Euro 2025 has gained momentum following an exciting second round of group matches, featuring significant victories, thrilling finishes, and early team exits. The tournament, which got off to a cautious start, has revealed notable patterns and standout performances over the last few days.
A key observation from the initial 16 matches is the surprising scarcity of draws. Only one match, a 1-1 tie between Portugal and Italy, settled without a winner. This trend has led to substantial gaps in the standings, with five teams—Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, and Wales—facing early mathematical eliminations after losing their first two matches. This is a stark contrast to previous tournaments, where only two teams found themselves in similar situations.
A standout feature of the tournament so far is the effectiveness of right-footed curlers from inside-left positions, showcasing a promising strategy in the women’s game. Several players have scored stunning goals in this manner. Finland’s Katariina Kosola initiated the tournament with a beautiful curling shot against Iceland, while Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema and Spain’s Claudia Pina added remarkable strikes to the mix.
Temperature conditions also played a role in the quality of play, with cooler weather in the second round leading to more intense matches. The opening days saw high temperatures that hindered performance, but as conditions improved—falling to as low as 14 degrees—teams demonstrated sharper gameplay, culminating in Spain’s thrilling 6-2 victory over Belgium and Sweden’s commanding 3-0 win over Poland.
Defensively, Sweden has excelled thus far, being the only team yet to concede a goal. Despite missing key defender Magdalena Eriksson, manager Peter Gerhardsson’s side has found success with players like Nathalie Bjorn, who has distinguished herself as one of the best defenders in the tournament.
Highlighting individual performances, the Team of the Round includes players who featured prominently in their matches. Finland’s Anna Koivunen and Switzerland’s Iman Beney made notable contributions, while Sweden’s Bjorn continued to impress in defense.
As the tournament progresses, teams prepare for tougher challenges ahead, but the early matches suggest that Sweden’s solid defensive strategies may serve them well in their pursuit of advancing in the tournament.
With the excitement building, fans can look forward to more edge-of-the-seat moments in the subsequent rounds of Euro 2025.