Beaten in their tournament opener, England is desperate to secure a win against the Netherlands to keep their title defence alive in Women’s Euro 2025.
ENG-W vs NED-W Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Time: 18:00 (CET) / 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich
ENG-W vs NED-W Match Preview
England became the first title-holding team to lose the opening group stage game of their trophy defence with a 2-1 defeat to France. Goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore in the first half were enough to rattle the Lionesses, whose reaction after Keira Walsh pulled one back in the 87th minute was too little, too late. Alessia Russo thought she had put her side in front after a strong start, but it was ruled out for the tightest of offside calls in the buildup, shifting the momentum completely to France’s favour, which they failed to recover. It also became the first loss for Sarina Wiegman in the competition's history after staying unbeaten in the Euro 2022 success with the Lionesses as well as in 2017 with the Netherlands. The Dutch will be their opponents in the next game, knowing that another defeat in the tournament against Wiegman’s former employers and France avoiding defeat against Wales will surely put the curtain down on their title defence. A scenario they would not want after carrying such lofty ambitions for the tournament, despite being clubbed in a group of death. England will have to find a way to get back into their stride to avoid a third group stage exit in the competition's history and the first since 2013. The Lionesses were also put in a ‘group of death’ back then, but this time it will be a bigger disappointment if this far more talented and history-making squad don’t progress into the knockouts, no matter the circumstances.
In contrast, the Netherlands had a strong start to their Women's Euro 2025 campaign, defeating debutants Wales with a convincing 3-0 scoreline. Vivianne Miedema broke the deadlock in the first-half stoppage time with her milestone 100th international goal, with Victoria Pelova and Esme Brugts adding a goal piece and Daniëlle van de Donk starring with two assists. The win was important as it gave them momentum ahead of facing the two heavyweights, England and France, in the group, with another three points against the Lionesses solidifying their chances to book a spot in the knockout. Andries Jonker’s side will want to finish off the task in the second group game and not pin all hopes on the final group game against Les Bleues, who are a side to avoid at the moment. The 2017 winners have exited the group stage of the Women’s Euro Championship only once in their past four appearances and it would be detrimental for the side to face such a scenario again from such an advantageous position. History backs the Dutch in this encounter against England, having beaten them in their last Euro meeting 3-0, in their title-winning campaign with Wiegman on their sideline. However, they have picked up just one win against her-managed England, with the last encounter ending in a close 3-2 Nations League loss in December 2023.
ENG-W vs NED-W Recent Form (all competitions)
ENG-W: LWLWL
NED-W: WLDWW
ENG-W vs NED-W Recent Form (Women’s Euro 2025)
ENG-W: L
NED-W: W
ENG-W vs NED-W Team News
England are expected to make changes to their starting eleven after a disappointing performance against France, with Niamh Charles likely to replace Jess Carter and Beth Mead could be benched to make way for Chloe Kelly. Meanwhile, the Netherlands are sticking to their eleven from their win in the opening group game, with England’s top-flight league’s all-time top-scorer Miedema leading from the front.
ENG-W vs NED-W Predicted Lineup
England
Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Charles; Stanway, Walsh; Kelly, James, Hemp; Russo
Netherlands
Van Domselaar; Casparij, Janssen, Buurman, Brugts; Groenen, Kaptein; Pelova, Van de Donk, Roord; Miedema
ENG-W vs NED-W Dream11 Match Prediction
This is a tight affair to predict as both teams will be determined not to lose the game, which will jeopardise their knockout chances. The Netherlands come into this encounter with a win, but Jonker’s team have struggled recently against top-ranked opposition and has a disappointing record against England. The Lionesses will look at that record for motivation and will be trying everything possible to bounce back from the opening game loss to take the decider to the final group game against Wales, a much easier opponent than what their opposition is set to face. We predict a close 2-1 win for the Lionesses.
ENG-W vs NED-W Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Alessia Russo
Vice-captain Picks: Lauren James, Jill Roord, Vivianne Miedema
ENG-W vs NED-W Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Domselaar (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Charles (Cr - 7), Williamson (Cr - 8.5), Brugts (Cr - 7)
MID: Kelly (Cr - 7), Roord (Cr - 8.5), James (Cr - 8), Hemp (Cr - 7.5)
FW: Donk (Cr - 8), Miedema (Cr - 9), Russo (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Beth Mead
Captain: Alessia Russo
