Spain show experience to shrug off Swiss challenge at Women's Euros
With a raucous crowd roaring on the hosts, the Spaniards were unusually sloppy despite dominating possession in the first half, and it took goals from substitute Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina in the second to finally get them over the line.
"It is true that many times we are used to winning the first parts (of games) very quickly but in real football it is not like that. In real football, you play 90 minutes, especially when you're in the European championship," Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati told reporters.
"The truth is that Spain has brought out a bit of that maturity, that insistence that I think is important, because it's not easy in the quarter-finals and in the end that was the mentality that the team had," defender Laia Aleixandri said.
"The semi-finals were up for grabs and I think that weighs heavily. You had to be very careful in the back, because we always say it -- we attack with many players and Switzerland was very good, but I think that in the end we have been mentally very strong, not only me but the whole team," she added.
The Spaniards formed a guard of honour for their Swiss hosts as they left the field, and the Spanish players promised they would celebrate as they waited to find out who they will face in the semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday.
"It's a party, dancing, singing, as it should be. It's a step to the semi-finals, I think we have to enjoy it now. One way or another, we will find out our opponent," Aleixandri added. REUTERS
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam
Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure?
Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences
Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case
Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations
Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data
Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area
Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Pogacar out to bury ghosts in final Tour de France week
Find out what's new on ST website and app. MONTPELLIER, France - Tadej Pogacar is riding not just for the yellow jersey on the Tour de France, but also to bury the ghosts of the past. As the 2025 Tour de France heads into its final and most punishing mountain stages, the defending champion is about to tackle climbs where he cracked or struggled before. The Mont Ventoux and Col de la Loze await again. But this time, things feel different. "I'm almost confident to say the route was designed to scare me," Pogacar said with a smile on Monday. "But I always look at it as a race situation. I actually like all of these climbs." This year, he has already won at Hautacam, where his Tour hopes vanished in 2022 when he was beaten by chief rival Jonas Vingegaard, who ended up 2:10 behind the Slovenian. Pogacar is 4:13 ahead of the Dane in the general classification as he marches towards a fourth Tour title. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes at college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act? Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 World US passenger jet has close call with B-52 bomber Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety In his sixth campaign, Pogacar speaks with the assurance of a man determined to make peace with painful memories. "Col de la Loze, for me, is one of the hardest climbs I've ever done," he conceded. "I'm not looking for revenge. I just want to have better legs than those days in the past." In 2023, Pogacar experienced what he then called the 'worst day' of his life on a bike when he cracked in the ascent of the Col de la Loze, effectively losing the Tour to Vingegaard. While the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider appears firmly in control, Pogacar knows better than anyone that one bad day can change everything. Although Vingegaard has suffered two rare off days, he insists he is not out of contention. "I do think I can win it. Of course, it looks very hard now — it's a big gap," the Dane said. "But normally my strength is in the third week. We have to attack." Vingegaard, however, has no illusions about the challenge ahead. "The biggest difference is my two off days, where I lost most of the time," he said. "But I don't think the gap is as big as it looks. I know that's not my level — I can do a lot better than that. "I'm also willing to sacrifice second to try to achieve first." Visma-Lease a Bike's sports director Grischa Niermann underlined the urgency of the mission. "It's four minutes — you don't make that up with an attack in the last 500 metres," Niermann said. "For that to happen, we need to see a weakness in Tadej. So far, he hasn't shown one. But the Tour is over only when we reach Paris." Visma-Lease a Bike, however, seem to have lost the collective power that made them a formidable squad in 2022 and 2023, when Vingegaard won his two Tour titles. "They tend to overtrain their riders and after two or three years, they're completely empty," a senior official in another Tour team told Reuters. "They have plans, but don't have the capacities to execute them. They should be more humble." Pogacar is ready for anything that might come at him. "We're ready for a fight with everybody," he said. "Especially with Jonas." REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Polo-Cambiaso reigns again as daughter Mia makes Gold Cup history
EASEBOURNE, England - Argentine polo maestro Adolfo Cambiaso added a ninth British Open Gold Cup to his trophy cabinet at the weekend, but this victory carried extra sparkle – his 23-year-old daughter Mia was playing with him and became the first Argentine woman to claim the prestigious prize. The 50-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest polo player of all time, led his La Dolfina/Scone team to a nail-biting 9-8 victory over French newcomers Kazak at Cowdray Park in front of more than 8,000 spectators basking in West Sussex sunshine. The win came 34 years after Cambiaso first lifted the Gold Cup in 1991, and his latest triumph made him the only player to win the tournament alongside two different children having done so with son Poroto in 2020. Mia Cambiaso became only the third woman to win the Gold Cup and was crowned Most Valuable Player, and her mare DS Altamira claimed Best Playing Pony honours. The match was as dramatic as it was historic, with the elder Cambiaso suffering three broken fingers in a collision that forced him off the field for the final two minutes, his team clinging to a precarious 9-7 lead. The injury-causing incident was ruled a foul against Cambiaso, allowing Kazak to convert a penalty and close the gap to one goal. "It's very special. My ninth Gold Cup and to do it with my daughter, Mia is incredible. I am so proud of her; the first Argentinian woman to lift a Gold Cup," said Cambiaso. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes at college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act? Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 World US passenger jet has close call with B-52 bomber Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety "It was a fantastic polo match and I want to thank my whole team for all their hard work." The Gold Cup is one of polo's most prestigious events alongside the U.S. and Argentine Opens and the Queen's Cup. The 16,000-acre Cowdray Estate is situated in the South Downs National Park. Known as the home of British polio, the it hosts more than 600 matches annually from April to September. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Heated exchanges at Lord's were fun, says England's Brook
England batsman Harry Brook said the tension with Indian players during the third test at Lord's was fun and put the visitors under added pressure as England secured a dramatic 22-run victory and a 2-1 lead in the series. Tension flared between the teams during the match, with India captain Shubman Gill sarcastically clapping England batters over delays, and Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj roaring in the face of England opener Ben Duckett after taking his wicket. Brook said England decided to respond in kind after the visitors' heated verbal exchanges with Duckett and Zak Crawley when England faced a single over from Jasprit Bumrah at the end of the third day. "We had a little chat and we thought, we're a team so we may as well get together and give it back at them," Brook told reporters on Monday. "It put them under a little bit more pressure." "I've had a lot of compliments. Everybody said it was awesome to watch. It looked like it was 11 versus two out there while we were fielding. It was good fun... it was tiring but it made fielding a lot more enjoyable," he said. Brook, who scored a century in the second test after missing out on a ton by one run in the first, said the hardfought series was far from over, with the fourth match starting at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes at college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act? Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety "India are such a good side, they can bounce back at any stage... every game we've played so far has gone into the last hour of the game, which you don't see very often," he said. "I've had a lot of people come up to me and say, this is a great series... and everybody said that the Lord's game was one of the best that they have ever watched." REUTERS
