Euro 2025: Spain ‘the team to beat’ – but what makes them good and do they have weaknesses?

Portugal offered little resistance in Spain’s Group B opener, but Belgium proved a different challenge, twice equalising after going behind.

But each time the Red Flames responded, Spain replied instantly to restore their lead and regained complete control when Esther Gonzalez netted their third.

The rest of the game was spent largely in Belgium’s half, with Mariona Caldentey, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas scoring in the final half an hour to round off a successful evening for Spain in Thun.

After having 12 shots in a hard-fought first half, Montse Tome’s side stepped up a gear after the break to take their shot tally to 33.

“They have a bit of everything,” Corsie said. “They have players that are dynamic, they have players that are exceptionally talented individually, one v one.”

Their second-half performance left Belgium manager Elisabet Gunnarsdottir saying she “wanted to cry” when she entered the dressing room.

“I really believed in what we were doing and loved seeing my players give everything they had,” Gunnarsdottir said.

“They [Spain] understand the game on a different level to anything we will see at this tournament.

“They’re so good about making decisions around the box. If you give them time around the box, or give them space, they use it.”

With Patri Guijarro dominating play from the base of Spain’s midfield, and Putellas and either Aitana Bonmati or 18-year-old Vicky Lopez in front, Spain are able to camp outside the opposition’s box.

And if they fail to squeeze the ball through to one of their forward players, they are ready to have a go themselves.

“Patri underneath that midfield two, she instructed everything – I thought she was excellent,” Corsie said.