THE SENIOR MEN’S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 HAS CONCLUDED
And it’s not the result that any of Europe was expecting…
When 25 nations descended on Wrocław, Poland for the first full Men’s European Lacrosse Championship since 2016, there was one clear favourite: England. Having won all but one of the previous editions, England entered the tournament with a legacy to uphold - and a gold medal to defend. They looked every bit the dominant force in the opening rounds, conceding just eight goals across four games. But when a repeat of the 2016 final came in the semi-finals, things took an unexpected turn.
England’s clash with Israel on 17 July was finely balanced from the outset. By half-time, it was clear this one was heading either to overtime or being decided by the narrowest of margins. In fact, the only stat tipping the scales was England’s superior face-off win percentage. But when Israel found an equaliser just over two minutes after Daniel Hilditch gave England a 6-5 lead, it proved to be the decisive blow. For the first time in Championship history, England were out of contention for gold - and not even guaranteed a medal.
While Israel went on to claim the European title, England faced Ireland in the bronze medal match the day before the final. A loss here would’ve been devastating for England’s programme, but they set the tone immediately as defender Nick DeCaprio scored within 19 seconds of the first whistle. After four tightly contested quarters, England emerged victorious, securing their first-ever bronze medal at a European Championship.
Elsewhere, the road was far rockier for Scotland and Wales. Both nations struggled through their fixtures and found themselves facing each other in a 13th-place playoff - their lowest-ever finish at a European Championship. Scotland eventually edged it, but the result marked a significant fall for both sides. The only UK and Ireland team to improve on their 2016 finish was Ireland, who climbed from 11th to fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium spot.
This tournament may not have followed the script, but that’s what makes sport compelling. It served as a powerful reminder of how quickly power can shift, and how hungry emerging nations are to seize any opportunity. A surprise final, a reshuffling of the top teams, and a few hard lessons learned - this year’s Euros could be a turning point for European lacrosse.
As we look ahead to the 2027 World Championship, the question now is: how will England and Ireland build on their performances? And what’s next for Wales and Scotland, who face the challenge of missing out on qualification for the next Worlds? One thing’s for sure - Europe’s lacrosse landscape is changing, and the chase for the crown is only getting tighter.