We Meet Again - England & Spain Set For 'amazing' Euro 2025 Final

England were heartbroken 2 years agone - but now they will get their changeable astatine redemption.

Spain's extra-time triumph complete Germany intends they will look nan Lionesses successful Sunday's Euro 2025 final. It's a repetition of nan 2023 World Cup last - which Spain won.

They were nan 2 champion sides successful nan world 24 months agone and they stay nan champion 2 sides successful Europe now.

"It's going to beryllium incredible," said erstwhile England guardant Ellen White, portion of nan broadside who hit Germany successful nan Euro 2022 final.

"It's a one-off game. On England's time they tin hit anyone, connected Spain's time they tin hit anyone, truthful that match-up is truthful astonishing to see.

"I'm truthful excited."

While this eye-catching Spanish broadside look to complete a treble of awesome trophies, having besides won nan Nations League successful 2024, England are bidding to take sides their European crown.

"I'm conscionable truthful buzzing for nan girls," added ex-Lionesses skipper Steph Houghton. "There's nary reason, pinch nan squad that we have, that we can't spell and hit Spain."

So which measurement will it go? What does history show us? And what's changed since that World Cup final?

Having won their first women's awesome tourney 13 months earlier pinch triumph complete Germany astatine Euro 2022, England had precocious hopes of backing that up against Spain successful Sydney.

It wasn't to be.

The Lionesses, looking to go nan first elder England broadside since nan men's squad successful 1966 to triumph a World Cup, were outplayed by a Spanish side afloat of flair and creativity.

Spain skipper Olga Carmona slotted nan victor past goalkeeper Mary Earps successful nan first half, capitalising aft England's Lucy Bronze mislaid possession successful midfield.

Would a repetition beryllium apt connected Sunday? Not necessarily.

England hit nan world champions astatine Wembley successful February - nan past squad to do truthful - though Spain won their astir caller gathering 2-1 connected 3 June.

The Lionesses' wide grounds successful nan fixture is besides decent, losing conscionable 5 of 19 competitory fixtures.

"I don't deliberation England will spot themselves arsenic underdogs - they're European champions," erstwhile England defender Fara Williams said connected BBC One.

"Yes, Spain hit them successful nan World Cup last but this is their trophy. They've sewage to manus it complete and they're not going to want to do that. They're not going to dishonesty down and make it easy for Spain.

"I deliberation they cognize they tin hit Spain."

Houghton agrees.

"I don't deliberation nan [World Cup final] will beryllium successful nan backmost of England's minds," she told BBC Radio 5 Live. "This is simply a caller slate and location are a batch of caller players."

Seven of nan 11 who started against Spain successful nan World Cup last were successful England's line-up for Tuesday's triumph complete Italy.

But location person been large changes wrong nan Lionesses squad since past excessively - immoderate arsenic precocious arsenic June.

In nan 10 days starring up to Wiegman's squad announcement past month, she had 2 elder world retirements and nan withdrawal of her World Cup skipper to contend with.

First goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her daze world retirement, past midfielder Fran Kirby followed suit a week later and, connected nan eve of nan squad's confirmation, Millie Bright made herself unavailable for selection.

Earps herself described it arsenic "a caller era and a caller England team", pinch players for illustration super-sub Michelle Agyemang only capped for nan first clip this year.

But thing this "new" England broadside will person to woody pinch is pressure, according to Williams.

"I deliberation nan Lionesses transportation a batch of pressure," she said. "In position of increasing nan crippled successful England, we're still reliant connected nan Lionesses doing good - they ne'er had that unit successful 2022, but they had it successful nan World Cup last and they person it now."

Spain, meanwhile, person a acquainted consciousness to their squad - albeit they are now led by a different head successful Montse Tome.

Tome was Jorge Vilda's adjunct successful 2023, meaning nan coaching setup and accuracy has remained overmuch nan same.

Ballon d'Or Feminine holder and semi-final matchwinner Aitana Bonmati remains - despite a pre-tournament bout of viral meningitis - while Alexia Putellas, besides a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, continues to radiance having started nan World Cup last connected nan bench.

Esther Gonzalez, an unused substitute successful 2023, has been 1 of nan stars of Euro 2025 and is connected people to triumph nan Golden Boot.

But Jenni Hermoso, who missed a punishment successful that final, is simply a notable absentee.

After receiving her World Cup winner's medal, Hermoso was kissed by Spain's erstwhile shot federation leader Luis Rubiales without her consent.

Rubiales said nan buss was consensual, but successful February was recovered blameworthy of intersexual assault by Spain's apical criminal court, and ordered to salary a good of 10,800 euros (£8,942).

England leader Wiegman must travel up pinch a gameplan to stifle a Spain broadside utilized to bossing nan shot and controlling nan game.

They had astir 67% possession successful their semi-final triumph complete Germany - but it wasn't ever straightforward.

"I consciousness for illustration we saw for nan first clip a Spanish squad play pinch vexation astatine times," said Williams. "That's not for illustration them.

"They are diligent successful what they do and they spot successful what they do. They were forced to spell nonstop astatine times.

"We did spot a different broadside to them. This is nan only crippled successful nan title they person faced a existent challenge, an aggravated game. In position of that level that is needed successful a final, Germany gave them that today, truthful they will beryllium thankful for this game."

Ex-Germany defender Josie Henning says nan cardinal conflict will beryllium successful midfield.

"With nan midfield of Spain, you person to determine if you want to play up against them aliases astir them," she said connected BBC One. "I deliberation Germany showed a small spot that if you property them collectively, it works."