'It will be so tight' - Emma Hayes claims Euro 2025 will showcase how far women's football has come with fiercely contested tournament and quality 'higher than we have seen before' in Switzerland

The legendary manager wrote glowingly about the current state of women's football on the continent for The Guardian. She argues that the more than 3,000 full-time players in Europe would help deliver a tournament for the ages. She also expects the competition will be tight, earmarking Spain, Germany and England as the three favourites for the crown.

Hayes says she was impressed by the young stars in Germany's ranks at the Olympics, name-checking Jule Brand, Lea Schuller and Klara Buhl as the players to watch; although she did question the Germans' depth. The turnover in England's squad either through injury in the case of Millie Bright, or the international retirement of Mary Earps, could scupper the Lionesses' title defence according to Hayes. However, she still lauded the experienced starting XI at Sarina Wiegman's disposal. Finally, Hayes extolled the style and methodology of Spain's all-conquering side, but she thinks the way Arsenal disrupted Barcelona in the Champions League final could provide a blueprint for sides facing off against La Roja.

Hayes wrote: "You only have to wind the clock back two full major-tournament cycles, to Euro 2017, and there were no fully professional women’s leagues in Europe. Thanks to increased investment in the women’s game, there are now more than 3,000 full-time female players across the continent, and that professionalisation is why my overriding feeling about this summer’s Euros is that the quality is going to be so much higher than we have seen before. And it will be so tight.

"In Spain, England and Germany there are three strong favourites who are all capable of going on to win it and I would add the Netherlands to the top four. I was so impressed when we [the United States] played the Dutch in December. They will need everybody fit but, on their day, they are a top side. Beyond that, this tournament is going to show the prowess of the Nations League, which was introduced since the most recent Euros, and the impact that tournament is having on equality."

Hayes will be providing more of her analysis on ITV's coverage of Euro 2025. The tournament kicks off with a Group A game between Iceland and Finland on the July 2.