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LAURA WOODS: LIONESSES MUST MAKE EUROS FINAL

ONLY SHOWPIECE SPOT MAKES EURO 2025 A SUCCESS

In normal circumstances I might say anything other than winning the tournament is unacceptable.

While I don't think that the three players who have dropped out have necessarily rocked the camp, what I do think it's done is left us very vulnerable in the goalkeeper position if Hannah Hampton gets injured or suspended.

And I do think we have the most difficult group by far – it's definitely the group of death. Once we get through the group, we've also got a really difficult side of the draw.

It looks as if we’d come up against Germany and Spain if they make it, which they will. Those two are very, very strong teams.

So I wouldn't necessarily say anything other than a tournament win isn't acceptable. I would say it's going to be a very difficult Euros and I think the difference between this one and the last one is that Spain are in such a good place.

Since the World Cup, and since changing their manager and the backroom staff, they've really kicked on. They're just a winning machine.

And, if you think about it, they've got so many more players who didn't even play in the World Cup because they were protesting. They are now back in the fold, so they're probably even stronger. They do ship goals, though.

Everyone is focused on Spain but Germany are really, really decent and I’d make them one of the favourites as well.

Italy are dark horses after beating Belgium 1-0 in their opener.

The competition in this Euros is so strong but, look, England are defending champions so just getting out of the group isn’t good enough.

I'd say they must make the final for it to be a good tournament.

Laura Woods Lionesses Euros XI

JAMES KEY FOR ENGLAND

Lauren James!

She's the absolute wrecking ball in that team. She looked really good when she came off the bench against Jamaica and she's the one that other teams are worried about.

She's just magic. She just makes things happen and is so easy to watch.

When you watch her, it's almost like she's playing in second gear because she's not even hit the heights yet. She's just kind cruising around.

I think she is literally the one player that England need to have a good tournament.

I honestly think England have quite a lot of depth. I really think there's some really good players coming through as well, like Grace Clinton.

For England to have a good Euros, everyone needs to play well because you've got teams like Spain, who have 23 stars in their squad.

Every single one of them is brilliant, and every single one of them could probably start.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT BRIGHT & EARPS

I think England fans shouldn't be concerned that Millie Bright’s not included in the squad.

Serena Wiegman made that decision for a good reason and Millie wasn't necessarily in the best moment in her career anyway.

In previous games it had looked like she'd started to slow down a little bit and tournament football is brutal – and so is the selection process.

I really don't doubt any of Serena's decisions – she's been the one who's gone and watched them closely and if she thinks that Alex Greenwood and Leah Williamson are the better starting partnership at centre-back, then I totally agree with her.

It's just a shame that we don't have those girls in the squad because you do need depth in a tournament and there's a lot of experience just having those kind of players around the camp to guide those younger players.

I thought that maybe the likes of Mary Earps and Millie could be those kinds of players and you’d expect they’d get game time too.

I don't know why it had to be that if they weren’t going to start then they don’t travel. There are always people who get injured and pick up suspensions in tournaments.

Teams change throughout, so I was disappointed they’re not in the squad but I don’t think we should be worried they’re not involved.

WATCH OUT FOR SPAIN ‘SUPERSTAR’ LOPEZ

In simple terms, Spain are the rightful favourites but just to give a little bit more meat on the bones of why, they've got two double Ballon d'Or winners in their team in Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.

Their group isn't as difficult and they looked really good in the opening game against Portugal, which they won 5-0.

Keep an eye on Vicky Lopez. She's only 18 but she’s got the fearless edge of a player who just takes something like this experience and this opportunity by the scruff of the neck to show everyone what they can do on the world stage.

She's already like a superstar in the making, so I'd keep an eye on her.

There's just so many really, really talented players everywhere you look in that Spanish side.

The only weakness I think is the goalkeeper. In the game against Portugal, they had a player in goal with only two caps in Adriana Nanclares.

They do give you chances, so maybe a more experienced team like England could exploit that.

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