England & Wales 'group of death' - Group D guide

Every large tourney these days seems to person a alleged 'group of death'.

It conscionable truthful happens that the 2 location nations attending Euro 2025 - England and Wales - person some fallen into the tricky Group D.

They're joined by 2017 champions the Netherlands and a highly-rated France squad.

Can the Lionesses support their 2022 crown? And however volition Wales fare successful their archetypal large tournament?

BBC Sport takes a deeper look astatine the 4 teams involved.

Form: England missed retired connected apical spot successful their Euro qualifying group, coming 2nd down chap Group D broadside France. Sarina Wiegman's broadside did, however, triumph their astir caller gathering with Les Bleues.

But question marks person been raised implicit their signifier of late, with a convincing 6-0 triumph against Portugal successful the Women's Nations League sandwiched betwixt defeats by Belgium and Spain, though they did bushed the second successful February.

Tournament hopes: Expectations volition beryllium precocious for an England broadside who ended the country's 56-year hold for a large trophy - men's oregon women's - erstwhile they bushed Germany astatine Wembley successful the 2022 final.

But, aft reaching the last of the 2023 World Cup, the Lionesses person suffered a dip successful form, positive a fig of cardinal players are successful a contention to beryllium afloat acceptable successful time, portion the lack of Mary Earps (retired) and Millie Bright (unavailable) means the squad is without immoderate of its astir experienced names.

To marque things adjacent much uncertain, they've been handed possibly the toughest radical and adjacent getting retired of the radical signifier could beryllium a large ask.

Manager: Laurent Bonadei Nationality: French Appointed: 2024

Captain: Griedge Mbock Position: Centre-back Club: PSG

Key player: Sandy Baltimore Position: Winger Club: Chelsea

Form: France qualified for Euro 2025 arsenic radical leaders but they did endure defeats against England and the Republic of Ireland during that campaign.

However, they get successful Switzerland connected a blistery tally of signifier having won each six of their Nations League matches this year, conceding conscionable 2 goals.

Tournament hopes: France person mostly been ranked among the favourites for each large tourney successful caller times but they person ever seemed to autumn short, failing to scope a last astatine either the Euros oregon the World Cup.

With a wealthiness of attacking and antiaircraft talent, Laurent Bonadei's Les Bleues person mislaid conscionable 2 of their matches since helium took complaint successful August - to satellite champions Spain and, much surprisingly, Switzerland past October.

Manager: Andries Jonker Nationality: Dutch Appointed: 2022

Captain: Sherida Spitse Position: Midfielder Club: Ajax

Key player: Vivianne Miedema Position: Forward Club: Man City

Form: The Netherlands won lone 2 qualifying matches but they finished level connected points with top-placed Italy. They scored conscionable 4 goals during that run but they were coagulated astatine the backmost - lone letting successful 4 goals.

However, their past Nations League matches were not what they would person hoped for 5 weeks earlier the Euros - a 1-1 gully with Scotland aft Germany had thrashed them 4-0 astatine the extremity of May.

Tournament hopes: There has been an excitement astir the Netherlands heading into Euro 2025 nether Jonker, who volition depart aft the tourney and be replaced by England adjunct Arjan Veurink.

The Dutch squad person continued to make a big of agleam caller endowment with the likes of Barcelona's Esmee Brugts, arsenic good arsenic Chelsea's Wieke Kaptein and Veerle Buurman, portion they inactive person the experienced stars similar Vivianne Miedema and Sherida Spitse, who some contributed to their Euros occurrence successful 2017.

Manager: Rhian Wilkinson Nationality: Canadian Appointed: 2024

Captain: Angharad James Position: Midfielder Club: Seattle Reign

Key player: Jess Fishlock Position: Forward Club: Seattle Reign

Form: Wales mislaid lone 1 of their 10 games successful qualifying for Euro 2025 but they were facing weaker teams successful League B earlier they qualified for their archetypal large tourney done the play-offs by beating the Republic of Ireland.

They person struggled since making the measurement up to League A successful the Nations League, finishing bottommost of their radical without a win. Wales did gain 2 encouraging draws with Sweden this twelvemonth but they fell to Italy and Denmark successful their last 2 radical games.

Tournament hopes: Getting done the 'group of death' won't beryllium casual for Wales but they person go a precise hard broadside to bushed nether Rhian Wilkinson.

Having precocious impressed against the higher ranked sides, Wales volition beryllium keen to marque an content connected their large tourney debut and beryllium competitory successful Switzerland.