European Champions vs World Champions; England Face Spain Again in Euro 2025 Final

It very much feels like England vs Spain is the right final for Euro 2025, just as it was at the 2023 World Cup. It's even arguable that it could've been the Nations League Final had the sides not been drawn in the same group. The simple fact is that England and Spain are the two best international teams in the world. But only one can be European Champions.

The rematch between European Champions and World Champions has taken place twice already since the World Cup Final in Sydney, with each side winning by a single goal at home in their Nations League group.

Spain progressed to the final four at England's expense in that competition, but not because of the head-to-head record, but because England slipped up against Belgium in an earlier group match.

Of course Spain got the better of England in Australia, Olga Carmona striking the decisive blow in a 1 - 0 win for La Rojas. But the previous meeting, in the quarter-finals of Euro 2022, saw Ella Toone's late strike take the tie to extra time, where Georgia Stanway scored a stunning winner for the eventual Champions.

The head-to-head record then is entirely even over the past few years; one win each at a major tournament and one win each in a Nations League group stage.

So what's different this time around, and why are both sides so confident that this is their year?

England

Reaching a major tournament final often comes with a scare or two along the way, but England have taken this to the extreme. In each of their knockout matches, they were behind in the 80th-minute, and yet they're preparing to face Spain in Sunday's final.

There was a glimpse of the rescue act against France, when the Lionesses pilled on the pressure having reduced their two-goal deficit to one, but the ferocity with which they came back against both Sweden and Italy can only be put down to the outstanding work of Sarina Wiegman's substitutes.

On both occasions, Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang have come off the bench to have a game-changing impact. Against Sweden, it was Kelly who shone, creating both goals, one of which was scored by Agyemang, as England came from 2 - 0 down to rescue extra time and eventually win on penalties, albeit after one of the worst shootouts in recent memory.

In the semi-final against Italy, Agyemang took centre-stage, scoring a 96th-minute equaliser to rescue England from the jaws of defeat.

It was a fitting minute to score such a goal, as it was in the 6th-minute of extra time (96th overall) that Georgia Stanway scored her iconic winner against Spain three years ago.

Another Arsenal attacker in Beth Mead won a late penalty for England in extra time, and after Kelly's initial effort was saved, she had the cool and the composure to slot in the rebound and send England through in the most dramatic of ways.

There are two sides to this for England. In a way the Lionesses should have an abundance of confidence, because they never seem to be out of a game.

Even against France when they didn't quite complete the comeback, they certainly had the chances to do so. But it is that France game that perhaps epitomises the danger of England's approach.

Spain, like France, are a fantastic football team. The World Champions are yet to concede a goal in the knockout stages and have scored in every game they've played at the tournament, albeit not until deep into extra time against Germany.

If England do go a goal down, which on the face of it seems quite likely, it's likely to be far more difficult to perform their rescue act against this Spain side than it was against Sweden or Italy.

England are by no mean underdogs in what is a very difficult final to call, but it's far more important in any tournament final to get the first goal, especially against a side as well-disciplined as Spain.

Spain

Whether it be men's or women's football, first team or academy, Spain have been the team to beat over the past few years. The men's team hold the Euros and Nations League titles while the women's team hold the World Cup and Nations League; they would be the first to hold all three titles if they were to beat England on Sunday.

The group stage was something of a breeze for Montse Tome's side, winning all three games and scoring 14 goals in the process, and although hosts Switzerland really used their fantastic crowd well to hold out until the 66th-minute, the quarter-final was essentially over as soon as Athenea finished off an excellent team move to give La Rojas the lead.

A stunner from Claudia Pina later in that game emphasised the danger of Spain; they can score any type of goal. This was further demonstrated by Aitana Bonmati in the semi-final, when she scored from a ridiculously tight angle to send her country to their first Euro final.

Spain's possession-based approach can be frustrating at times; despite dominating their semi-final against Germany, it was certainly the Germans who had the better chances over the course of the ninety minutes, and this is where Spain's vulnerability lies.

The majority of teams who come up against this outstanding Spain side will sit in, defend and look to counter, which for portions of the semi-final, Germany did. But at times, the Germans took control and forced Spain back, putting them under pressure, and the World Champions did not like it.

England have the attacking talent to cause Spain similar if not greater problems, both in their starting XI and from the bench, and this is something Spain have to be weary of.

Although they haven't conceded since the tenth-minute of their final group match, Spain were arguably quite fortunate to hold onto their clean sheet against a Germany side that wasted plenty of chances.

Where will it be won?

Both sides have vulnerabilities, but both are very familiar with each other. This will be the fifth meeting in three years; that's almost as many as two clubs in the same league would have.

To pick a winner is incredibly difficult. England are the defending Champions and have, so far, pulled off something remarkable whenever they've needed to, which it's arguable that Spain haven't. But if they haven't, it's only because they haven't needed to.

Spain have been in control of their games, and although Germany exploited that well, England will be quite fortunate if Tome allows her side to be undone in the same way two games in a row.

England don't have quite as much star power as Spain. A combined XI of the two nations would likely only feature three or four England players at most. But as a team, England believe (perhaps rightly on the strength of their comebacks) that they can do anything.

The verdict then is that if the final comes down to quality, it'll be Spain's. But if it's about psychological strength, no one can stop this England team.