Women's Euro 2025 Power Rankings: Sweden slight favourites for England clash after perfect group stage

Despite getting a relatively kind draw thanks to their status as hosts, the extremely tight and competitive nature of Group A meant it was still going to be tough for Switzerland to make the knockout rounds of the European Championship for the first time. That was evident in the manner in which they achieved that feat, through Riola Xhemaili's stoppage-time goal.

It looked like Natalia Kuikka's penalty a little over 10 minutes prior was going to send Finland through to the last eight instead but there was always a feeling that La Nati weren't done. Indeed, they got the equaliser their positive play deserved, and the fantastic home support craved, in the most dramatic fashion.

It's hard to see Switzerland's summer continuing beyond this next round, though. Pia Sundhage's side will come up against Spain in the quarter-finals, with La Roja sure to have too much quality for them - and that's fine.

The hosts have achieved what set out to and hopefully provided a watershed moment for women's football in the country. Plus, Spain's defence continues to look vulnerable so, with some clinical counter-attacking, Switzerland could still have a big moment to celebrate, even if it's unlikely to contribute to victory.

Despite suffering group-stage exits at both Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, Italy looked more than capable of making a big impact in Switzerland, having recorded wins over Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark under new coach Andrea Sochin. The Azzurre had been mixing it with some of the best teams on the planet and coming out on top in some real goal-fests.

The first objective was just reaching the knockout stage. It was vital that Italy got over that hurdle and perhaps the, at times, nervy nature in which they did so was a consequence of recent disappointments.

Now that is out of the way, though, how might Sochin's side look in the knockouts? Can they start to show what made them such an attractive outside bet? Both they and Norway have a huge opportunity here to make the semi-finals, but Italy's opponents will be slight favourites to progress, given they have been the more impressive of the two teams at this tournament.

It's been a long time coming but Norway are finally back in the knockout stages at the Euros, 12 years on from their memorable run to the final of the competition. This felt like the perfect opportunity for them to exorcise some demons, given the kind group they were drawn in, but it was by no means straight-forward, with two of the three goals that secured their spot in the last eight actually scored by the opposition.

Norway have so much star quality in attack, including Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg and Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen, but it doesn't feel like it has been maximised as of yet. Indeed, their 4-3 win over Iceland in Thursday's dead rubber was executed by a heavily rotated XI, with 20-year-old Signe Gaupset the star of the show. Things will clearly need to change if they are to make the most of what is arguably the best possible quarter-final draw they could have hoped for, given Italy are far from flawless

There is also the issue of how exactly Norway will line up against the Azzurre, after an unnecessary red card for Marit Lund in the meaningless clash with Iceland. It means Grainger has a big decision to make in a backline that hasn't convinced. Fortunately, if the first-choice attack really clicks, it could certainly make up for their defensive deficiencies.

Germany have been left in a tricky spot following a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Sweden on Saturday. The eight-time winners were poor defensively even before Carlotta Wamser’s red card and that dismissal is going to hurt them, given the 21-year-old was playing well in the place of Giulia Gwinn, the captain who suffered a tournament-ending knee injury on matchday one.

Christian Wuck will have to find a way to adapt, again, at right-back, which is going to be a particularly important position in their quarter-final with France. It's down the left that Les Bleues often look most dangerous, with Sandy Baltimore well-supported by Selma Bacha, and they will surely focus on that side given Germany's issues.

It's going to be a tall order, though it must be said that Germany do have the firepower in attack to trouble a France defence that hasn't been watertight either.

After starting the tournament with an awful performance against France, England have looked more like potential title-winners in their last two outings. Knowing they could not afford any more slip-ups, the Lionesses battered the Netherlands and Wales in impressive fashion, scoring 10 goals while looking much more commanding at the back after some tactical tweaks.

The biggest test of their credentials yet, though, will come on Thursday as they face Sweden in the quarter-finals. These two met twice in qualifying for this tournament and both games ended in a draw.

So, it's an extremely tough encounter to call but, given how well Sweden have done in the group stage and the fact that England haven't been tested much in their last two outings, it's not the Lionesses who go in as slight favourites...

Could this finally be Sweden's year? In what is head coach Peter Gerhardsson's final tournament, the Scandinavians look solid at the back, dangerous going forward and potentially good enough overall to secure themselves a first major title.

They've been a consistent presence in the latter stages of these events for years now - making the semi-finals in six of their last seven major tournaments, and the quarter-finals in that one miss - so they certainly have the experience needed in these high-pressure situations.

Saturday's clash with Germany felt like a good litmus test ahead of the knockout stages, to really see where their level was at, and the 4-1 battering they gave the eight-time winners only threw up more reasons to believe Gerhardsson's side can go all the way.

They've got a tough quarter-final against England, but Sweden are a very awkward opponent for the Lionesses, too, and have been the more impressive of the two to date.

After finally breaking their quarter-final curse at Euro 2022, could France end their long wait for a first major title at Euro 2025? Les Bleues certainly look capable of beating anyone when they are on it, with the likes of Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto thriving in attack.

There are still some reasons for concern, with the defence looking vulnerable at times, while their position on Spain's side of the draw is hardly ideal in light of La Roja's fine form.

However, if the French can iron out some of those flaws at the back and maintain their remarkable scoring rate, they can beat anyone.

Spain were the favourites to win this tournament before it kicked off and, so far, nothing has happened to alter that perception. Sure, La Roja have looked a little suspect at the back, but that was already the case in the build-up to the Euros. And, at the other end of the pitch, they've been so fantastic that it hasn't mattered.

Alexia Putellas is playing better than ever, Mariona Caldentey is showing why she should be firmly in the conversation for the Ballon d'Or with her former Barcelona team-mate, while the likes of Claudia Pina, Esther Gonzalez and Patri Guijarro have all continued their fine club form in Switzerland, too. Oh, and Aitana Bonmati is tuning up nicely for the knockout rounds after coming into the Euros off the back of a health issue.

Can anyone stop them? So far, the answer looks to be no.