By Aimee Reynolds (20/6/2025)
Above: Spain celebrate. Photo: @Sefutbolfem on X.
Will they make their mark again? World Champions Spain will be competing in their fifth European Championship this summer.
The Spanish Women’s National Team (nicknamed La Roja) will be putting in their all to bring silverware back to Spain this summer.
Although they have been tipped as likely favourites for the win, Spain’s history at the Euros is mixed.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Adriana Naclares (Athletic Club), Cata Coll (Barcelona), Esther Sullastres (Sevilla).
Defenders: Laia Aleixandri (unattached) , Ona Battle( Barcelona), Olga Carmona(Real Madrid), Jana Fernandez (Barcelona), Maria Mendez(Real Madrid), Leila Ouahabi(Manchester City), Irene Paredas (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Aitanna Bonmati (Barcelona), Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona), Vicky Lopez (Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Maite Zubieta (Athletic Bilbao).
Forward: Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid) , Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC), Cristina Martin-Prieto (Benfica), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona), Claudia Pina (Barcelona), Alba Redondo (Real Madrid), Lucia Garcia (Monterrey).
Head Coach
After a rough few years within the Spanish football federation, the team finally saw some light when Montserrat Tomé took on the role, becoming the first female head coach of Spain’s women’s team..
Even though she was new to the role, Tomé had also worked as part of the coaching staff under previous head coach Jorge Vilda. Tomé has had a positive response from the players before and after her appointment.
This will be her first Euros as head coach. Her run of form since being in this position has been strong. From winning friendlies to winning the Nations league, she isn’t afraid to make changes and unpopular calls – such as leaving record goalscorer Jenni Hermoso out of her Euros squad.
Euro history
La Roja’s first ever Euros was back in 1997 where they placed 3rd in the competition; an amazing start for Spain. In the 1984 Euros they didn’t enter and after that, they just didn’t qualify.
After an incredible debut at the Euros, they didn’t get a chance again until 2013, the year they placed 7th. From that tournament onwards, they have never made it past the quarter-finals. Will this be the year to end the drought?
Qualification
Spain qualified for a place in Switzerland back in June last year after a dramatic 3-2 win against Denmark.
Tomé’s Spanish side won five out of their six qualification fixtures. Due to this they placed top of their group and qualified automatically.
Strengths
Spain are considered to be the best in the world for a reason: they are the one to beat in all competitions. Tomé’s side love to dominate the ball and attack with ruthless intensity.
Tournament football is known to be intense and fast paced, and this is something the Spanish side does best.
Another massive strength for Spain is the players. They have some of the best in the world playing for the team – such as Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. Their abilities on and off the ball are powerful, especially when attacking.
Spain’s depth of attacking players goes beyond any other team. The strength of their bench is as good as some team’s starting XI. Having the likes of Lucia Garcia and Esther Gonzalez being able to come on at any moment and score is a huge factor to their success.
Development areas
You might be thinking, world champions, what can they do to be better?
Even though their attacking ability is incredible they do struggle defensively under strong attacking play of others.
Sometimes the Spanish side lose their composure if they are challenged – seen recently against Belgium (where they went 2-0 down before staging a comeback). This is something they need to work on and develop before the European Championship begins.
Key Players
Claudia Pina
At 23-years-old, Claudia Pina is up there for being one of the best forwards in the world. She’s a young attacking player with so much experience alongside an impressive amount of silverware already.
With her eyes constantly on goal, ready to score a screamer at any minute, it will be no surprise if we see Pina’s name on the score sheet during July. Her creative, confident ability on the ball makes her the player she is.
Aitana Bonmati
One of the biggest names attending this year’s Euros after winning last year’s Ballon d’Or, Bonmati is known to be the best and is a key player to watch.
Her ability on the ball sets the midfielder apart from the rest. The way she dribbles, and how quickly she can change the intensity of her game is a key asset she brings to this top Spanish side.
She is known to many fans across the world to be a ‘magician’ on the ball. This season she has scored 9 goals in 23 appearances for her club, Barcelona.
So far for Spain this year she has scored 2 goals in 4 appearances. These goals came back in April during Spain’s Nations League run against Portugal.
Mariona Caldentey
A strong, versatile, attacking player scoring 19 goals in 41 appearances for English side Arsenal this season, has been called up to her third European Championship.
Caldentey is known to be a difficult opponent for a defender, her pace alongside her strength makes her a challenge to keep up with. She was pivotal to Arsenal’s recent Champions League win, scoring in both legs of their semi-final fixtures against Lyon and being a key player in Lisbon.
Four Champions League titles and a World Cup winner all at 29 sums up why Caldentey is one of Spain’s best.
One to watch
At 18, Vicky López will be attending her first major tournament for Spain’s senior team. With multiple caps for the international side, López is starting to get some game time since receiving her first senior call up back in February 2024.
Her debut came back in February 2024 during the Nations League semi-final where she was subbed on for Jenni Hermoso in their 3-0 victory against the Netherlands, becoming the youngest women’s player to debut for Spain at 17 years old.
At the end of last year she scored her first senior goal against South Korea in an international fixture. This season for Barcelona she has scored ten goals in 25 appearances.
The 18-year-old’s technique and charisma on the ball allows her to stand out from the rest. Her game vision allows her tactics to shine through and shine noticeably in a game.
Success would be
Every country aims to win, however Spain carry such aura that for them to miss out on a place in the Euro final would be disappointing.
In the 2022 Euros, Spain finished sixth after losing 2-1 against England in the quarter-finals. Realistically, anything above sixth would be what they’d expect.
Prediction
I predict Spain to go all the way and win the competition. With such a good run of form at the minute, it is only setting them up for glory. Unlike some other nations, their group is challenging. However, I believe they will win all three group stage games.
Group fixtures
3rd July – Portugal, Wankdorf Stadium, Bern. 8pm UK time
7th July – Belgium, Arena Thun, 5pm UK time
11th July – Italy, Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, 8pm UK time
This is the latest part of our Euros nation previews – click on the links below to view the previous articles:
SWITZERLAND: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/06/16/euros-preview-switzerland-2/
NORWAY: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/06/17/euros-preview-norway/
FINLAND: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/06/18/euros-preview-finland-2/
ICELAND: https://impetusfootball.org/2025/06/19/euros-preview-iceland-2/
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