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England get boost ahead of Euro semi as captain Williamson trains

England get boost ahead of Euro semi as captain Williamson trains

Reuters2 days ago
ZURICH, July 21 (Reuters) - England captain Leah Williamson trained with the team on Monday in a big boost to the squad ahead of their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy on Tuesday.
Williamson limped off with an ankle injury late in Thursday's dramatic quarter-final victory over Sweden which was decided by a penalty shootout.
Although there had been questions around Williamson's fitness, England defender Esme Morgan had said the team were "very optimistic Leah will be fine."
Jess Carter, who on Sunday announced she would be stepping back from social media after she was the target of racist abuse, also trained.
Defending champions England are appearing in their sixth consecutive European Championship semi-final.
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From hospital bed to hero status - Bonmati 'could write a book'
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  • BBC News

From hospital bed to hero status - Bonmati 'could write a book'

"I could write a book about that," said Aitana Bonmati after Spain beat Germany in extra-time to seal their spot in the Euro 2025 midfielder had just been asked a question about how it felt to go from almost missing the tournament because of illness to scoring a semi-final was discharged from hospital days before the Euros started after suffering from a bout of viral she recovered quickly, the two-time Ballon d'Or winner was made to wait for her chance in Switzerland - coming off the bench in Spain's first two now the 27-year-old looks to be back to her world-class best as she skilfully side-stepped over Athenea del Castillo's pass before rifling past Ann-Katrin Berger at the near post."If Spain are going to win a game, it will be a player like Bonmati that is able to take the game by the scruff of the neck in these moments and get that goal," former England midfielder Fara Williams said on BBC One. 'Scoring in games like this is super special' Spain had dominated possession, but they had struggled to break through a resilient defence in Zurich as Christian Wuck's side dug deep to force extra with the game looking destined for a penalty shootout, Bonmati stepped up when it mattered - sending Spain to their first Women's Euro final."It was not easy for [Bonmati] at the beginning of the tournament but she has a special personality to be at the maximum level," said Spain boss Montse had cleverly darted into space between Germany defenders Rebecca Knaak and Franziska Kett, before receiving Del Castillo's pass on the the tight angle, she buried the ball in at the near post."Top-class players turn up in the moments and that's what Spain needed. That's why Bonmati is a Ballon d'Or winner," ex-Scotland defender Jen Beattie said on BBC Radio 5 England defender Steph Houghton added: "I honestly thought from Spain's point of view she was definitely their best player and she's got them through to their first-ever European Championship final."The goal sent the Spanish fans at Stadion Letzigrund into pandemonium, while the scorer was immediately embraced by members of La Roja's bench."When the ball was in, I started running and I saw the bench standing so I celebrated with them," said Bonmati."Scoring in a game like this one is super-special. If I can help the team write history, it's very special."She added: "I was confident in my mentality and my physical situation. I wanted to get to this game at my best level. Thanks to all people who were next to me to help me reach this level." 'We wrote history again' To set up an encounter with England in Sunday's final, Spain had to do something they had never done before - beat had failed in their eight previous attempts, and had lost the past four without scoring."Today I feel we wrote history again. For the first time we were able to make the final of the women's Euros and beat Germany, which we hadn't in the past," said Bonmati."We feel proud to be a generation of players to win so many things."Spain are now on the cusp of adding a European crown to their World Cup trophy from arrived at the tournament as favourites, with stats experts Opta giving them a 25% chance of going all the way in having defeated the Lionesses in the 2023 World Cup final thanks to Olga Carmona's first-half goal, they will once again be favourites on Sunday."Today we can enjoy. Tomorrow we have to start thinking of England," said Bonmati.

Spain to face England in Euro 2025 final after Bonmatí's extra-time strike sinks Germany
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The Guardian

time36 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Spain to face England in Euro 2025 final after Bonmatí's extra-time strike sinks Germany

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We meet again - England & Spain set for 'amazing' Euro 2025 final
We meet again - England & Spain set for 'amazing' Euro 2025 final

BBC News

time44 minutes ago

  • BBC News

We meet again - England & Spain set for 'amazing' Euro 2025 final

England were heartbroken two years ago - but now they will get their shot at extra-time victory over Germany means they will face the Lionesses in Sunday's Euro 2025 final. It's a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final - which Spain were the two best sides in the world 24 months ago and they remain the best two sides in Europe now."It's going to be incredible," said former England forward Ellen White, part of the side who beat Germany in the Euro 2022 final. "It's a one-off game. On England's day they can beat anyone, on Spain's day they can beat anyone, so that match-up is so amazing to see."I'm so excited."While this eye-catching Spanish side look to complete a treble of major trophies, having also won the Nations League in 2024, England are bidding to defend their European crown."I'm just so buzzing for the girls," added ex-Lionesses captain Steph Houghton. "There's no reason, with the squad that we have, that we can't go and beat Spain."So which way will it go? 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Seven of the 11 who started against Spain in the World Cup final were in England's line-up for Tuesday's win over there have been big changes within the Lionesses squad since then too - some as recently as the 10 days leading up to Wiegman's squad announcement last month, she had two senior international retirements and the withdrawal of her World Cup captain to contend goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her shock international retirement, then midfielder Fran Kirby followed suit a week later and, on the eve of the squad's confirmation, Millie Bright made herself unavailable for herself described it as "a new era and a new England team", with players like super-sub Michelle Agyemang only capped for the first time this something this "new" England side will have to deal with is pressure, according to Williams."I think the Lionesses carry a lot of pressure," she said. 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Spain, meanwhile, have a familiar feel to their squad - albeit they are now led by a different manager in Montse was Jorge Vilda's assistant in 2023, meaning the coaching setup and philosophy has remained much the d'Or Feminine holder and semi-final matchwinner Aitana Bonmati remains - despite a pre-tournament bout of viral meningitis - while Alexia Putellas, also a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, continues to shine having started the World Cup final on the Gonzalez, an unused substitute in 2023, has been one of the stars of Euro 2025 and is on course to win the Golden Jenni Hermoso, who missed a penalty in that final, is a notable receiving her World Cup winner's medal, Hermoso was kissed by Spain's former football federation boss Luis Rubiales without her said the kiss was consensual, but in February was found guilty of sexual assault by Spain's top criminal court, and ordered to pay a fine of 10,800 euros (£8,942). Did England learn anything from the semi-finals? England boss Wiegman must come up with a gameplan to stifle a Spain side used to bossing the ball and controlling the had nearly 67% possession in their semi-final win over Germany - but it wasn't always straightforward."I feel like we saw for the first time a Spanish team play with frustration at times," said Williams. "That's not like them."They are patient in what they do and they trust in what they do. They were forced to go direct at times."We did see a different side to them. This is the only game in the competition they have faced a real challenge, an intense game. In terms of that level that is needed in a final, Germany gave them that today, so they will be thankful for this game."Ex-Germany defender Josie Henning says the key battle will be in midfield."With the midfield of Spain, you have to decide if you want to play up against them or around them," she said on BBC One. "I think Germany showed a little bit that if you press them collectively, it works."

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