BRING IT ON
With the Lions Tour, Wimbledon, the second cricket Test between England and India and Copa Gianni all in full swing, the last thing all us sports fans who are so spoiled for summer choice need is keyboard warriors on social media abominations complaining about women’s football being “forced down our throats”. Especially given that, like each of the other sporting events listed above, watching Euro 2025 is still not compulsory. Due to take place in Switzerland over the next 25 days, the tournament kicks off on Wednesday, with Iceland taking on Finland in the early game before hosts Switzerland take on Norway in one of 22 out of 32 games that are already completely sold out.
While Proper Football Men such as @FirstNameBunchOfNumbers are likely to be as performatively uninterested in the competition as we’ve come to expect, home fans and many of their travelling counterparts have certainly bought into it. Thus far, ticket sales have already topped 600,000, in a state of affairs that suggests interest in the European women’s game is now higher than many of the Alpine peaks that will serve as picturesque backdrops in the various TV montages containing Toblerones, clocks, cheese, yodelling men, pocket knives and brown cows with bells around their necks that would almost certainly materialise in the coming weeks if Football Daily had won the rights.
“I sincerely thank the Swiss Football Association and its president, Dominique Blanc, for their tireless efforts in preparing for this event, and the host cities, volunteers and fans whose energy and support will leave a lasting legacy,” honked Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin in his pre-tournament address. “The stage now belongs to the 16 outstanding teams chasing the dreams of European glory. I wish them all good health, to be on top of their game, to make their nations proud, and to write a new chapter in football history.” Of the teams who qualified, approximately five are considered genuine contenders to lift the trophy, even if most experts seem to have flagged up Spain, the World Cup holders, as the most likely winners.
England will be hopeful to retain the title they won at Wembley three years ago but have also been earmarked as potential high-profile early croppers amid some talk of unhappiness in a camp that includes high-profile absentees. Lioness legends Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby all withdrew from contention (or in some cases learned they weren’t in contention) in the week leading up to the announcement of Sarina Wiegman’s squad, prompting accusations that their Dutch manager was presiding over a disharmonious squad being rent asunder by excessively big egos. “That is not the case,” sniffed Wiegman at the time, upon being asked if her team is in crisis. “We are going with these 23 to the Euros now and I feel very comfortable with this team. I am very happy with the team and I am very excited, and I am looking forward to it. For me, it doesn’t feel like a crisis at all.” Yet to taste defeat as a manager at the Euros going into her third tournament, Wiegman is a wily veteran, unlike Wales and Poland, who will be making their debuts in this showcase of a sport that has never been in more rude health.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join Barry Glendenning from 5pm BST for MBM coverage of Iceland 1-1 Finland in the Euro 2025 opener, with Scott Murray on deck at 8pm for Switzerland 2-1 Norway.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I’m my own worst critic. If I’m not happy with it, it doesn’t go out. It simply doesn’t happen. When it came to [Swindon’s] Don Rogers, for instance, I cut that head off six times! It’s kind of scary when you do that” – Alan Herriott is among the sculptors who detail the pressure of preserving a player’s likeness and legacy for expectant fans in this entertaining piece.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
During what used to be the close season for football I would fill some of the void by watching Wimbledon. Seeing the line judges ducking 140mph serves – or not – was particularly enjoyable. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that, from this year, all the major calls are made by someone watching camera-assisted footage on a screen. Still, it seems these decisions are made more quickly and accurately. Perhaps football should consider something similar? Oh” – Justin Johnson.
Surely commentators must be aware that goalposts and crossbars are inanimate objects? The posts aren’t making last-ditch tackles, nor is the crossbar putting its body on the line by bravely throwing itself in front of goal-bound shots. So, for the love of Diego (other deities are available) please stop saying someone was ‘denied by the woodwork’. Otherwise my long-suffering wife will have to go on hearing me shout at the telly like a demented idiot who believes the commentators can actually hear him” – Mark McFadden.
Re: Diego Maradona’s choice of icy refreshment (yesterday’s Memory Lane, full email edition). From left to right: Pop-eye (limón); Frigo pie; Frigurón (in the form of a shark); Capitán Cola. Just FYI” – Tim Cole.
Please send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our letter o’ the day competition is … Justin Johnson, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We’ll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.
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