Spain reaches Euro 2025 final after 1-0 extra-time win over Germany
The win sets up a decider against defending champion England in Basel on Sunday in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final that saw the Spaniards crowned world champions for the first time.
Bonmati finally broke the deadlock in the 113th minute, picking up a ball in the left channel and spotting a gap left by Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger at the near post before whipping a shot from a tight angle into the net.
Spain captain Irene Paredes struck the foot of a post with a first-half header as her side dominated possession, with the Germans building a solid block and inviting the Spaniards to attack while they attempted to strike on the counter.
Germany winger Klara Buehl was impressive throughout, getting in behind the Spanish defense in the 63rd minute but shooting straight at keeper Cata Coll.
With the Germans defending superbly, Spain struggled to break them down. Spain was almost caught out in stoppage time when Buehl had a deflected effort that Coll had to claw away, but the game ended scoreless, forcing extra time.
The Germans, who came into the game with a record nine wins in 10 previous Euro semifinals, looked set to drag the match to penalties, but Bonmati had other ideas.
For Bonmati, who suffered a meningitis-related health scare in the lead-up to the tournament, the goal was a sweet one as the Spaniards defeated Germany for the first time at a major finals.
"(I feel) proud. We deserve it. We've had a brutal championship. But we've also had a great tournament so far until today," Bonmati said, acknowledging how tough it was to break the Germans down.
"Today we also suffered, of course, against Germany. It's the first time we've beaten Germany too, and for those who win at the end of the European Championship, what more could you ask for, right?"
Berger, who was the hero of Germany's quarterfinal shootout win over France, took responsibility for the goal that saw her side crash out of the tournament.
"I take the blame for that as well. The near post had to be covered, that's clear, and that's why I'm even more disappointed in myself," she said.
"I can make as many saves as I want, but that goal should have simply been mine, and that's why I feel incredibly sorry, not even for myself, but for the team, because they really gave everything."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
5 hours ago
- Japan Today
U.S. women's national team knocked off top spot by Spain in FIFA's latest rankings
Spain's Aitana Bonmati shows her second place medal at the end of the Women's Euro 2025 final soccer match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) soccer The U.S. was knocked off the top spot in FIFA's latest women's rankings by world champion Spain. Spain regained the No. 1 position despite losing to England in the final of the European Championship last month. The U.S. held the top position since August last year after winning gold at the Paris Olympics. Spain was No. 1 from December 2023 to June last year after its World Cup triumph. The latest rankings were released by world governing body FIFA on Thursday. England, which has won back-to-back Euros and lost to Spain in the final at the 2023 World Cup, moved up one place to fourth. Brazil dropped three positions and is seventh despite successfully defending the Copa America to win its ninth continental title. Sweden and France were big movers after impressive showings at the Euros. Sweden rose three places and is third after being eliminated on penalties by England in the quarterfinals. France moved up four places to sixth after also losing in the quarterfinals. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Times
15 hours ago
- Japan Times
New Giants QB Russell Wilson praises coach Brian Daboll's 'beautiful mind'
He has yet to throw a pass in a game setting for the New York Giants, but new quarterback Russell Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler, is already singing the praises of head coach Brian Daboll's offensive knowledge and understanding. He expressed his thoughts on Daboll and other topics while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. "Daboll's got a beautiful mind, how he sees the game, he's coached tremendous football players, he's won Super Bowls, he's been around winning — national championships, all that stuff," Wilson said. "I think that the best part is in terms of the knowledge and what we get to share back and forth is pretty cool. "... Just over the years, all my experience, his experience, how we see the game the same way." Wilson also sang the praises of assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who will continue calling plays for the Giants in 2025. "Obviously Kaf's played the game, played the position, he sees it like the quarterback does, and he's got a great viewpoint of the game," Wilson said. "We get to spend a lot of time together in the quarterback room, and I think Kaf is a really brilliant mind, too. "I think the ability to share ideas, the collaboration, is what's really special here." Kafka, with the Giants' coaching staff since 2022, also highlighted the importance of communication with his new pivot. "Yeah, just opening up (those) lines of communication, having dialogue on plays that he likes, things that I like, things that are within the offense already, maybe there's some crossover, maybe there's some new thoughts," the former journeyman QB said. "It's just about opening those lines of communication." After two down years with the Denver Broncos in 2022 and 2023, Wilson started 11 regular-season games for the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, posting a 6-5 record while passing for 2,482 yards (225.6 per game), 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He added another two scores on the ground. Now the 2013 Super Bowl champion is adapting to another new team in New York and transitioning well. "It's going great," Wilson said. "I think guys are working their butts off, man. We're battling every day, going against a really good defense every day, too, so it's even better. "You always want practice to be harder than the games, that mentality of that. ... I think we're getting better every day." Wilson has also expressed his eagerness to play alongside talented second-year receiver Malik Nabers. "I mean, that was (the) first thing I told you guys when I watched him on film. ... It was just his explosiveness," Wilson said of the 2024 sixth overall pick out of LSU. "Once he catches the football, there's only so many people in the world that can do it like he can, and I think he's one of the best in the world to do it. "He's going into a second year of it all, and it's all fresh and all new, but he's definitely experienced in terms of how he sees the game, his mentality attacking the football in the air. ... It's going to be a special thing. I'm excited to play with him, obviously." At age 36, Wilson added that he's already enjoying playing for his fourth NFL team. "I love this locker room, the guys, just the fellowship that we have together all the way from the lunchroom to the film room after practice," Wilson said. "...It's been great, man. I am truly grateful to be a New York Giant."
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
ESPN, leaping to streaming, holds hands with the NFL
As competition for sports streaming rights escalates, with YouTube, Netflix and Amazon challenging traditional media companies for game packages, Disney has found an innovative way to strengthen its grip on football. The Walt Disney Company, which owns ESPN, and the National Football League on Tuesday night announced a complicated deal for the NFL to take a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In exchange, ESPN will acquire the league's traditional NFL Network and certain rights to the fan-favorite RedZone Channel, among other media assets. NFL Fantasy Football, for instance, will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football. "This is a gigantic leap forward for ESPN as it gets ready to launch its service,' Bob Iger, Disney's CEO, said in an interview, noting that the NFL Network would be "seamlessly integrated' with ESPN's flagship streaming service, which is expected to be introduced this month. "We think that it will go a long way toward improving ESPN's prospects when it migrates more and more into a direct-to-consumer product,' Iger said. ESPN's new streaming service, which will cost $30 a month, will include all ESPN programming, including live events — some 47,000 a year. For the first time, ESPN viewers will not need a cable or satellite subscription. ESPN was Disney's financial engine for nearly 30 years, powering the company through recessions, box-office wipeouts and the pandemic. In 2023, however, Iger and Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN's chair, started to explore a once-unthinkable sale of a stake in the division as a way to confront the turbulent economics of the streaming era. In 2013, roughly 100 million households received ESPN. Today, as a result of cord cutting, that number is closer to 61 million. ESPN has raised its affiliate fees to keep profitability high, but its ability to continue doing so will be limited in the coming years: By 2027, fewer than 50 million homes will pay for a cable hookup, according to PwC, the accounting giant. To begin the transition away from cable, Disney introduced a limited streaming service called ESPN+ in 2018. It shows thousands of games annually, but very few are the biggest NFL, college football, NBA or baseball games. As of March 29, ESPN+ had 24 million paid subscribers. Disney pays the NFL around $2.7 billion per year for "Monday Night Football,' which jointly airs on ESPN and ABC, the Disney-owned broadcast network. Disney's deal with the NFL, which includes the 2027 and 2031 Super Bowls, runs through 2033 but can be reopened in 2029. The NFL's ownership stake in ESPN would presumably give the channel a leg up in future negotiations with the league for media rights. YouTube, Amazon, NBC, CBS, Fox and Netflix also hold various NFL rights. The no-cash deal that was unveiled Tuesday, valued by analysts at $2 billion to $3 billion, is subject to regulatory approval, which could take nine months or more. If completed, Disney will own 70% of ESPN, with the Hearst Corporation maintaining its 20% stake, which it has held since 1990. Iger and Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, also announced a second deal Tuesday that will bring three additional NFL games per season to ESPN platforms, along with a wider array of NFL specialty content. "Our fans are the ones who are going to benefit from this,' Goodell said. "They'll get deeper, richer, more exciting content.' As for parting with the NFL Network, which was started in 2003, Goodell said he was glad to put it "in the hands of a partner who is excited about growing not just the distribution but also the quality.' The NFL Network is distributed to about 44 million homes, down from about 70 million a decade ago. The NFL will continue to own and operate the NFL+ streaming service, NFL Films and the NFL Podcast Network, among other media properties. It will also continue to own, operate and produce NFL RedZone, a live channel that shows every touchdown scored during Sunday afternoon games. "The selling of assets, particularly assets as valuable as ESPN, takes time and requires a lot of thought,' Iger said. "It's not 'snap your fingers, here's 10% of ESPN and we get the NFL Network.'' "As we analyzed it, it became more and more clear that a deal with the NFL would not only be accretive economically to Disney, but it would deliver the kind of strategic value that we were seeking,' Iger added. This article originally appeared in The New York Times © 2025 The New York Times Company
