Yesterday concluded the 2025 edition of the UEFA Women’s Euros tournament in Switzerland, with England winning the trophy for the second consecutive time. What did Sarina Wiegman and England execute so effectively, and what lessons should Spain take away from this tournament?
A Season Unlike Any Other
If you’re a Barça fan—like us—the 2024/25 season has been hard to categorize. On one hand, it’s been the best domestic campaign yet for both Barça Femení and the men’s team. On the other, European competitions shattered expectations. The men’s team fell in heartbreaking fashion to Inter Milan, while the women suffered a shock defeat to Arsenal in Lisbon.
For the men, this season marked significant progress. Between 2021 and now, they struggled to convince even Spanish fans—let alone European ones—amid a string of sloppy campaigns. Last season changed that. Though they ultimately fell short, their hunger was undeniable.
The women, meanwhile, have been dominant on all fronts for six years running—a standard that fans and rivals alike hold them to. As a result, any failure to win draws outsized scrutiny.
So, what does this have to do with Spain? Here’s an underappreciated fact: Barça supplies at least 50% of the Spanish national team’s squad (men and women), every international break. For the women, it’s closer to 70%. That’s our focus today—but first, let’s dissect the tactics.
What Did England Do Right?
They executed their plan flawlessly. Winning was non-negotiable, and the method barely mattered. Crucially, Wiegman finally struck the right balance in her starting eleven—though starting Lauren James and Hemp together was questionable (a decision later corrected following James’ injury).
England’s back line was the foundation. Wiegman deployed a conservative defense tailored to neutralize Spain’s attacking waves. Key to this was Alex Greenwood—Manchester City’s rock-solid center-back—playing at left-back. This paid off when Spain subbed in Vicky López, a sharper dribbler than Athenea, at right wing. Greenwood was flanked by Jess Carter, Leah Williamson, and Lucy Bronze, forming an impenetrable wall.
Spain’s attacks, though well-designed, had a fatal flaw: overreliance on the wings, compounded by ill-suited center forwards. Opponents need only shut down the flanks—which England did masterfully.
The half-spaces—ironically, Spain’s strength given their midfield depth—were neglected. Midfielders either drifted wide to cross or chased shadows. England’s midfield wasn’t stellar in the traditional sense (Stanway and Walsh were functional but unspectacular), but they fulfilled their roles: win duels, disrupt central play, and funnel the ball to the flanks (Kelly, Hemp, or Russo). Most attacks began with a midfield switch to the left, where Kelly would do the rest.
Spain’s Flawed 4-3-3
Spain’s defense—L-R: Olga Carmona, Laia Aleixandri, Irene Paredes, and Ona Batlle—was talented but disjointed. Carmona, a converted winger, and Batlle, an attack-minded full-back, left gaps defensively. Chloe Kelly’s cross for Russo’s equalizer exposed this. Meanwhile, Aleixandri and Paredes lacked recovery pace, making counters deadly.
The midfield imbalance was worse. The “APA” trio (Aitana Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas) is aesthetically pleasing but dysfunctional. Since 2022/23, Bonmatí has adapted to lead attacks (rather than dictate play from deep), while Patri has shouldered more pivot duties. Alexia’s return from injury complicated dynamics: her and Aitana’s overlapping roles left Patri isolated. The solution—playing only one of them—force Alexia into a super-sub role.
With Teresa Abelleira (Patri’s natural backup) out with an ACL injury, Spain’s pivot options dwindled. Tomé’s adjustments—like subbing Alexia for Pina and dropping Mariona deep—were reactive, not strategic.
The initial forward line (Mariona, Esther, Athenea) was well-chosen, but Athenea’s poor decision-making like wayward crosses and rushed passes forced Tomé to bring on Vicky López—who, despite better dribbling, lacked width and pace.
Set Pieces and Penalties: Spain’s Achilles’ Heel
Spain won corners but couldn’t convert them which is a recurring issue for Barça Femení, too. Paredes being the sole aerial threat for both is a glaring weakness.
Penalties, as always, were a gamble—one Spain consistently loses. The lessons?
1. Kill games early – Spain’s dominance in chances but not goals cost them.
2. Balance is non-negotiable – England’s structured defense, midfield grit, and Kelly’s introduction balanced their attack. Spain’s trade-offs (attack for defense) backfired.
The Barça Factor
This tournament, coupled with the Champions League, weighed heavily on Barça’s players, many of whom lost the two finals. The mental and physical toll is undeniable. Barça management have their work cut out for them since they have to address this ahead of next season—because the tide is shifting, and not in Barça’s favor.
