England and Wales Face Brutal Euro 2025 Group With France and Netherlands

Group D of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 is being hailed as the toughest of the tournament. Featuring England, France, the Netherlands, and Wales, it is widely regarded as the “group of death” with three teams ranked inside FIFA’s top 11. The stakes are high, and every match could define the path to the final.

England enter the tournament as defending champions and are unbeaten in their last 14 group-stage matches across major tournaments. Managed by Sarina Wiegman, who previously guided the Netherlands to their 2017 Euro title, the Lionesses face immediate pressure. Their opening match against France promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the top teams in women’s football.

France arrive in strong form, having won their last eight matches and conceding only two goals since February. However, the absence of experienced players Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer from the squad has drawn criticism. Still, coach Laurent Bonadei’s new-look team is determined to challenge for their first major title, and opening against England will test their mettle early.

The Netherlands, under coach Andries Jonker, are confident despite the daunting lineup. Jonker called Group D “the toughest group of all,” and rightly so. With a 13-match unbeaten streak and Euro 2017 glory in their history, the Dutch side is set to bring high-quality football to the tournament.

Wales, making their debut at a major women’s tournament, are the lowest-ranked team in Group D at 30th in the world. But under coach Rhian Wilkinson, they’ve shown promise, securing impressive draws against Sweden earlier this year. Forward Jess Fishlock said the team embraces their underdog status and will use it to their advantage. Their final group game against England could become a deciding clash.

According to Opta’s supercomputer, there is a 37% chance that a team from Group D will go on to win Euro 2025 7% higher than any other group. This further highlights the competitiveness and imbalance of the group.

With powerhouse clashes and unpredictable underdogs, Group D is set to deliver drama, tension, and world-class football. England, France, the Netherlands, and Wales are all chasing glory, but only two will make it out alive.