England v Spain live: Euro 2025 final kick-off time, team news and latest build-up – UK Times

England manager Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson will appear at a press conference shortly before the Euro 2025 final against Spain. They’ll be speaking from St Jakob Park in Basel, which hosts tomorrow’s final.

England midfielder Ella Toone knows millions of people in the nation will be watching when the holders take the pitch against world champions Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2025 final, but she said the team are not feeling the pressure.

“The pressure is just the stuff that we put on ourselves,” Toone said.

“We said that we wanted to make the nation proud, and I think we’ve done that already. We’ve reached a final for the third time in a row, and that’s something that we can hold our heads high (about) and we should be proud of that.

“We know that no matter what we do, we’re always inspiring the next generation of young girls and boys starting out in their journey. No pressure from our side.”

At kick-off in the Euro 2025 final, England and Spain will be rivals. But before and after, many will be friends and allies, united by a common cause. Keira Walsh is determined to win on Sunday, to become a two-time European champion as part of the first-ever England team to defend a title at a major international tournament.

But Walsh also wants Spain to enjoy their moment, to make up for what was lost. Spain will undoubtedly enjoy the occasion more if they beat England to add to their World Cup triumph, but Walsh was aware of the wider meaning.

Shortly before Sarina Wiegman walks into one of the grand rooms at England’s five-star Dolder base overlooking Zurich, Ella Toone can’t help but laugh.

“We’ve nearly killed her twice in this tournament,” Toone says. It sometimes feels like at least twice in single games, especially those against Sweden and Italy.

“You’ve definitely aged me,” Wiegman told the players after the semi-final. You wouldn’t think it as she walks in for a more informal chat with media on the eve of the Euro 2025 final.

They may have already used their nine lives, but England are through to their third consecutive major tournament final at Euro 2025.

Yes, England have been extremely fortunate to make it this far, requiring miraculous escapes to defeat Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages and overcome sub-par performances.

But if the Lionesses have had some luck on their side, there is no denying that reaching another final is an impressive achievement – one that is unprecedented in England’s history.

Spain are remaining tight-lipped about what they expect from England in Sunday’s Euro 2025 final in Basel, but midfielder Alexia Putellas says her side are ready for whatever Sarina Wiegman and her squad come up with.

“England is a team that can come up with many things — they can be in a low block and move forward, or they can be a team that wants to do both things, (but) we are a team with a lot of resources,” Putellas said.

“If they decide to be in the low block and move forward, we have been able to play (in the past) and score goals. We are well-balanced so that they do not move forward … it’s hard to get the ball off us, we are ready for anything.”

At Euro 2025, Aitana Bonmati has already demonstrated her ability to be patient, and wait for the gaps to open up. Here, though, the world’s best player is sitting in front of a tactics board, pushing markers across a Subbuteo pitch and explaining how Spain defeated England to win the 2023 World Cup final.

Across sport, and certainly in football, It is rare to come across examples of the best in the world calmly articulating the little moments that separate their genius from the rest. But Bonmati is an exception in many respects and, at 27, the midfielder’s awareness of space and her ability to exploit it is what defines her generational talent.

Lauren James was part of a 23-player England squad involved in training this morning in Zurich.

“She’s still recovering,” Wiegman said yesterday. “She’s doing things on the pitch and we have two more days so we’re going to give her time.

“We don’t know yet [if she’ll be ready], but that’s what we’re going to go for – [we want to have] 23 players available for the game on Sunday.”

James took a knock to her ankle during England’s semi-final against Italy on Tuesday and was forced off at half-time.

At some point, Michelle Agyemang may start playing a game for England when they are not behind. It could even be on Sunday in the Euro 2025 final. But for now, it is hard to think of anyone at this tournament who has a clearer understanding of their exact role and the impact they can make than the 19-year-old striker who began it with just one international appearance for her country, and who has now saved them from the brink twice in two games.

“She feels inevitable right now,” said Leah Williamson.

The last few hours before a major final always have that strangely charged serenity. If that sounds like a contradiction, it only fits with the mood. At England’s Dolder Grand base, there’s also one question left hanging in the rarefied air. Will Sarina Wiegman come up with something different for the Euro 2025 final – the team’s third in a row, and her fifth?

The route to Basel’s St Jakob-Park has been tumultuous, with the England manager arguably getting her starting approach wrong in at least three games. There is nevertheless another crucial element.