1) Spain
Spain’s quest to triumph their first European title continues astatine afloat pace. Their quarter-final triumph against Switzerland was much difficult than expected and required important patience. They were not astatine their champion – nan hosts did not let them to beryllium – but nan calibre of nan world champions’ squad intends nan guidance cannot move off, moreover for an instant. Finding a measurement is comparatively easy erstwhile you person Aitana Bonmatí connected nan field, and her back-heeled assistance for Athenea del Castillo’s opener connected Friday nighttime was nan infinitesimal of inspiration they needed. Winning successful beforehand of a partisan big crowd is besides an accomplishment mentally.
2) England
Sarina Wiegman described England’s triumph against Sweden arsenic 1 of nan hardest matches she has ever watched. But it was besides 1 of nan astir thrilling. The holders were outplayed successful nan first half but came backmost done sheer grit, tactical adaptability and a bench-worth of game-changers. The Lionesses became nan first squad successful Euros history to move astir a 2-0 shortage successful a knockout lucifer and they person been successful nan semi-finals of each awesome tourney since 2015. That shows a intelligence resilience not galore teams possess. To past triumph nan punishment shootout successful nan mode they did – done nan axenic willpower of Lucy Bronze if thing other – illustrated really important this is.
3) Italy
The improvement of this Italy broadside since crashing retired of nan 2023 World Cup astatine nan group shape has been thing short of remarkable. Andrea Soncin has brought caller life to a squad that were threatening to spell backwards. They dominated their quarter-final triumph complete Norway, utilising Arianna Caruso’s passing range, Sofia Cantore’s velocity successful wide areas and Cristiana Girelli’s instinctive oculus for goal, and celebrated reaching their first awesome tourney semi-final since 1997 pinch fervour, tears falling and Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten echoing done nan hallways of nan Stade de Genève.
4) Germany
The quality successful Germany betwixt their group conclusion by Sweden and nan capacity they put successful to flooded France could not person been starker. They were reduced to 10 players successful some matches, but they near everything connected nan transportation successful their quarter-final brushwood connected Saturday night, battling against nan likelihood to scope nan past 4 erstwhile again. There is nary uncertainty that Christian Wück’s broadside are wounded. Their backline is decimated by wounded and suspension. There is spot to beryllium recovered successful resilience, however, and Germany displayed plentifulness of that successful Basel.

5) Switzerland
Everyone coming wrong nan Stadion Wankdorf connected Friday understood they were witnessing thing special. Switzerland person captured nan bosom of their federation complete nan past period and their capacity against Spain, contempt eventual defeat, will person only brought successful much fans. About 25,000 marched done nan metropolis of Berne to nan match, a oversea of reddish and achromatic that illustrated this goes measurement beyond nan plucky, tenacious performances of Pia Sundhage’s young group. They person forged a enslaved pinch their fans; it is now up to those successful powerfulness to guarantee this opportunity is not missed.
6) France
A week ago, France very overmuch looked for illustration a squad who could triumph this tournament, 1 who had shaken disconnected galore past issues. But erstwhile again, their knockout curse raised its head. Their shootout conclusion by Germany was their eighth successful their past 9 appearances astatine a quarter-final stage, and it is nan measurement this 1 happened that will wounded nan most. Despite an injury-struck Germany being reduced to 10 players early on, Laurent Bonadei’s broadside created 9 chances and recorded an xG of only 0.63 from unfastened play. The inquest will statesman shortly.

7) Sweden
Peter Gerhardsson’s dejected quality aft conclusion by England summed it each up. The Sweden head could not comprehend really his in-form broadside had not won. The first gameplan was “perfect” but their inability to clasp their power levels and accommodate to nan Lionesses’ tactical adaptations proved their downfall. Add successful immoderate unusual substitutions and penalty-taker decisions and it was Sweden who recovered themselves connected nan level home. This was their first conclusion since July 2024 and they had taken nan tourney by large wind up to this point, cruising done nan group stage. Ultimately location was a sad extremity to Gerhardsson’s eight-year tenure.
8) Norway
How to lick a problem for illustration Norway. That is nan mobility that remains aft yet different knockout shape defeat. On insubstantial they person 1 of nan strongest attacks successful Europe, but they each excessively often neglect to beryllium a sum of their parts. Their capacity against Italy was disappointing, offering very small barroom a 10-minute spell successful nan 2nd half. Gemma Grainger’s broadside registered conscionable 1 changeable connected target successful 90 minutes; Ada Hegerberg’s equaliser. Their failing many times connected nan world shape requires a broad rethink by nan Norwegian FA if they are ever going to realise their potential.