logo
Spain see off spirited Swiss to reach Euro 2025 semi-finals

Spain see off spirited Swiss to reach Euro 2025 semi-finals

Straits Times19-07-2025
BERN – Despite being world champions, Spain believed that they did not have it easy in the Women's Euro 2025 on July 18, and will face 'very difficult games ahead'.
The team reached the semi-finals after battling past hosts Switzerland 2-0 as they continued their bid for a first-ever European crown.
Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina scored the goals in the second half in Bern to give La Roja deserved passage to the last four where they will face either France or Germany on Wednesday.
But Montse Tome's team did not have it all their own way as Switzerland put up a brave fight in front of a passionate crowd at the Wankdorf Stadium, doing a great job in slowing Spain's usual free-flowing football.
'We expected something like this, we are in quarters with the host team and all the fans. They have been very competitive team, very intense,' said Spain's star midfielder Aitana Bonmati.
'They defended deep and didn't allow us to play our game, but in the end it turned out OK. Now we have some very difficult games ahead.
'We are used to winning from the start but football is not like that, you have to compete for 90 minutes. We did a good job, we were calm and confident in our abilities.'
Pia Sundhage's players acquitted themselves brilliantly in their home tournament and were given a loud round of applause from the majority of the nearly 30,000 supporters who stayed behind for some time after the final whistle to show their appreciation to the team.
The Swiss, who finished the match with 10 women after Noelle Maritz was sent off in the final minute, had never progressed past the group stage of a Euros before and in the end Spain proved to be too much for the team ranked 23rd in the world.
The Spaniards, meanwhile, overcame a test of patience before their superior quality eventually prevailed.
It didn't look like it was going to be their night but del Castillo finally made the breakthrough in the 66th minutes, collecting Bonmati's through ball and scoring the goal which ended Switzerland's spirited resistance.
Pina whipped home a wonderful second goal five minutes later and that was that for the Swiss.
While the hosts' dream run came to an end, a proud coach Pia Sundhage and her players celebrated as if it was a victory. In many ways it was, especially after making the knockout round of a major tournament for the first time, and then diligently holding off the world's best for more than an hour.
'I've been in the football game since I was a little kid, and the fact that it has changed (in Switzerland), people are more interested in the women's game than they were a year-and-a-half ago, that's the thing you love to see happening,' Sundhage said.
'We lost the game, but I think we gained a lot. Football is so much more than a gold medal.'
Sundhage was hired in January 2024 to improve the national team ahead of hosting Euro 2025, and she walked off the pitch with the crowd chanting her name.
'I think that's cool. When people shouted my name, I feel they are shouting women's football,' the 65-year-old added. 'They know my name to begin with, and I'm coaching women's football.' AFP, REUTERS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade
Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade

Straits Times

time11 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Thousands of cheering fans gathered to celebrate the England women's soccer team in central London on Tuesday as the jubilant players celebrated their historic Euro 2025 win with an open-top bus parade. The team, known as the 'Lionesses', beat world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties in a nail-biting final in Basel to secure their second consecutive European title, retaining the crown they won as hosts three years ago. It is the first time an England soccer team have won a major trophy on foreign soil. Crowds standing 20 to 30 deep in places packed the parade route, many holding young children aloft to catch sight of the players as they waved, danced and filmed the scene from the top deck of their buses. The two buses, emblazoned with the word 'Champions', followed a marching band along The Mall to a stage in front of Buckingham Palace. "Everything we do, obviously we do it for us and our team, but we do it for the country and we do it for young girls," captain Leah Williamson said after the players had made their way to the stage to address the flag-waving supporters. "Thank you so much for being with us. Stay with us, this story is not done yet," she said. The celebrations kicked off on Monday when the team arrived home, greeted by excited fans who defied instructions not to gather at the airport. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner later hosted them at a reception at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Downing Street residence. Starmer, who missed the reception as he was in Scotland meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, congratulated the players again on social media late on Monday, posting on X: "Back-to-back tournament wins. Inspiring the next generation. History makers." REUTERS

Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade
Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade

CNA

time12 hours ago

  • CNA

Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade

LONDON :Thousands of cheering fans gathered to celebrate the England women's soccer team in central London on Tuesday as the jubilant players celebrated their historic Euro 2025 win with an open-top bus parade. The team, known as the 'Lionesses', beat world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties in a nail-biting final in Basel to secure their second consecutive European title, retaining the crown they won as hosts three years ago. It is the first time an England soccer team have won a major trophy on foreign soil. Crowds standing 20 to 30 deep in places packed the parade route, many holding young children aloft to catch sight of the players as they waved, danced and filmed the scene from the top deck of their buses. The two buses, emblazoned with the word 'Champions', followed a marching band along The Mall to a stage in front of Buckingham Palace. "Everything we do, obviously we do it for us and our team, but we do it for the country and we do it for young girls," captain Leah Williamson said after the players had made their way to the stage to address the flag-waving supporters. "Thank you so much for being with us. Stay with us, this story is not done yet," she said. The celebrations kicked off on Monday when the team arrived home, greeted by excited fans who defied instructions not to gather at the airport. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner later hosted them at a reception at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Downing Street residence.

Singapore's Matin Ilhan signs with Portugal's Leixoes SC, eyes SEA Games 2025
Singapore's Matin Ilhan signs with Portugal's Leixoes SC, eyes SEA Games 2025

Independent Singapore

time14 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

Singapore's Matin Ilhan signs with Portugal's Leixoes SC, eyes SEA Games 2025

SINGAPORE: In an encouraging and positive development for Singapore's football, an increasing number of young players have ventured out of their comfort zone to pursue their dreams in European leagues, with Portugal emerging as a hotspot, to hone their skills and gain valuable experience. The latest footballer to make the move to Portugal is Matin Ilhan, who has signed for Leixoes Sport Club for the upcoming 2025 – 2026 season. The 22-year-old winger officially signed his professional football contract with Leixoes on Jun 3 and has set his sights on representing the Singapore U22 national team at the year-end Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand. 'I am thankful for all the support I have received from my family, coaches, and teammates, and I hope I can continue improving to live up to their expectations. It is every footballer's dream to have an opportunity to play in Europe, and I am grateful for this opportunity to grow and become a better player in Portugal,' expressed Matin, whose passion for football began with futsal at age five. Matin's professional career reflects the aspirations of a Singaporean youth who has chosen to pursue his dream of developing in the sport that he loves, demonstrating that with hard work and the right opportunities, young players can grow beyond the local limitations to reach their full potential. 'One day, I hope to realise my other dream of representing Singapore on the international stage and show the world what Singaporean players are capable of,' added Matin, who previously gained first-team training experience while playing for the U21 teams of Tanjong Pagar United and Lion City Sailors. As Matin embarks on this new chapter with Leixoes, he aims to not only advance his professional career in Portugal but also to contribute to the Singapore football scene. Leixoes are currently playing in Liga Portugal 2, the second-tier of Portugal's professional football league. The club is managed by 36-year-old João Nuno Fonseca, who took over earlier in the month from former manager Cristiano Brito. The club, which played its home games at Estadio do Mar, ended the 2024 – 2025 league season in 13th spot in the 18-team league on 41 points, with a record of 10 wins, 11 draws, and 13 losses, while scoring 37 goals and conceding 42 goals. The new season will begin on Aug 9, and Leixoes will play host to FC Felgueiras the following day in their first match of the season. Leixoes SC manager Joa Nuno Fonseca. (Photo: Facebook screengrab / leixoessad) European Football Dream Starts Young During the early days when he was enjoying the sport, Matin trained at LFA Academy, and subsequently, he sharpened his technical skills when he moved to Chelsea Football Club's Soccer School Singapore. Matin's abilities on the field also proved to be a level above his schoolmates when he was selected to play for the Anglo-Chinese School's (International) U16 age-group team when he was just 13 years old. He later represented Saint Gabriel's in the U15 COE and B Division, finishing as the league's third-highest scorer before COVID cut the season short. The pandemic did not stop Martin from continuing his love for football and development on the field, as he later joined Euro Soccer Academy prior to his stint at Tanjong Pagar and the Sailors. Seizing the opportunity in Portugal Two years ago, Matin's football journey reached a turning point as he took a leap of faith and moved to Portugal after he earned a trial through the Individual Football Training Asia. Since then, he has been immersed in a competitive and merit-driven environment that prioritises player development and pushes him to grow both technically and mentally. 'Matin has impressed me with how quickly he has adapted to the intensity of Portuguese football. While he has the technical gift to excel, he has always supplemented that with hard work and eagerness to learn. This has led to his signing with the club, and we are excited to see how he utilises and develops his skillsets with us,' commented André Castro, president of Leixões SC. His journey from the day he showed an interest in football until he fulfilled his dream of joining a European football club was significantly boosted by the unwavering support of his parents, who have been instrumental in nurturing his love for football. See also Row over 'rainbows' in Doha World Cup stadium Their constant encouragement gave Matin the confidence to pursue opportunities abroad while also staying grounded in his goals. 'We are incredibly proud of Matin and his courage to chase his dreams in Europe. The journey ahead will not be easy, but we believe that Matin has always given his best and will continue to do so while staying focused on his goals,' shared Matin's dad, Faizal Basheer. 'As parents, it brings us great joy to see him pursue what he loves, and we will continue to support him as he grows in this journey.' Matin's professional career reflects the aspirations of a Singaporean youth who has chosen to pursue his dream of developing in the sport that he loves, demonstrating that with hard work and the right opportunities, young players are able to grow beyond the local limitations to reach their full potential. Matin is among a growing group of young Singaporean players testing themselves in Portugal. Those who have made the move to Portugal include players such as Nur Muhammad Asis, Khairin Nadim, Aymann Aris, Krishav Ram, and Jonan Tan, reflecting a rising interest among Singapore's youth to develop in Europe.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store