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Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Bonmati puts Spain into Euro final after extra-time win over Germany
dpa Zurich Aitana Bonmatí netted with aplomb in extra-time to send world champions Spain into the Euro 2025 final following a 1-0 win over record eight-times winners Germany on Wednesday. Spain will meet holders England in Sunday's final in Basel, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final won 1-0 by La Roja. It is a first Euro final for the Spanish women. Montse Tomé's side dominated possession as usual in Zurich but Germany, who somehow beat France on penalties in the last eight having been down to 10 players after 13 minutes, defended stoutly and were dangerous on the break. The contrast in styles meant the 90 minutes ended 0-0 before world player of the year Bonmatí produced a rare moment of class with a clever dummy. Her effort from a tight angle then went in at the near post. Bonmatí said: 'I feel proud because we deserve it. We suffered.' The 113th-minute goal was tough on Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who has shone this tournament but said she should have done better while expecting a cross. 'The disappointment is huge, we believed until the last second. One small mistake, one loss of focus and it is so bitter,' Berger told ARD. 'I take responsibility, the near post needs to be covered. I'm sorry so for the team, not just for me.' Bonmatí added: 'We had studied Berger, who made certain movements and sometimes left spaces at the near post.' Germany were without the suspended Kathrin Hendrich following her ponytail pull against France. Sophia Kleinherne replaced her in a back three, while wing back Carlotta Wamser returned from suspension and Sara Däbritz came in for suspended midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken. Spain made one enforced change from the 2-0 quarter-final win over hosts Switzerland as centre back María Méndez filled in for the suspended Laia Aleixandri. 'No blame,' says Germany coach Klara Bühl fired the first good chance wide for the Germans, watched in the Letzigrund stands by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Spain striker Esther González then tested Berger, who starred against the French, and the keeper made another smart save. The tournament favourites, who had scored 16 goals in winning all their previous four matches in Switzerland, upped the ante just before the break and Irene Paredes headed against the post before Berger again denied González. Half-time came at a good time for the Germans, who had at least kept Bonmatí and previous world player of the year Alèxia Putellas fairly quiet up to that point. Bühl had three further big opportunities in the second half - including a deflected effort clawed off the line by Cata Coll at the death. Otherwise the ball was mainly up the other end, although La Roja struggled to carve out clear-cut chances despite the multitude of short passes. Extra-time was largely a non-event until Bonmatí, who had meningitis at the start of the Euros, stylishly struck - assuming she meant it at Berger's near post. 'We imagined things differently,' Germany coach Christian Wück said. 'There is no blame, she is world player of the year. It can happen. We have played a really good tournament.'
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rumours swirl over Max deal as Mercedes ready 2026 team
DPA Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) Speculation over a move by Formula One world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Mercedes for next season has hit overdrive with the Silver Arrows all but ready to announce their 2026 line-up. 'We as a team will know how we want to play it next year. When we announce it is not yet entirely certain,' Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Wednesday ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. However, Wolff then appeared to dampen the speculation when he said: 'We want to continue with George and Kimi, that is the absolute priority.' Some media though think Kimi Antonelli could revert to being reserve driver, with George Russell keeping his seat alongside Verstappen. 'It's not just about the team making a decision. The drivers also need to know where they stand,' said Wolff. The 27-year-old Verstappen, a four-times world champion, appears to be dissatisfied at Red Bull this term having lost ground to championship leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the McLarens. However, the Dutchman still has a valid contract with Red Bull until 2028 and team boss Christian Horner, seen by many to have had a frosty relationship with Verstappen, was recently sacked. 'Of course, you can't overlook someone like Max and the plans he has for the future,' added Wolff cryptically.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
England produce another comeback to down Italy and reach Euro final
dpa Geneva Chloe Kelly scored late in extra-time to help England move closer to retaining their European Championship title after another dramatic comeback with a 2-1 victory over Italy in Tuesday's semi-final. England had looked on the way out following Barbara Bonansea's first-half goal until substitute Michelle Agyemang, who levelled late on in the quarter-final against Sweden, repeated the trick six minutes into injury time to make it 1-1. The holders had the better of extra-time, with Agyemang hitting the bar, and were then awarded a contentious spot-kick for a foul on Beth Mead by Emma Severini. Kelly saw her penalty saved but she tapped in the rebound on 119 minutes. 'Unbelievable, such a great feeling,' player of the match Kelly told ITV. 'Three finals on the bounce and we want more. 'It wasn't supposed to go like that with the penalty but I was ready for the rebound. This team shows resilience, we fight back. Hopefully we can make it easier for ourselves.' England boss Sarina Wiegman has now reached five finals in five major tournaments, including the first two in her previous role in charge of her native Netherlands. The Lionesses will meet Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final, or Germany in a repeat of the Euro 2022 showpiece in Sunday in Basel. The Spanish take on record Euro champions Germany in Zurich on Wednesday. Wiegman dropped Jess Carter to the bench. The defender, who struggled in the win over Sweden, had revealed at the weekend that she has been the target of racist abuse on social media throughout the tournament. She came on for the closing stages. Carter had previously started every game, but was replaced by Esme Morgan, who made a first major tournament start alongside fit-again captain Leah Williamson in central defence. Kelly, who changed the game as a substitute in the quarter-final with Sweden, also began on the bench again. Surprise pick Italy beat the Norwegians late on in the quarter-final and swapped Severini for Martina Lenzini in a new back three to take on England. The Azzurre, who lost to Norway and Germany in the 1993 and 1997 finals, were on the back foot early on as England made a much better start than against the Swedes. Lauren James had a prodded finish saved and Alessia Russo, who has Italian roots, fired wide. Italy's final ball was initially lacking and England stopper Hannah Hampton, who starred in the epic penalty shoot-out against Sweden, was largely untroubled in the first quarter. But on 33 minutes, a well-worked move fell for the experienced Bonansea, who thrashed home into the roof of the net. England had paid the price for letting their early energy drop and tried to rouse themselves, with James wasting a good opportunity. The physical Italians looked tactically solid and England threw on Mead for an injured James at the interval to try to break through. Lauren Hemp had two decent chances as England pushed hard in the second half, but it looked like there was to be no comeback like against Sweden, especially as Italy almost scored a second on 86. Teenage forward Agyemang had other ideas and expertly pounced when Italy keeper Laura Giuliani, in a rare slip by the Azzurre, made a hash of a cross. The 19-year-old Brighton player had been a surprise pick in the Euro squad and fellow substitute Kelly sealed the win at the death despite Giuliani's best efforts. Italy coach Andrea Soncin said: 'We feel so much pride, the girls should be proud of what they did, going out like this hurts but having stood up to the champions gives us confidence for the future. 'There are no words to describe the emotions, we definitely deserved a different ending, we are sorry but we are very proud.'
