The lowdown on UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Day 18
Before we get into today's action, what happened yesterday? ⏮️
The defending champions put themselves within one game of retaining their trophy with another incredible comeback.
After pulling themselves off the canvas against Sweden in the quarter-final, the Lionesses were at it again against Italy, with teenage hero Michelle Agyemang sending the contest to extra-time with a 96th minute equaliser.
Azzurre hearts were broken at the death when, with penalties looming, Chloe Kelly's rebound was turned home to send Sarina Wiegman's through.
Who is playing today? 👀
Spain aim to add the continental crown to their world title when they take on Germany.Should La Roja progress, it would provide a repeat of the most recent World Cup final, in which they defeated England 1-0.
However, if Germany pull off an upset it will throw up a rematch of the Euro 2022 final, when they lost 2-1 to England at Wembley.
Player to watch 🔍
In their quarter-final against Switzerland, Aitana Bonmatí showed her quality just when her side needed it most.
Player of the Match in Spain's 2-0 win, they toiled for an hour until she came up with a delightful moment of inspiration with her back-heel assist to open up the contest and break the hosts' hearts.
"I was always calm," she said assuredly afterwards.
The pressure never seems to faze her and she will once more be key to her side's prospects of success.
Key storyline 🔑
📸 FABRICE COFFRINI - AFP or licensors
Germany's hopes of springing a surprise have been hindered in the build-up by a defensive crisis which could be prove very costly.
Kathrin Hendrich will miss out through suspension after her early red card in the quarter-final victory over France and she will be joined watching from the sidelines by Sarai Linder, who picked up an injury last time out.
Captain Giulia Gwinn is also an ongoing fitness absentee, while goalscoring hero from the gutsy win over France Sjoeke Nüsken is also suspended.
How will Christian Wück cope with the issues?
Must-watch video 🎥
The reaction to Ann-Katrin Berger's stunning save in Germany's quarter-final win over France is entirely justified.
Fun facts
The nations have met once previously at the European Championship, with Germany coming out on top in a 2-0 group stage clash in 2022
Across all their 50 Euros fixtures, Germany have only been beaten five times (winning 38 and drawing seven times)
Esther González's strike against Italy made her the first Spanish player to score in four successive Euros games (only Germany's Alexandra Popp netted in more with five)
Our prediction 🔮
Germany 1-2 Spain
📸 FABRICE COFFRINI - AFP or licensors
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox Sports
25 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Bonmatí leads Spain past Germany 1-0, sets up Euro 2025 final against England
Associated Press ZURICH (AP) — Aitana Bonmatí scored in extra time to send Spain to its first Women's European Championship final with a 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday, setting up a repeat of the 2023 World Cup title match. A stubborn Germany performance had seen it take the world champions to extra time and Spain needed a superb strike from the two-time Ballon d'Or winner to secure a first win in nine attempts against Germany. 'I feel so proud. We deserved this," Bonmatí said. "We have played a great tournament throughout. We had a hard fight tonight, of course, because we were playing Germany. First to beat Germany and then to advance to the final of the Euros, who could ask for more?' In the 113th minute, Athenea del Castillo threaded the ball through to Bonmatí, who got past Rebecca Knaak with a clever dummy and turn before squeezing home an audacious attempt from the tightest of angles. 'We had analyzed her and knew that she would leave the near post unprotected, and that is what happened. I just slotted it home," Bonmatí said. Spain moved within one victory of adding the European Championship trophy to its collection after winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years. Montse Tomé's team will face defending champion England on Sunday in a repeat of the World Cup final that Spain won 1-0 two years ago. England also needed extra time for a 2-1 win over Italy on Tuesday. It was a tough end to a stellar tournament for Berger, who had been the star of Germany's dramatic quarterfinal against France. 'I take the blame for that. The near post must be shut, absolutely,' Berger said. "That's why I'm even more disappointed in myself. 'I can make as many saves as I want, but that one should have been mine, and that's why I'm incredibly sorry. For the team, not for me, but for those who gave their all.' Germany coach Christian Wück absolved Berger of any blame, and instead acknowledged her 'saves that got us to where we are." 'We imagined it differently and to concede just before the end because of such a stroke of genius, that makes it incredibly bitter,' he added. Germany was bidding for a record-extending ninth European title but it was up against the world champion and pre-tournament favorite. It almost surprised Spain early on when Klara Bühl ran onto a long ball from goalkeeper Berger, but her angled drive went narrowly past the right post. Germany managed to stifle Spain's attack, which didn't have a real sight of goal until the 21st minute when Berger made a fantastic save to tip a shot over the bar from the tournament's top goalscorer Esther González. Giovanna Hoffmann should have given Germany the lead in the 29th but she missed the ball right in front of goal, with a fresh air shot, after excellent play by Jule Brand. Spain ended the half strongly, however, and went closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval when Irene Paredes headed a corner off the post and González's overhead kick was blocked. Berger also had to make two smart saves in stoppage time, to deny first Gotham FC teammate González and then Clàudia Pina. Germany managed to keep Spain star Bonmatí relatively quiet for almost an hour until she carved out some space for herself and curled in a shot that Sophia Kleinherne slid to stop. Cata Coll had had little to do all night but the Spain goalkeeper kept her team in the tournament with a superb double save right at the end of regulation time, first to parry from Bühl and then to deny Carlotta Wamser. ___ AP writers Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and Ciaran Fahey in Berlin contributed to this report. ___ AP soccer: recommended Item 1 of 3


Hamilton Spectator
30 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto council strengthens oversight of major events after watchdog flags potential FIFA risks
Toronto council has agreed to impose stronger oversight over decisions to host major events, after a municipal watchdog found that a lack of transparency around the city's bid to stage the 2026 FIFA World Cup could have exposed it to significant risks. In a report presented to council on Wednesday , auditor general Tara Anderson examined council's February 2018 decision that authorized the city manager to sign up for the bid launched by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to host the international soccer tournament. Toronto is scheduled to host six games starting June 12, 2026. Anderson found that while council made joining the bid conditional on the federal and provincial governments pledging to share hosting costs, the city didn't get those commitments before the March 2018 deadline to join. Instead, soon after the council vote staff signed an agreement with Canada Soccer to withdraw from hosting duties if Toronto didn't get funding guarantees from the other governments by June 2020. The agreement wasn't made public at the time, and was first reported by Star last year . City staff didn't report back to council on the World Cup plans until March 2022, four years after council's 2018 decision. The update didn't provide details of the withdrawal agreement — which was extended 'multiple times,' the auditor found — or explain how staff had mitigated risks related to the lack of intergovernmental funding, which at the time the city had still not nailed down. The auditor general found staff should have reported to council earlier about the conditions for pulling out of the bid, which would have allowed councillors 'to make an informed decision to continue (to pursue hosting rights) or withdraw.' The watchdog also noted that the initial estimate staff provided to council in 2018 pegged hosting costs at between $30 million and $45 million, a figure that didn't include the price of security, which staff said at the time was impossible to predict so far before the tournament. Toronto's overall hosting costs have now risen to $380 million, with the city responsible for almost $180 million. In May 2024, the federal government pledged $104 million, and while Ontario announced in February 2024 it had conditionally committed $97 million, negotiations are ongoing over how Queen's Park's contribution will be allocated. Anderson concluded that in future, staff should include all costs that could fall under the city's responsibility in early estimates to ensure 'city council has all relevant information to make an informed decision.' 'City council's limited visibility into the agreement terms, combined with staff not providing timely updates, could have left the city exposed to potential financial, operational, and reputational risk,' the report concluded. 'It is important that when council decides to delegate authority, that staff still appropriately report back to update council in a timely manner.' In a politically charged discussion before the vote on Anderson's report, councillors quizzed the city integrity commissioner over an investigation by his predecessor into former mayor John Tory. Under questions from Coun. Paula Fletcher (Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth) and others, Paul Muldoon recounted how the October 2023 report from then commissioner Jonathan Batty found Tory broke ethics rules when he voted in 2022 to advance Toronto's World Cup plans, which are being executed in partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). At the time, Tory was in a relationship with a woman that began while she was a staffer in his office, and continued when she took a job at MLSE, where she worked on the World Cup file. Tory resigned over the relationship in February 202 3, shortly after it was revealed by the Star. According to sources, he is considering running for mayor again next year, and polls suggest he would be the biggest threat to Mayor Olivia Chow. Fletcher said that while the World Cup will be fun for the city, Toronto is being left with a '$400 million hangover' in hosting costs. Because of the lack of rigorous oversight, 'we're left wondering (whether) MLSE got a really great deal for FIFA, and maybe we didn't get the best deal for FIFA,' said Fletcher, who sits on Chow's executive committee. 'We need to be careful and squeaky clean in this city when we're making these very big financial decisions,' she said. In response to concerns about rising costs, Chow had instituted a new council governance structure for the tournament in March 2024 , which Anderson determined had strengthened oversight. The auditor's report made seven recommendations intended to improve guidelines for future international events — such as developing policies to ensure council is informed of major changes to projects delegated to staff, and drafting principles for bidding on major events, including risk assessments — each of which council either approved or enhanced.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chloe Kelly reacts after her late heroics send England to back-to-back Euro finals
Chloe Kelly scored the winner for England against Italy in the Euro 2025 semi-final and shares her reaction as the Lionesses will face either Spain or Germany in the final.