped a nation. The Women’s Euro 2025 final is not just another match, not just another fixture to scroll past on your phone. This is the Lionesses, standing one game away from glory, redemption and a place in footballing folklore.
The setting is St. Jakob-Park, Switzerland’s largest stadium, which has played host to giants before. On Sunday, it becomes the battleground for England versus Spain, a rivalry now steeped in modern history and emotional weight. Kick-off is 5pm UK time, and whether you are in your living room, a pub garden, or packed into one of the London or Birmingham fan zones, you will feel it. All of it.
This is not just a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, although that alone would be enough to make the hairs on your neck stand up. This is about a group of players who have risen above injuries, retirements and defeats, and now face the very team who broke their hearts two years ago in Sydney.
The Road to Basel
Sarina Wiegman’s England arrived in Switzerland with questions, not answers. Group D was brutal. France, the Netherlands and Wales offered a cocktail of threats, and when England lost their opener to the French, critics sharpened their knives. The absence of stalwarts like Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright was keenly felt.
But this England side, with youth stitched into its core, found something within. They breezed past the Netherlands and brushed Wales aside to reach the knockouts. What followed was pure theatre.
The quarter-final against Sweden descended into a penalty shootout frenzy where the nerves of an entire country hung in the balance. Nine penalties were missed in total, but England edged it in sudden death.
Then came Italy. Extra time. Again. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old who had never scored for her country, fired in a 96th-minute equaliser. Chloe Kelly followed up her own saved penalty with the winner. These are moments that etch themselves into your soul.
Now they face the final. The biggest of them all.
Familiar Faces, New Stakes
Spain have not lost a match in this tournament. They have glided through the group stage and knocked out Germany in the semi-final thanks to a brilliant angled finish from Aitana Bonmati, the Ballon d’Or holder and possibly the most complete midfielder in the game right now.
Add to that Alexia Putellas, also a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Esther Gonzalez, who has netted four goals and leads the Golden Boot race. They have depth, control and no shortage of ambition. They also have a point to prove, aiming for a historic treble after adding the Nations League to their World Cup title.
England, though, are no underdogs here. They are the defending champions. They have beaten Spain recently, at Wembley of all places, in February. They have Chloe Kelly, who lives for the big stage. They have Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway, both capable of unlocking even the most stubborn defence.
And they have belief. That is the key.
What Has Changed?
This England team is very different from the one that walked out in Sydney two summers ago. Seven of the starting eleven are still here, but the core has shifted. There is youth, there is hunger and there is freedom.
Agyemang was uncapped a few months ago. Now she is a national hero. Earps has hung up the gloves, and with her, so too did the old era of calm. The pressure now feels heavier, the spotlight a little brighter.
Spain, for their part, remain mostly the same. The coaching change from Jorge Vilda to Montse Tomé has not altered their philosophy. Possession is their god. But Germany showed a crack. For the first time in this tournament, they were rattled. Forced long. Pushed into errors. The blueprint is there, if England are bold enough to follow it.
Tactical Battle
Midfield is where this final will be won or lost. Spain want to smother, to pass and pass until the space appears. England must disrupt that. Press them high when needed, but more importantly, cut off the options. Stanway will be crucial, as will the wide players dropping into defensive shapes to stop Bonmati from floating into those dangerous inside channels.
England also need to be ruthless. Chances may be few, and Kelly, Hemp and Toone cannot afford to hesitate. Spain are vulnerable on the break, and England have the pace to hurt them.
Set pieces could be decisive too. England’s delivery has been sharp, and in a game this tight, a corner or a free-kick could tip the balance.
When and How to Watch
The final will be shown live on both BBC and ITV, with coverage starting from 4pm. For those seeking something a bit more communal, there are official fan zones at TOCA Social in The O2, Westfield White City, and The Bullring in Birmingham. You will not be alone. This is a moment to be shared.
And if you are travelling to Basel, prepare for a city buzzing with football fever. St. Jakob-Park will be packed, with Prince William among the dignitaries expected to attend.
What Is at Stake?
Aside from the trophy and the legacy, there is also the matter of prize money. UEFA has doubled the pot since 2022, with a record €41 million up for grabs. Both teams have earned their slice, but a win for Spain could bring them a tournament-high €5.1 million. England will not be far behind if they claim the crown.
Crucially, up to 40% of that money goes directly to the players. A fitting reward for the blood, sweat and tears they have poured into this summer’s campaign.
Final Word: This Is It
The storylines are woven and the cast is ready. We have seen this script before, but there is still room for a twist. England are no longer wide-eyed dreamers. They are champions, hungry to remain so. Spain are majestic, but not unbeatable.
Sunday is not about revenge. It is about respect, resilience and rising once more to meet the moment.
In a city famed for its elegance and its watchmaking, perhaps it is fitting that England will look to seize their moment in perfect time.
Let the final begin.