The world champions’ squad contains two Ballon d’Or winners and a place in the final is the minimum requirement
This article is part of the Guardian’s Euro 2025 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 16 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two teams each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 2 July.
Spain are in exceptional form, with a settled squad and only a few lingering doubts. With a stellar cast including Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey, Laia Aleixandri, Irene Paredes, Esther González, Ona Batlle and Patri Guijarro, they are the only team in Switzerland with two double Ballon d’Or winners – an accolade La Roja have dominated since 2021. Montse Tomé’s side sparkled in the recent 2-1 win against England, controlling the game with their trademark possession play and an increasingly incisive final ball.
Not everything is perfect, however. Spain will be without the injured Tere Abelleira and Laia Codina while two mainstays of past tournaments, Jenni Hermoso and Ivana Andrés, were not selected. The Real Madrid goalkeeper, Misa Rodríguez, also misses out as Tomé begins to usher in a generational shift.
