Aitana Bonmati makes England claim and reveals Spain targeted one Germany star
Wednesday night's semi-final between Spain and Germany proved a cagey affair, with the two teams unable to be separated after 90 minutes – 24 hours on from England's dramatic extra-time victory over Italy.
But not for the first time, Bonmati stepped up when it mattered with a moment of inspiration to help seal La Roja – the world champions – a spot in their first-ever European Championship final.
After picking up possession from Athenea del Castillo on the edge of the box, the two-time Ballon d'Or winner raced through and spotted a sizeable gap between Berger and the German's left upright.
With Berger momentarily distracted, Bonmati rifled the ball with some venom into the net from the tightest of angles, sending Spain's support into raptures at Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund.
Germany, the 2022 runners-up, had no answer in response to Bonmati's 113th-minute strike, meaning Sunday's showpiece will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
'I don't believe in destiny. I believe in work, in my mentality,' Bonmati said of Spain's victory over Germany.
'I've had great support, here and at home. I'm always grateful for that
'I'm proud because we deserve it. We had a tremendous championship.
'It was the first time that we have beaten Germany, and on top of that, we reached the final. We work for this every day.'
Bonmati 'didn't hesitate for a second' when she realised that Berger had left her a large portion of the goal to aim for – an invitation which she took with both hands.
'We, the analysts and the goalkeeping coach, had studied it and we concluded that sometimes the near post was empty,' the Barcelona midfielder explained.
'It was a pass into the net. I didn't hesitate for a second.'
Spain got the better of England on the grandest stage of all two years ago, with Olga Carmona's first-half goal proving decisive Down Under in Sydney.
By hook or by crook, the Lionesses have managed to secure their place in a third successive tournament final this summer, twice coming from behind in their last two matches. More Trending
But according to Bonmati, England's recent performances in Switzerland are 'meaningless' and Spain will start 'thinking about' Sarina Wiegman's side once the dust has settled on their semi-final win.
On Spain's opposition, Bonmati said: 'England? The last few games are meaningless.
'There are different moments, different styles.
'I think this win tonight deserves to be celebrated. Tomorrow we'll think about England.' Who will win the Women's Euro 2025?
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Millie Bright praises England duo and makes Euro 2025 final prediction
MORE: DJ dies 'after being beaten by cops' at Ibiza party when police were 'called over noise'
MORE: Michelle Agyemang reacts to wild journey from England ball girl to Euro 2025 saviour
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
17 minutes ago
- Metro
Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win
Chloe Kelly has thanked those who 'wrote her off' and gave her extra motivation to help inspire England to a penalty-shootout win over Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. For the third time on the trot, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain a first-half lead in Basel. Just as they had done against Sweden and Italy previously, the holders dug deep to find an all-important equaliser, with Alessia Russo heading home Kelly's exquisite cross to make it all square in the 57th minute. Kelly – who scored a last-gasp winner for England in the semi-finals – had earlier been introduced from the substitutes bench after Lauren James was visibly struggling with an ankle injury, which she had suffered four days earlier in the semi-final. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another dramatic shootout, with Kelly converting the decisive spot-kick to seal a 3-1 win for the holders. The Lionesses' latest triumph represents the first time in history that an English team have won a major tournament on foreign soil, three years on from the side's European Championship heroics last time out at Wembley. It is also the third time in succession that Sarina Wiegman has clinched the title, with the 55-year-old steering the Netherlands to the trophy back in 2017 before being appointed by the FA. 'No, I can't believe it!' an emotional Wiegman told BBC Sport in the immediate aftermath of England's triumph. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Asked if she was shocked to win the trophy for a second time on the spin with England, Wiegman replied: 'Yes, yes. 'I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. 'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. 'From the first game it was your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.' Kelly's magnificent campaign in Switzerland is made all the more remarkable by the fact the 27-year-old came close to quitting football during a 'dark time' in her career at the start of the year. Shortly after forcing through a loan move to Arsenal having struggled for regular game-time at Manchester City, Kelly admitted: 'It has been tough mentally and it has been draining at times. 'But I think for me, I know I'm a professional and I know I hold myself to a high level, but I think as a human, it was a tough time for me and I'm ready to move forward now. 'It was still a dark time for me because I didn't know how my future looked.' But just half-a-year on, Kelly is a two-time European champion with the Lionesses. Facing the media shortly after England's win, the forward used the opportunity to send a pointed message to those who had doubted her in her sticky patch. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family, because they were the people that come me through those dark moments,' Kelly said. 'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. 'I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that, so, thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I'm grateful.' Kelly also made sure to thank 'incredible woman' Wiegman for showing faith in her and providing 'hope' when she 'probably didn't have any' earlier in the year. 'She is bloody amazing,' Kelly added. 'She is an incredible woman. What she has done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. More Trending 'What she has done for me, individually, she gave me hope, when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' Kelly continued: 'I knew that I had to get game-time, because representing England is never a given. 'But what she has done for the women's game, not just in England, she has taken it to a whole other level. 'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff that are behind her, they are incredible people and I am so grateful to have worked with such amazing people.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Spain manager and star player emotionally speak out on 'cruel' England loss MORE: Sir David Beckham and Amanda Holden lead rowdy celebrations after Lionesses' Euros triumph MORE: Ian Wright names 'major favourite' for 2027 Women's World Cup after England win Euros
South Wales Guardian
17 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Agyemang can inspire next generation of Lionesses, former coach says
Youngsters from Agyemang's hometown gathered at a small community centre in South Ockendon, Essex, to cheer on the Lionesses to victory at the Euro 2025 final. The biggest applause was for the 19 year-old striker who just a few years ago was also playing at Brandon Groves FC. Agyemang was named The Young Player of the Tournament on Sunday as England triumphed on penalties against Spain after a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team of under 13-year-olds, said: 'We are proud of Michelle, obviously, but we are also proud of our our girls' team here who play and train every week. They are consistent. It's home, again. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'Michelle's success and the Lionesses' success will only help that and it will only drive our girls on even further over the next year. It will also bring more girls into football locally as well.' He said it was 'amazing' to see Agyemang scoop the Young Player award after scoring two goals, making six attempts and having a 77.5% passing accuracy rating in the competition. Paula Howes, vice chair of Brandon Grove FC, said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' Agyemang, who had one England cap before the tournament, has been a rising star in this competition, and twice became the team's saviour with equalisers in their quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. The 19-year-old came off the bench to score crucial equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the last four. She also came on as a substitute in the final as England eventually saw off Spain on penalties to retain the trophy. Agyemang was picked as young player of the tournament by the Uefa Technical Observer Group who for her outstanding impact, both individually and for England. They said: 'Michelle made a great contribution to help England reach the final. 'She came on and both times got the goals that England needed to get through.' Lena Kowalska, 12, who plays midfield for the local team, said she was really impressed and inspired by Agyemang. She said: 'It is the fact that at her age, she can already be playing in the Euros and with the top women, it just makes me feel that we could do it one day if we are hard working as well.'
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
England boss Sarina Wiegman promised to 'do some more dancing' after the Lionesses completed their third successive comeback to defend their European crown with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel. Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
