The Stage is Set – Who Will Progress to the Final Four?

The Stage is Set – Who Will Progress to the Final Four?

Chandler Milligan

After an eventful three rounds of group stage matches in the 2025 Women’s Euros, the road to glory becomes clearer as our last eight prepare to go head to head in the quarter-finals.

Norway plays Italy, Sweden meets England, Spain takes on Switzerland, and France faces Germany.

Two thrilling sides of the bracket unfold, and the pathway to the final becomes sharper for Europe’s best.

So, who will make it all the way to Basel for the Final?

Norway managed to top Group A with three wins in three games, and will host an Italy side who scraped through Group B with four points.

Gemma Grainger’s Norway fought from behind to secure a 2-1 win in their opening game of the tournament against host-nation Switzerland, who dominated much of the encounter.

Their second match against Finland was also unconvincing, with FC Barcelona midfielder Graham Hansen scoring a late winner in another game that saw them outplayed by their opponents.

With two of their four goals being scored by their opposition, fortune favoured the Norwegians as they rose to the top of the table.

While their start was sluggish, their 4-3 victory over Iceland to secure qualification was a far better example of their quality, albeit chaotic in the final ten minutes.

Norway overturned an early goal and surged to a 4-1 lead with two goals on either side of the break, but a crazy ten-minute spell after the 80th minute saw them concede twice and get a red card.

Italy, on the other hand, showed promise but only secured progression by the skin of their teeth.

A 1-0 win over Belgium presented a strong start, with the Azzurri dominating the Red Devils in a tightly contested clash.

But reality struck in the next game when, despite completely dominating Portugal for almost eighty minutes, they conceded a late equaliser and were forced to accept a 1-1 draw. The Italians were then taught a lesson by World Champions Spain, who bested them 3-1 in Bern.

Given the status of their opponent, they can take positives from a competitive performance that saw them briefly lead in the first half.

So, who will progress when these two sides meet?

My prediction is that Norway’s luck runs out, and Italy’s persistence pays off in a slender win in Carouge.

In arguably the most exciting match-up in the quarter-finals, Sweden will face the current European Champions, England, in a thrilling showdown in Zurich.

Sweden cruised through Group D with a commanding 1-0 victory over Denmark, before obliterating Poland in a 3-0 win that still felt like an understatement.

They faced Germany in their first major test, passing with flying colours courtest of a 4-1 win that was aided by a first-half red card for DFB-Frauen.

England started their title defence with a sobering 2-1 defeat against France in Group D.

A late Keira Walsh goal flattered them in what was a subpar start in the tournament’s Group of Death.

Any doubt was efficiently quashed with a powerful 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, and the Lionesses secured second place with an emphatic 6-1 win over the Welsh.

A firm statement that their opening day defeat was long behind them.

It’s hard to predict a winner between these two European powerhouses, but we think Sweden will edge the title-holders in a high-scoring battle at Stadion Letzigrund.

Now onto France vs Germany. A blockbuster in any meeting.

France made an early statement with their 2-1 triumph over England.

But they didn’t stop there, smashing the Welsh in a thorough 4-1 result in St. Gallen.

Facing the Netherlands in a must-win game for the Dutch, Les Bleus came out swinging after the break, fighting from behind in a stunning 5-2 victory!

Total supremacy to top the toughest group with a perfect record.

For Germany, progression was secured after two games.

The record-champions overcame Poland with a positive 2-0 performance before battling from behind to defeat Denmark 2-1.

A superior display not quite reflected in the scoreline.

While their 4-1 defeat to Sweden may raise questions, it’s important to note that they were only trailing 2-1 before a red card and subsequent penalty in the first half created an uncomfortable battlefield that they ultimately fell on.

France has won eleven consecutive games, while Germany has lost only once in 2025.

Their last four meetings have ended with two wins apiece, and each game has been decided by a one-goal margin.

Given France’s momentum and their demonstrated ability to get the job done over top sides in this tournament (and Germany’s lack thereof), France will have the quality to progress in Basel.

When Spain meets Switzerland, they will walk onto the pitch as favourites.

A 5-0 decimation of Portugal, followed by a 6-2 mauling of Belgium, and proceeded by a straightforward 3-1 win over Italy.

They boast the most goals scored in the tournament, and the best defensive record behind Sweden.

Switzerland, who have fought bravely as tournament hosts, can take confidence in their hard-fought 2-1 defeat against Norway – a game they greatly dominated.

Their 2-0 win over Iceland was a better reflection of their potential, and their last-gasp equaliser over Finland earned progression in another game that they greatly controlled.

Their first major challenge will be Spain, and it will likely be their last as La Furia Roja should have more than enough resources to overcome the hosts.

If we were to see a semi-final of Sweden vs Italy and Spain vs France, we’d put our money on a Sweden vs Spain Final.

But, at the end of the day, football doesn’t follow a straightforward script. It all comes down to who steps up on the day, and with Europe’s finest competing for a place in the semi-finals, there are no guarantees.

From heavyweights & World Champions to underdogs and proud hosts, eight teams are fighting for glory, and those eight teams won’t go down without a fight.