Goals Galore And Hope For Hosts - Takeaways From Euro 2025 Group Stage

The group shape astatine Euro 2025 is done and dusted.

With 24 games played, we person our 8 quarter-finalists - Norway, Italy, Sweden, England, Spain, Switzerland, France and Germany.

BBC Sport takes a look astatine what nan Euros person shown america truthful far.

At nan past Euros, England and Germany triumphed successful each 3 of their group-stage matches without conceding a azygous goal.

But nan 2022 finalists haven't had it arsenic easy this clip around, finishing 2nd successful their respective groups.

The Lionesses' title defence sewage disconnected to a mediocre commencement pinch a 2-1 conclusion by France, while Germany's group shape fizzled retired pinch their heaviest-ever Euros conclusion - a 4-1 thumping by Sweden.

England person clawed backmost immoderate momentum pinch commanding performances against nan Netherlands and Wales, scoring 10 goals crossed those 2 matches.

The 'three-peat' is still connected for Sarina Wiegman, who led England to nan title 5 years aft guiding her autochthonal Netherlands to nan trophy. She has overseen 14 victories astatine nan Euros - much than immoderate different manager.

"We learned England tin people goals. There is extent connected nan chair and they tin travel connected and make a difference," ex-England keeper Karen Bardsley said aft their 6-1 triumph complete Wales.

"What I person been impressed pinch mostly is their fluidity of nan rotations from nan entirety of nan team."

England will beryllium hoping to debar falling to nan aforesaid destiny arsenic Germany erstwhile they look Sweden successful Thursday's quarter-final.

There has been nary shortage of goals astatine Euro 2025, pinch a caller grounds of 89 set.

That thumps nan 78 goals from 2022 and nan 53 from 2017, erstwhile nan tourney first changed to a 16-team format - up from 12.

Long-range screamers person besides go much common, pinch 10 goals scored from extracurricular nan container - 4 much than nan erstwhile tournament.

While nan Euro 2025 group shape produced a akin number of yellowish cards (43) to nan tally of 2022, location were doubly arsenic galore reddish cards (four) - pinch Germany's Carlotta Wamser, Norway's Marit Lund, Iceland's Hildur Antonsdottir and Portugal's Ana Borges each sent off.

Favourites earlier nan commencement of nan tournament, Spain person laid down their marker by sweeping past Portugal, Belgium and Italy.

The world champions scored 14 goals - 3 much than anyone other - to adjacent nan group-stage grounds group by England astatine Euro 2022.

France, meanwhile, person made a connection by winning Group D - regarded arsenic nan toughest group astatine nan tournament.

"Initially we thought this group was a decease group and we sewage 9 points," France head Laurent Bonadei said. "We tin beryllium proud and satisfied. It was not easy, but we made it."

Sweden surpassed expectations successful Group C arsenic they won each 3 games and hit eight-tim European champions Germany to apical spot.

Peter Gerhardsson's broadside vanished nan group shape pinch nan champion defence, conceding conscionable 1 goal.

"Sweden are going to beryllium a difficult squad to beat. They're well-balanced and solid," said erstwhile Wales defender Danny Gabbidon.

Norway also took maximum points, but doubts stay complete their disjointed performances and protect frailties aft they narrowly scraped past Switzerland, Finland and Iceland - winning by 1 extremity successful each 3 games.

However, they person been businesslike successful beforehand of goal, scoring 8 times - their highest-ever group-stage total.

Switzerland person reached nan European Championship quarter-finals for nan first time, pinch Riola Xhemaili's stoppage-time equaliser against Finland keeping nan hosts' Euro 2025 dream alive.

The hosts will caput into their last-eight necktie against Spain arsenic nan underdogs.

But Pia Sundhage's squad tin compete physically, pinch talented players specified arsenic Geraldine Reuteler well-equipped to supply a spark.

Reuteler has created nan astir chances (seven), taken nan astir shots (nine) and recorded nan astir carries (36) astatine nan tourney truthful far.

Italy arrived astatine nan tourney arsenic acheronian horses, and while they vanished 2nd successful Group B, they tin return assurance from nan truth that they posed a threat to Spain, nan top-ranked team, contempt losing 3-1.

"Italy are learning things from erstwhile competitions," said erstwhile England defender Anita Asante.

Esther Gonzalez has been prolific successful beforehand of extremity during Spain's successful group stage, starring nan apical scorer charts pinch 4 goals.

Her team-mate Alexia Putellas is 2nd connected nan database pinch 3 goals to spell pinch her 4 assists - which could facet into who wins nan Golden Boot award.

England's Beth Mead was nan top-joint scorer pinch six goals astatine Euro 2022, but her 4 assists won her nan Golden Boot complete Germany's Alexandra Popp.

After Putellas, location are 12 players - including England's Ella Toone, Lauren James and Georgia Stanway - who person scored each 2 goals and are successful nan chasing pack.

The group shape has unfolded crossed 8 venues, wherever visiting fans person been treated to picturesque towns, crystal clear lakes and rivers, on pinch breath-taking alpine scenery.

Supporters person packed retired nan instrumentality zones dotted astir each city, while nan instrumentality marches to nan stadiums person buzzed pinch sound and colour to build lively atmospheres earlier kick-off.

For Switzerland's 3 games, a oversea of reddish has flooded nan streets of Basel, Bern and Geneva, while supporters of nan Netherlands and Iceland person besides pounded nan pavements successful their thousands, clad successful nationalist colours.

And, while Switzerland doesn't person stadiums nan size of Old Trafford aliases Wembley, that were utilized successful 2022, crowds person turned retired successful force, pinch astir games played to near-capacity crowds.

The highest attendance truthful acold has been 34,165 astatine St Jakob-Park successful Basel for Germany's 2-1 triumph complete Denmark - a caller Euros grounds for a crippled not involving nan big nation.