Injured Spain Faces Portugal in Championship Opener

Favourite-tipped Spain meets Portugal in the championship's first rivalry meeting, at the same time Italy makes an entrance with a star-studded squad against Belgium.

» Published: July 02 2025 at 12:35

Injured Spain Faces Portugal in Championship Opener
Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

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What: Belgium–Italy, group stage match, group B.

When: Thursday, July 3, 18.00.

Where: Stade Tourbillon, Sion.

TV/radio: SVT 2/SVT Play.

+ Italy fields star-studded squad

Star-studded Italy lines up with players like Cristiana Girelli (Juventus), Arianna Caruso (Bayern München) and goalkeeper Laura Giuliani (Milan).

+ Belgium makes only its third European Championship

Belgium makes only its third European Championship and has a somewhat more anonymous squad, where names like Nicky Evrard (PSV Eindhoven) and Tessa Wullaert (Inter) stand out.

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What: Spain–Portugal, group stage match, group B.

When: Thursday, July 3, 21.00.

Where: Stade de Suisse, Bern.

TV/radio: Viaplay and Radiosporten.

+ Team captain suspended – is the world's best missing?

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí was hospitalized last week with meningitis. The Barcelona star was back in training on Tuesday, but her status is unclear.

First-choice goalkeeper Cata Coll was struck by tonsillitis just a few days before the premiere and risks missing the match.

Definitely missing the match is team captain Irene Paredes, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the qualifying match against the Czech Republic.

+ World Champions Spain enter the tournament

In the rivalry match between neighbors Spain and Portugal, we see a clear favorite: Spain is the reigning World Champion, won the first edition of the Nations League on the women's side in 2024 and went all the way to the semifinals in the Olympic Games the same year.

+ Portugal dreams of playoffs

Portugal hopes to make history by advancing from the group stage. The form has been uneven, though: they went unbeaten through qualifying but lost four matches during the Nations League.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers
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