The quarterfinals for the 2025 euros has left many viewers wondering, in the words of Sam Kerr from Australia, “do you guys not practice those?” This years women’s euros has had a wild amount of penalty kicks given and taken, but not many have ended up in the back of the net of the goal. 

Let’s deep dive into the quarterfinals of the euros before the semifinals take place. The semifinals kickoff on July 22 with England facing Italy and then on July 23 with Spain facing Germany. 

But how did these teams make it to the semifinals? 

The hardest won game has to be England versus Sweden. Sweden broke out the gate with a goal in the 2nd minute by Asllani and an assist from Blackstenius. The captain of the London City Lionessess launched the game with her goal, securing one of two goals prior to half time. The second goal was placed by her assist player, Stina Blackstenius. How did we end up at penalty shots if Sweden led 2-0? 

A combination of Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang evened up the score to 2-2. To penalties we go…and go they certainly did. Between the two sides, 9 penalty shots missed or blocked. Only 5 penalty kicks between both teams made it in and counted for the shoot out. It was certainly shocking to see defending champions England perform so poorly and squeak out the win. 

Stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing," England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton told the BBC when asked about the shootout, in which she saved two penalties with Sweden missing three others.

"Every time I saved one I was thinking 'please just put it in so we have a bit of a cushion.' Their keeper then just went and saved the next one and I was thinking 'oh goodness, here we go.'"

It was the first time in Euros history that a team that trailed 2-0 would come back and win the game, a stat England should be thankful for because without penalties they may have not made it to face Italy in the semifinals. esoecially when the Swedish goalie saved four penalty kicks, which is also a Euros record. 

Wiegman's side reached their fourth semifinal in the last five Euros and also became the first champions since Germany in 2009 to make it beyond the quarterfinals at the following tournament. Wiegman reflected on the difficulty of the game.

"It was hard. One of the hardest games I've ever watched,"

"Very emotional. We could've been out four or five times during the game. When you're 2-0 down at halftime, it's not good.”

"We started really badly and then at the end of the first half we got better and in the second half we got better but we didn't create anything so we had to change shape. Then we scored two goals so that was crazy already.”

"Then we go into extra-time, some players injured, some players cramping, Hannah Hampton with blood all over the place, then we go to the penalty shootout and we miss a lot but they miss even more and we're through," 

Lucy Bronze, England defender who scored one of the two goals that tied the game as well as a one of the successful penalties, shared her experience. 

"It's just so overwhelming. I think Sweden were unbelievable – I think both teams deserve to go through if I'm being honest. We didn't start particularly well, I think they were really strong in the game, but to finish the way we did in a penalty shoot-out, when it's sudden death – what a way to win a game.”

"Scoring in the game, I was ecstatic. I think that's something I know I can bring to this team, I can always bring energy when we may be lacking. I don't know about penalties – I've never taken a penalty for England [before] but I know that I'm confident in my ability, and in Hannah as our goalkeeper, so I knew I had to step up to take one for the team.” 

England goes through to the semifinals and we pivot to another shoot out game, Germany versus France. This game started out hot in a different way—a red card. German player Kathrin Hendrich gets ejected from the game in the 13th minute for hair pulling, awarding France with a penalty kick they sink in the 15th minute. The penalty was taken by midfielder Geyoro to make it 1-0 France. Germany is faced with uphill odds to play one and a half halves down a whole player. 

Not dissuaded by being down a player, Germany levels the game to 1-1 with a goal by Nüsken in the 25th minute. France has a goal called back by VAR. nüsken goes to take a penalty kick at the 69th minute and misses. Extra time sees no goals and penalties approach. 

This penalty kick portion is so wildly different from the game England versus Sweden had. A combined total of 11 penalties went into the goal, with only 3 misses total. France and Germany certainly practiced their penalties! Winning 6-5 in penalty shots, Germany advances to the semifinals. 

Christian Wück, Germany coach, shared how the red card may have rallied the team together to garner the win. 

"We received a red card early on, and that meant we had to play with ten for the majority of the match. The way the team reacted, their mentality, their fighting spirit, and the unity – it's incredible and makes me very proud. Everyone was happy that this hard-fought performance led us to victory. I'm so proud of the team for the way they took on this challenge against an opponent who demanded everything from us. That was incredible."

Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany goalkeeper, has an outstanding performance all the way through penalties and scored a penalty shot of her own. 

"I was not happy that we had to go to a penalty shoot-out; I wanted the game done and dusted in 90 minutes. But I did my part of the game. The team worked incredibly hard in the 120 minutes so all the credit should go to the team, not me. Everyone should talk about the team performance as that was incredible, amazing."

Sjoeke Nüsken, Germany midfielder, reflects on how team spirit was crucial for their win. 

"It was such a tough game. It was a rollercoaster of feelings; it was amazing. I had the chance to make it 2-1 in the middle of the game and didn't score. So it was tough in the beginning, but I knew we were going to do it during the penalties because we have such a good team spirit. The fans today were amazing. It was crazy. I think everyone was behind us. They were so loud and pushed us forward."

Spain is also in the semifinals, securing their spot rather easily. We have seen National Women’s Soccer League player, and Gotham FC star, Esther Gonzalez score an outstanding amount of goals all the way from the group stage and onto the quarterfinals. Will she be able to continue the winning streak against Berger’s Germany when they face off? It will certainly be one of Berger’s toughest challenges yet. The reigning World Cup Champions are looking to clinch the Euros from the grasps of Germany, England, and Italy. 

Spain’s last game had host nation Switzerland getting a red card and the Spanish swiftly winning in regular time with a score of 2-0. Where the other teams battled out for their spot in the semifinals, it would seem that Spain had a much easier journey to face off against Germany. Well, that is if you don’t count the missed penalty shots by Spain. In the 9th minute, Mariona Caldentey missed a penalty shot. In the 88th minute, deja vu struck as Peng saves Alexia Putellas’s penalty. 

Despite this, Montserrat Tome seemed pleased with the win. 

“We accomplished our goal and now we have to keep improving,”

Laia Aleixandri on Spain's message at half-time after the missed penalty.

 “It was mainly about continuing to believe in our style of play, finding our spaces - there were a lot of players packed in the middle - and, above all, fine-tuning our pressing.”

Our last team to cover is Italy, who defeated Norway to secure their spot in the semi-finals. A brace by Cristiana Girelli would send the team through, after a goal was called back from Norway at the 60th minute. Girelli scored in the 50th and 90th minute to seal the win for her team. 

Regarding one of the goals she scored, Girelli praised Sofia Cantore for the assist.

"As I saw [Sofia Cantore] was about to cross, I just put my hands up and knew she would put the ball there," Cristiana Girelli says of the winning goal. "It was a very good ball. I just had to run towards goal, so I'm really happy." 

Now we will see England face Italy and Germany take on reigning World Cup winners Spain. Who do you have making it to the finals?