The 2025 Women’s Euros is well and truly underway with the second group games starting last night. However, let’s take a look at who some of the breakout players were in the opening games.

1) Katarina Kosola (Finland)

We start with Finland’s Katarina Kosola. She was the star in the opening game of the tournament against Iceland, as not only did she score the goal that secured Finland’s first win in a European championship finals since 2009, but she was also a constant threat all game from that left midfield position. Her goal was beautiful, a curler right into the corner past Runarsdottir in the Iceland goal. The 24-year-old was constantly running at the defenders, putting them under pressure, and showing off her pace and skill. Kosola loves a little cut inside, and other teams should be aware of her going forward (should Finland get out of the group).

2) Lia Walti (Switzerland)

Hosts Switzerland may have undeservedly lost their opening game to Norway, but their captain and Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti was pure class. The 32-year-old was arguably the best player on the whole pitch; she ran the midfield, completed the most passes in the game with 63 (89% accuracy), and also completed numerous recoveries of the ball. Walti didn’t deserve to be on the losing side at all.

3) Arianna Caruso (Italy)

Italy vs Belgium promised to be a tight encounter, and it was just that. Bayern Munich midfielder Arianno Caruso scored the only goal of the game in the 44th minute with a thunderous curling effort past the Belgium keeper. The 25-year-old bossed it in midfield by winning the most duels; she also created 2 big chances for her side and completed the most dribbles in the game. What a performance from the centre midfielders.

4) Mariona Caldentey (Spain)

World Champions got their Euros campaign off to the perfect start with a 5-0 victory over Portugal. Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey was simply outstanding. She didn’t get on the scoresheet, however, grabbed two beautiful assists after Vicky Lopez and Alexia Putellas both scored. The Champions League winner was involved in most of Spain’s good play and gave Portugal defender Amado a horrible time. Pure class from the 29-year-old.

5) Filippa Angeldal (Sweden)

Sweden got their tournament off to a winning start by beating Denmark 1-0. It took experienced midfielder Filippa Angeldal to come up with the goal. The 27-year-old former City midfielder, now at Real Madrid, used her experience and showed her class throughout the game by dominating the midfield as well as completing the most passes in the game with 43. She was a real shining light for the Swedes in a pretty tight contest.

6) Julie Brand (Germany)

One of the main tournament favourites, Germany, got their tournament off to a great start with a 2-0 victory over Poland. They struggled to get going in the first half, but a moment of quality from Julie Brand got them well on their way to victory. The Wolfsburg winger picked up the ball on the right-hand side, cut in slightly, and then scored an absolute screamer past the Polish keeper. The 22-year-old also grabbed the assist for Lea Schuller’s goal in the 66th minute.

7) Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)

Despite struggling to break down a stubborn Wales side in the first half, the Netherlands won their opener 3-0. City striker Vivianne Miedema was surely the inspiration as her stunner right on the brink of half-time put Holland 1-0 up. The goal was her 100th for her country, and she was top class throughout the game. Before curling the ball into the top corner of the Welsh goal, the 28-year-old had the defenders at sixes and sevens. She also created two big chances for her side in the second half they just couldn’t convert. If England don’t close her down in the next game, Miedema could do the same again in terms of scoring yet another banger and knock England out in the process.

8) Sandy Baltimore (France)

One of my pre-tournament picks in terms of players who could shine this summer at the Women’s Euros, and Sandy Baltimore didn’t disappoint. The Lionesses’ opener against France had been given a big build-up, and Baltimore’s late first-half goal proved to be the winner for Les Bleus. The 25-year-old Chelsea superstar was outstanding both going forward and defensively against England. Her goal was simply brilliant. In the build-up, she out-strengthened Lucy Bronze and then easily got past Leah Williamson before firing the ball past Hannah Hampton into the roof of the net. She gave Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead a very tough game and it will be interesting how she well she can do against the other big teams in this tournament going forward.

These players were certainly the stars of the opening games of the Women’s Euros. Will they shine again in round 2 (which is already underway), or will we have some more players light up this tournament? One thing is for sure, this tournament has been great so far and there are a few teams in with a chance of glory…