Welcome everybody to Soccer one o one.

My name is Taylor Rockwell, and this week we're talking the UEFA Women's European Championship, aka the women's Euros, the premier competition for national teams in European women's football.

It was launched in the 80s. It continues through to this day, and it has more or less charted the rise of women's football across Europe with powerhouses like Germany, Norway,

and England, most recently Spain, leaving their mark. The 2025 iteration, as I said, kicks

off this week. We're recording this on July 2nd and will feature some strong teams,

some potential dark horses, and even a debutante or two. Here with me to talk about the history

of the competition, its biggest names, the favorites

for this year, and its importance as possibly the highest quality women's international

tournament, is Graham Ruthven, Graham, the opening question for any major international

competition.

How much are you rooting against England?

I mean, and my answer is always the same, very much so.

It doesn't matter the tournament. Thankfully, England

have been drawn in a really hard group for, you know, 2025. So there's a chance, Taylor. There's

a chance that they might not make it as far as the knockout rounds. And frankly, I'm excited to

talk about another tournament that is taking place in this summer off from soccer. Everyone's

having a great summer off before the World Cup next year.

That's right, isn't it?

I'm having a great time.

So much time off from the soccer this summer.

I mean, there's been nothing to discuss.

I always go back to when we first pitched this show as a radio show, a once a week radio

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