Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast · Stak

England march through and the Dutch puppet show ends | Euro 2025 #7

July 14, 2025·42 min·3 clips

Chloe Kelly visualizes scoring in the box as the England squad shows rare camaraderie before the match.

This episode of Upfront covers the final group stage matches of the 2025 Women's Euros, focusing on England's progression and the Netherlands' elimination. Hosts Chloe Morgan and Regina Sullivan, both experienced football journalists, react to the results from their locations in London and Switzerland. They express relief and excitement that England advanced from the so-called "group of death" after an initial shaky loss to France. The hosts detail England's 6-1 victory over Wales, which secured their knockout spot and featured six different goal scorers. They discuss the controversial early penalty awarded to Georgia Stanway, noting VAR intervened on the foul's location, not whether it was a foul. Ella Toone's performance is highlighted, with statistics showing she became the first player since 2013 to score, assist, and complete 100% of her passes in a single Euros match. The analysis covers Alessia Russo's role in drawing defenders and her 44th-minute goal, which felt like a personal weight lifted. Substitute impacts are praised, including goals from Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones, with the latter keeping a memory book of her first tournament. For Wales, Hannah Cain's consolation goal and Jess Fishlock's uncertain international retirement are mentioned. The concurrent France vs. Netherlands match saw France win 3-2, topping Group D and eliminating the Dutch, who needed a four-goal victory margin to advance. A memorable moment was Sullivan observing the England squad's camaraderie during pre-match warm-ups, with players taking photos together and Chloe Kelly visualizing in the box. The hosts found it surprising that Netherlands manager Jonker did not start or bring on star forward Vivianne Miedema even when chasing goals, a decision he later deflected from taking responsibility for. They note the chaotic broadcast experience of switching between the two decisive matches. An interesting insight was the suggestion that England's initial loss to France may have galvanized the squad, forcing difficult conversations. The celebration culture was emphasized, with substitutes like Michelle Alozie appearing genuinely thrilled for goal-scorers even in a 6-1 rout. The tone is conversational, analytical, and infused with the relieved enthusiasm of England supporters. The style blends match analysis with observed anecdotes from the stadium and broader tournament narratives. This episode would appeal to fans of women's football, particularly England supporters, and those interested in tactical discussions and team dynamics. Listeners seeking a neutral, dispassionate match report or deep focus on other competing nations might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

England's 6-1 win, tactical detail, and the wider tournament picture.

England's run into the knockouts gives the episode its main line, and Chloe Morgan and Regina Sullivan keep the focus broad rather than sitting on the 6-1 scoreline alone.

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Why you'd press play

You want England's 6-1 win, Wales's first major tournament, and France topping Group D in one sit-down.

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