Here at The Halfway Line we have had our say, we have previewed every nation that will compete at EURO 2025 this summer. But now, we want to hear from the people that football is really about, the fans. We issued a rallying cry and you answered, with fans from across Europe answering our call for the fan’s view of EURO 2025.
So sit back and we will take you through the expectations and trepidations of those following their nation around Switzerland this summer.
The hosts and the debutant ballers
We’re going to start with the hosts and the debutants. To help us out we had Julia tell us all about Poland while Mair took us through Wales, and Amy told us all about this summer’s hosts.
What is your best memory of supporting your nation?
Julia (POL): 3rd December 2024, Ewa Pajor scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the game, sealing Poland’s first ever qualification to a major tournament (on her birthday!). It felt like a dream.
Mair (WAL): Qualifying for our first major tournament! Probably the proudest I’ve ever felt, what an achievement for our little nation!
Amy (SUI): Qualifying for the Women’s World Cup 2023 in the playoff in Letzigrund against Wales.
What is one thing that people might not know about your nation?
Julia (POL): Back in 2013 Poland won the U17 Euros in Switzerland. Several players that play for the senior national team now were a part of that winning team, including Ewa Pajor, Paulina Dudek, Kinga Szemik, Ewelina Kamczyk and Sylwia Matysik. To qualify to the 2013 tournament’s finals, Poland won the play-offs against Austria, just like in 2024!
Mair (WAL): The Welsh women’s national team was independently organised for 20 years. The FAW took over in 1993, meaning officially the team is younger than Jess Fishlock.
Amy (SUI): Switzerland does not have an official capital. Whilst Bern is the recognised one, it is not officially a capital city.
Imagine you were abducted by aliens between July 2nd and July 28th 2025, you return to earth and are told that your nation won the Euros with a 120th minute goal in the final, who scored it?
Julia (POL): Natalia Padilla-Bidas.
Mair (WAL): Jess Fishlock, I don’t know how she managed 120 minutes but somehow she would!
Amy (SUI): Viola Calligaris. Header.
Who is your nation’s star player?
Julia (POL): Ewa Pajor.
Mair (WAL): It has got to be Jess Fishlock again.
Amy (SUI): Lia Wälti.
Who is a young player from your nation worth keeping an eye on this Summer?
Julia (POL): Emilia Szymczak.
Mair (WAL): There’s a few! Safia Middleton-Patel has put in some big performances recently and I’d love to see her get a start, and Carrie Jones is also a very exciting talent!
Amy (SUI): Sydney Schertenlieb, Iman Beney, Naomi Luyet.
What is the mood like at home about your nation’s chances?
Julia (POL): We’re just happy to be there.
Mair (WAL): I think everyone is ecstatic just to be there to be honest, watching the girls on the biggest stage is enough!
Amy (SUI): Excited for a home tournament.
How far will your nation get at UEFA EURO 2025
Julia (POL): Group stage.
Mair (WAL): Group stage.
Amy (SUI): Group stage.
What would a successful tournament look like for your nation?
Julia (POL): Getting to the quarter-finals would be enormous, but I think that we’ll be happy, if we put up a good fight in every match and win at least one.
Mair (WAL): Scoring at least one goal! My dream is to be able to celebrate with Y Wal Goch in the stadium, no matter the final result!
Amy (SUI): Getting out of the group.
What would a positive tournament do for women’s football in your country?
Julia (POL): It would be the turning point for women’s football in Poland in every way: starting from the match attendance through to improvement of current players’ lives with professionalisation of the league (it’s worth to note that nowadays only a handful of big men’s clubs have senior women’s sections as well). To changing the society’s general perception of women’s football which would make everything so much easier for girls and women in sports.
Mair (WAL): It’s hard to put into words how incredible this tournament has the potential to be for Welsh women’s football, both at a professional and grassroots level. Young girls will see a pathway and hopefully the league can grow off the back of this tournament, as most national team players play in England.
Amy (SUI): Get more girls playing!
What are you most looking forward to about Switzerland?
Julia (POL): My national team making their long-awaited debut at a major tournament!
Mair (WAL): Being part of Y Wal Goch, and pretty mountains!
Amy (SUI): All the usual.
Which other national team do you secretly admire?
Julia (POL): Netherlands.
Mair (WAL): I’ll be rooting for Poland as the other debutants!
Amy (SUI): Spain.
Who is going to win EURO 2025?
Julia (POL): Spain.
Mair (WAL): I have a feeling about this Germany team, I think they’re going under the radar.
Amy (SUI): Spain or Germany.
The contenders and the pretenders
Onto those fans hoping to watch their side go all the way in Switzerland right to the bitter end. Some are confident, some less so but all agree that the tournament will spring a few surprises.
To talk us through the nuts and bolts of their nations chances, we had Ben for England, Julia for Sweden, Laura for Spain, Sylvian for France, Roos for Netherlands, Katja for Denmark and a mysterious anonymous entry for Germany.
What is your best memory of supporting your nation?
Ben (ENG): Chloe Kelly’s goal to win the Euros.
Julia (SWE): The fan walk to the stadium when we played the Netherlands at the last EUROs. It was so fun having two huge happy friendly supporter bases.
Laura (ESP): Winning the World Cup.
Sylvian (FRA): World Cup 2011 France v England penalty shoot-out, Faye White hit the crossbar.
Roos (NED): Watching them win the Euros!
Katja (DEN): When Pernille Harder equalised against the Netherlands in the 2017 European Championship Final.
Anon (GER): The team solidarity under the right coach is infectious.
What is one thing that people might not know about your nation?
Ben (ENG): The first (recorded) women’s match was on 7th May 1881 and it involved England.
Laura (ESP): The majority of players are Catalans and it is controversial for some of them (to play for the national team).
Roos (NED): That women’s football is still with the amateur football section of the KNVB (Dutch FA).
Katja (DEN): That we won the first ever unofficial Women’s World Cup.
Anon (GER): It’s back.
Imagine you were abducted by aliens between July 2nd and July 28th 2025, you return to earth and are told that your nation won the Euros with a 120th minute goal in the final, who scored it?
Ben (ENG): Alessia Russo.
Julia (SWE): Madde Janogy. I got her name on my World Cup jersey in 2019 and would love her to have her moment to shine.
Laura (ESP): Mariona Caldentey.
Sylvian (FRA): Clara Mateo.
Roos (NED): Vivianne Miedema on crutches.
Katja (DEN): Has to be Captain Denmark; Pernille Harder.
Anon (GER): Big Game Bühl.
Who is your nation’s star player?
Ben (ENG): Leah Williamson.
Julia (SWE): Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Laura (ESP): Aitana Bonmatí.
Sylvian (FRA): Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
Roos (NED): Vivianne Miedema.
Katja (DEN): Pernille Harder.
Anon (GER): Klara Bühl (in Oberdorf’s absence).
Who is a young player from your nation worth keeping an eye on this Summer?
Ben (ENG): Michelle Agyemang.
Julia (SWE): The Hammarby duo Ellen Wangerheim and Smilla Holmberg.
Laura (ESP): Vicky Lopez.
Sylvian (FRA): Alice Sombath.
Roos (NED): Wieke Kaptein.
Katja (DEN): I’d keep an eye out for Cornelia Kramer, who has been on fire in Germany, or Josefine Hasbo. If she plays, Jóhanna Fossdalsá, is always a player to keep your eye on.
Anon (GER): Kora Zicai, though I wish Alara (Şehitler) was there.
What is the mood like at home about your nation’s chances?
Ben (ENG): Confident but with the group and recent withdrawals it won’t be easy!
Laura (ESP): The team is good but we’ll see how they arrive physically.
Sylvian (FRA): Meh.
Roos (NED): Not too good at the moment.
Katja (DEN): After recently getting outplayed by Sweden (and losing 6-1) I think optimism has dropped considerably. We’re in a very tough group, so I think the consensus is that getting out of the group will be tough.
Anon (GER): Cautiously optimistic.
How far will your nation get at UEFA EURO 2025?
Ben (ENG): Semi final.
Julia (SWE): Final.
Laura (ESP): Semi final.
Sylvian (FRA): Quarter final.
Roos (NED): Group stage.
Katja (DEN): Group stage.
Anon (GER): Final.
What would a successful tournament look like for your nation?
Ben (ENG): Winning!
Julia (SWE): The final would be great.
Laura (ESP): Winning.
Sylvian (FRA): Winning it.
Roos (NED): Getting past the group stage.
Katja (DEN): Making it out of the group.
Anon (GER): A return to winning it all.
What would a positive tournament do for women’s football in your country?
Ben (ENG): It would be massive winning back to back euros would be huge.
Julia (SWE): Consolidate on general interest.
Laura (ESP): Kicking out an uncapable coach.
Sylvian (FRA): To launch women’s football in the media and the general public.
Roos (NED): I hope it would bring in people to the stadiums again, attendances have dropped really badly.
Katja (DEN): We have yet to see the kind growth of women’s football that other countries have experienced. The hope is that we’ll be better positioned to take advantage of a positive tournament this time around. Especially considering we, and Sweden, have put in a provisional bid to host the 2029 European Championship.
Anon (GER): A powerful, exciting Germany is great for all of women’s football.
What are you most looking forward to about Switzerland?
Ben (ENG): A very big passionate football country! And lots of good stadiums.
Julia (SWE): Watching lots of football.
Laura (ESP): The country’s vibes and our involvement in the EUROS.
Sylvian (FRA): It will be my fourth tournament after 2009, 2017, 2022, the atmosphere at games.
Roos (NED): Going and watching some good football with friends!
Katja (DEN): Hopefully a lot of good football and close games. There’s a steady growth in women’s football, which means each tournament seems to be better as a whole than the last because more and more teams becomes competitive. I hope that trend continues.
Anon (GER): The excitement and anticipation. Also my favourite players experiencing pure joy.
Which other national team do you secretly admire?
Ben (ENG): No secretly about it for me – Spain!
Julia (SWE): The Lionesses & Germany.
Laura (ESP): England.
Sylvian (FRA): None.
Roos (NED): Germany.
Katja (DEN): For the most part I always want the home nation to do well, so for this tournament I’ll be hoping Switzerland do well. In terms of playing style, when Spain play well, they’re incredible to watch.
Anon (GER): Sweden.
Who is going to win EURO 2025?
Ben (ENG): Spain.
Julia (SWE): Germany.
Laura (ESP): Portugal.
Sylvian (FRA): Spain.
Roos (NED): Germany.
Katja (DEN): Spain.
Anon (GER): Spain or Germany.
You can read all of the latest news, analysis and opinion at Euro 2025 on The Halfway Line.
