Spain miss two penalties but defeat Switzerland to reach Euro semis
Bern
World champions Spain missed two penalties but defeated women's Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland 2-0 on Friday in Bern to reach the tournament's semi-finals.
After winning the World Cup in 2023 and the Nations League last year, Spain are now seeking their maiden European title.
Spain coach Montse Tomé was full of praise for her players.
'The team has made history. These players are destined for greatness,' she told a press conference.
'We knew Switzerland would defend well, stay compact and be lifted by their home crowd - and that's exactly what happened,' Tomé said.
'We managed to keep a clean sheet, which was one of our goals. We're in the semi-finals - objective accomplished.' In the semi-finals, they will face either record champions Germany or France, who play their quarter-final match on Saturday.
The game Spain were the better team throughout the entire game, but had a rough way to victory.
They could have broken the deadlock in the ninth minute, but Mariona Caldentey missed a penalty after she was fouled by Nadine Riesen.
Shortly before the break, the world champions got close to the opener again, but this time captain Irene Paredes hit the post after a corner.
There was another big moment in the 61st as Patri Guijarro met Claudia Pina's deep corner with a header that came back off the post.
The ball ricocheted to Esther González, who hit the opposite post from close range.
The deserved lead finally came in the 66th. Spain carved open their opponents with Aitana Bonmati's flick releasing Athenea del Castillo, who neatly slotted the ball past Livia Peng.
The spot in the semi-finals was sealed by Pina, who curled a stunning effort into the net from outside the box in the 71st.
Alexia Putellas had the chance to add a third, but she missed yet another penalty in the 88th.
Bonmati, who was named player of the match, praised Switzerland's defensive set-up.
'We didn't expect anything different - it's a quarter-final and they were at home. Switzerland have had a great tournament; they've been a very solid and competitive team,' she said.
'They made things difficult for us and didn't allow us to play through the middle. We have to take the positives - we're in the semi-finals.' Bonmati did not reveal whether France or Germany were her preferred semi-final opponents.
'Honestly, I don't mind. Both are the best teams in the tournament to me. May the best team win tomorrow.' 'Merci, fans' Switzerland offered admirable resistance against Spain, but ultimately couldn't avoid the defeat against the top favourite team at Euro 2025.
But the players wrote their names in the national team's history with a first run to the quarter-finals at a major tournament.
'We stood up to Spain pretty well for 65 or 70 minutes, so it's bad to concede two. We tried our best, which is most important. The fans were crazy - they were still cheering us on even though we lost,' Switzerland midfielder Smilla Vallotto told womenseuro.com.
After the final whistle, the players held a large banner saying 'Merci, fans' ('Thank you, fans').
'I hope the tournament pushes more people to start playing football - both young girls and boys.
'The main goal of this tournament was to motivate people to come to women's football, so we're pretty happy,' Vallotto added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Isak training at former club Real Sociedad amid transfer rumour
PAMedia/dpa London Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is training individually at Real Sociedad, the Basque club have confirmed. The Sweden international, who is reported to have asked Newcastle executives to explore a move away from St James' Park, has been heavily linked with Liverpool. His former club Sociedad confirmed on Thursday he was 'working with his trainers' at the club's Zubieta facility. Newcastle have been approached for comment. The player did not travel with the rest of the Newcastle squad earlier this month for their pre-season tour of Asia amid speculation over his future, with the club saying at the time he was absent due to a minor thigh injury. The decision to train at his old club rather than his current one will heighten speculation that Isak sees his future away from Newcastle. No offer has been submitted by Liverpool as yet to Newcastle, who would almost certainly be looking for a British record transfer fee for the player. Should Newcastle price Isak out of a move or simply refuse to listen to offers, one option Isak and his representatives might consider would be to unilaterally terminate his contract with three years remaining. A European Court of Justice ruling in favour of former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra last year means players can now terminate their deals 'without unnecessary fears', according to the lawyer who led Diarra's case. The ruling appears to have given players greater leeway to terminate a contract without just cause. The court found some of FIFA's transfer rules were contrary to European law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive. Jean-Louis Dupont, who led Diarra's challenge and who was also at the centre of the landmark Bosman case which granted players free agency at the end of their contracts, believes last year's ruling lifts the threat of significant sanctions for players who choose to terminate their deals. Dupont, speaking in general rather than specifically about Isak's case, told the PA news agency: 'In its Diarra judgement, the court ruled that players have a right to termination without just cause and that it is for the ex-employer to establish the existence and the quantum of damages, knowing that losing the opportunity to transfer the player is NOT a damage.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Sports arbitration could face changes in upcoming ECJ ruling
DPA Brussels The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will rule on Friday whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) can continue to have the final say in legal sporting matters ranging from doping bans for athletes to competition entry regulations. The ECJ ruling could turn sports arbitration upside down, and following are the most important aspects of the case. What is the ECJ ruling about? The highest European court in Luxembourg will decide whether decisions by the CAS are binding or whether courts in European Union member states can check its rulings for violations of EU law. The CAS is based outside the EU in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its rulings can only be appealed at the Swiss Federal Tribunal. This tribunal only looks into potential procedural errors by the CAS. The ECJ will decide whether that is sufficient or whether national courts can look into CAS rulings. Why is the case important for the sporting world The ECJ could end an essential system in sports jurisdiction. The basic idea behind an institution such as the CAS is that privately established rules in sport are interpreted in the same way around the world - and not differently in each country depending on the court decisions there. This is to ensure fairness of the competition. 'We need something like the International Court of Arbitration for Sport because it decides uniformly and usually quickly,' German sports law expert Jan Forth from Cologne university has said. However, the CAS has also been criticized for favouring sports federations in its decisions and being very expensive for athletes. How did the ECJ get involved Belgian football club RFC Seraing took action after losing a case concerning Third Party Ownership against the ruling body FIFA at the CAS. The ruling was confirmed by the Swiss Federal Tribunal. FIFA had imposed a transfer ban and a fine on the club in 2015 as it prohibited Seraing to give external investors rights on players. Seraing went to court in Belgium, questioning the independence of the CAS because it is financed by international sports federations. How will the ECJ rule? The decision on Friday is scheduled for 0800 GMT but its Advocate General, Tamara Capeta, has said in an opinion that CAS awards 'must be open to full review by national courts' to ensure they are compatible with EU law. She said that commercial arbitration saw the free acceptance of the arbitration clauses by both parties which justifies limiting national reviews. In sports meanwhile arbitration clauses are mandatory, leaving athletes, officials and clubs with no option but to go before the CAS in the case of disputes. Advocate General opinions are not binding for the ECJ but the court often rules in their way. What are the expectations? Anne Jakob, president of the International Sports Lawyers Association (ISLA), has said that 'the world of sports must definitely make a move.' She said that federations must revise their rules to provide the same conditions for athletes, clubs and federations. Jakob said that the ECJ could put 'considerable pressure' on the federations, depending on how it rules.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Sporting community shocked at Olympic star Dahlmeier's death
DPA Berlin Germany and the international sport community have reacted shocked to the news on Wednesday that Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan. Dahlmeier's management and local authorities in Pakistan said on Wednesday that the 31-year-old died after being caught in rockfall on Monday while climbing the 6,069 metres Laila Peak in the Karakoram range. Her body is yet to be recovered due to adverse conditions. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Instagram he had hoped that Dahlmeier could be found alive and rescued. 'Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders. That's how I will remember her, that's how many people in our country will remember her,' Steinmeier said. Dahlmeier won two Olympic golds, seven world titles and the overall World Cup in a glittering biathlon career she ended at age 25 in 2019. She was also German Sportswoman of the Year in 2017 and a biathlon TV pundit after her active career. Dahlmeier was a state-certified mountain and ski guide, and an active member of Germany's mountain rescue organization. She was considered an experienced and risk-aware mountaineer. International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry said on platform X that Dahlmeier 'lost her life in her beloved mountains. 'The news about the passing of two-time Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier in a terrible mountaineering accident is deeply shocking for all of us in the Olympic Movement. 'Laura made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics as the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit gold at the same Games edition. She will be remembered forever. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time,' Coventry said. The German Ski Federation DSV said on their website: 'We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragic mountain accident in Pakistan in which our Olympic champion and long-time national team athlete Laura Dahlmeier died at the age of just 31. 'Our thoughts are with her family, her friends, her companions - and with everyone who was touched by Laura's extraordinary personality and sporting greatness.' The DSV named Dahlmeier 'one of Germany's must successful winter sport athletes' and 'a true role model. 'In Laura, the German Ski Federation has not only lost an outstanding athlete, but also a very special person. Her legacy will reach far beyond sport. We will honour her memory,' the DSV said. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) said on their website: 'Laura was one of the greatest athletes to grace biathlon and her loss is felt deeply by everyone in biathlon, the wider German sport family and beyond.
