Putellas at the double as rampant Spain hit rain-soaked Belgium for six at Euro 2025
The world champions were twice pegged back by Belgian equalisers, but Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir's side were eventually overpowered and Belgium will now be eliminated unless Portugal beat Italy in Monday's late kick-off.
Spain, who had scored five times in their opening victory against Portugal last Thursday, went one better in their second outing and will now be guaranteed a quarter-final spot unless Portugal beat the Italians and both of those sides also overturn huge goal-difference deficits with victories on Friday.
This Group B match was being contested in the pretty town of Thun, where surfers love to ride the Aare river, in the centre of the old town, including earlier on Monday afternoon, as the heavy downpours of rain only strengthened the river's force. Each time the surfers fell and were swept downstream, they would swim back upstream, to try their luck again, adjacent to the tournament fan zone.
The scene proved rather reminiscent of Belgium trying to resist wave after wave of Spanish attacks in the second half, but it felt as though every time Belgium clawed themselves back into the match, a fresh torrent of Spanish brilliance swept them away again.
Alexia Putellas began the relentless scoring when she rounded off a neat team move, after superb play from Vicky López, to clinically tuck the ball home. Justine Vanhaevermaet briefly stunned the pre-tournament favourites as she headed in from a corner, but Spain were soon back in front when Irene Paredes headed in to make it 2-1, towards the end of a first half which had also seen Olga Carmona drive a powerful strike narrowly wide.
The crowd were momentarily sensing a monumental shock might be on the cards, when Hannah Eurlings sprinted in behind Spain's defence and slotted in, but almost immediately after the restart, Esther González met Putellas's outstanding pass to restore Spain's lead at 3-2.
Sign up to Moving the Goalposts
No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football
after newsletter promotion
By this point, the Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, still returning carefully to full fitness after suffering from viral meningitis before the tournament, had been brought on as a half-time substitute and she was showing her usual creativity and style in midfield. Spain were mounting pressure and eventually, shortly after the hour mark, Mariona Caldentey tucked in from close range, before a marvellous strike from Claudia Pina in the 81st minute, curled into the far corner from distance, made it 5-2 with a goal that will undoubtedly be included in the goal-of-the-tournament shortlist.
Putellas, who was deservedly named as the player of the match, showed her class with a fine finish to add her second of the game and Spain's sixth, and Montse Tomé's team continue to look like they will justify their status as favourites.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
39 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Five things we learned as England booked place in Euros quarter-finals
Six different scorers provided the goods for the Lionesses as Hannah Cain grabbed a late consolation for Wales. With France having triumphed 5-2 against the Netherlands in Basel it means England finish Group D in second. Here are the five key takeaways from their victory over Wales… Fate decided The three points against Wales saw England confirm their place in the quarter-finals at Euro 2025 as they finish second in Group D. It means they also now know a potential route to the final with a last-eight tie against Sweden on Thursday in Zurich confirmed. With the Netherlands falling to 5-2 defeat against France, despite leading 2-1, England finished three points behind Les Bleues but three ahead of the Dutch. It sets up a rematch of their Euro 2022 semi-final victory when they won 4-0, including a standout backheeled goal by Alessia Russo. But the Group C winners look in brilliant form, having just defeated Germany 4-1 to top their group. Should England manage to overcome that challenge, they avoid Spain on their side of the draw and will face a semi-final against Norway or Italy. Toooooone Since Sarina Wiegman left Ella Toone on the bench for England's opening loss to France, the number 10 has made it a personal mission to ensure she never ends up back there. With two goals in two games and a 100% pass completion against Wales, she certainly has the stats to back up her selection. Her goal and two assists against Wales came in just one half of football. And that has been backed up with the performances to match. Toone has looked tenacious as a key cog in the English press, closing the ball down as soon as it enters the central pockets and creating turnovers high up the pitch. She has been equally as instructive in attack, putting the ball on a plate for both Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo to finish in the first half as well as grabbing a goal herself. While she might mistake the 'Toooone' shouts for boos, there is no doubting the travelling English support only have reason to celebrate her performances in Switzerland so far. England a step above At points in the first half in St. Gallen, it appeared Wales were giving goals away as though they were bottles of Prime in Waterloo Station. The reality was that the gulf in quality just proved too stark. England were faster and stronger as they pressed Wales high up the pitch, forcing them into errors early on. Ella Toone's goal highlighted the problem. As Leah Williamson pinged a ball out to Lauren Hemp on the left, the forward saw her cross cut out, but Georgia Stanway pounced as Wales failed to clear their lines fast enough. The ball squeezed through to Alessia Russo, who took the goalkeeper out of the equation before Toone was allowed two attempts at goal before finally hitting the back of the net. At each stage England were faster to react and their six-goal total proved they were simply too much to handle for Wales. It represents the biggest margin of victory at the tournament so far, while Wales' goal difference of minus-11 is the worst on record in the group stages of a women's Euros. But Wales have reason to be proud While the performance left much to be desired on Sunday evening and saw Wales heading home from Switzerland, they have plenty to be proud of from their stint at the tournament. The debutants not only scored their first-ever major tournament goal to equalise early on against France, they managed to repeat the feat against an England side in their stride. Jess Fishlock's pass through to Cain demonstrated the levels Wales can rise to as she played the former Leicester player in behind with a perfectly weighted pass. Cain's finish was equally brilliant as she fired past Hannah Hampton into the far top corner with aplomb. For a first major tournament with a significantly smaller player pool than their opponents, they have not disgraced themselves in the 'group of death' and have given the travelling fans plenty to celebrate. A big win to secure progression from Group D! 🔒🙌 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 13, 2025 The Red Wall stands strong Despite travelling to Switzerland with a strong possibility that their side may not even win a match, Wales have brought the numbers for their first appearance at a major tournament. Nowhere was that more evident than in St. Gallen where red shirts flooded the city during the day before piling into Kybunpark for what proved to be their final game at the tournament. In fact, despite the gulf in expectations, the Welsh fans brought a 2,400-strong contingent for their allocated section, with plenty more spread out in the neutral seats, compared to the 2,100 sold for England's end. The red, yellow and green bucket hats were in full force, and the Welsh were in customarily fine voice with a goosebump-raising rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The loudest roar of the night came in the 76th minute when Hannah Cain brilliant strike earnt a late consolation for Wales and gave the wall of red reason enough to commence celebrations.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Beth Mead lauds ‘unbelievable' Ella Toone as England reach Euro 2025 quarters
Georgia Stanway opened the scoring with a 13th-minute penalty before Toone found the top corner and then turned provider for Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, who sent England into the break with a four-goal lead. Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones both got on the scoresheet in the second half, while Wales' consolation came from substitute Hannah Cain, a welcome parting gift for the passionate support who had travelled to Switzerland for their first major tournament. 'I think she was unbelievable,' said Mead, who also provided the assist for Beever-Jones. 'I think Tooney is really coming into her own and sometimes in, you know, situations where you feel a little bit low, it brings you to the top of your game and I have completely felt that and done that before, been in a tough place and come back and I think you can see that she's given that kind of aura, that type of energy and she deserves everything she's getting right now because she has worked really hard for it.' Mead and Toone have both lost parents since England lifted their first major trophy at their home Euros in 2022. Mead's mother, June, died from ovarian cancer in January 2023, while Toone lost her father, Nick, to prostate cancer last September. Toone pointed to the sky after scoring on Sunday night. Mead added: 'I think we've both said the first game we really struggled a little bit, you know you look to the stands for your person who is standing there and they're not there anymore. 'I think my mum was the first person I would look for in the stands. So I obviously understand what Ella felt in that moment. And it's special to be able to have that moment and think about them and dedicate to them.' England bounced back from a tournament-opening defeat to France to beat the Netherlands 4-0, but still finished runners-up in Group D after France claimed top spot with a 5-2 victory over the Dutch. 🏆 The final eight are locked in 🔐#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 13, 2025 That means England will return to Zurich's familiar Stadion Letzigrund on Thursday night, where they will face Sweden. 'I mean, it doesn't seem like it at the time, but (the France loss) was probably was the best thing that could have happened to us as a team,' added Mead. 'I think it motivated us. 'We had conversations, we figured things out that we maybe needed to. And I think, you don't win or lose a tournament in the first game. I think it's cliché to say it, but you don't and we're now in a position where we're building quite nicely and hopefully we can continue that momentum now we're into the quarter-finals.' England boss Sarina Wiegman agreed it looked like her side were enjoying themselves, adding: 'That's what it looks like! 'Really good. Six goals, I think what we wanted to do was dictate the game, and that is what we did, so that's really good to see, and the most important thing is that we are through, and out of this very hard group.'
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Veteran Jess Fishlock in no rush to make decision on Wales future
Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock is not ready to make any decisions about her future after the major tournament debutants bowed out of Euro 2025 with a 6-1 loss to England in their final group stage encounter in St Gallen. The 38-year-old stalwart became the first Welsh woman to score a goal at a major tournament in Wednesday night's loss to France, and made more history in St Gallen on Sunday night with the nation's first major-tournament assist, providing the excellent threaded pass for substitute Hannah Cain's late consolation. Fishlock has come full circle, having made her senior debut for Wales in host country Switzerland as a teenager in 2006 and arriving back here as her side's all-time top goalscorer. 'I don't know right now,' said Fishlock, asked about her future with Wales. 'I think that's a tough one. I need to take a little seat and have a little think, but no decisions are to be made. 'As of right now, I'm still a Welsh player.' Head coach Rhian Wilkinson largely shouldered the blame for the defeat, also pointing to fitness gaps and lack of regular club minutes for many in her squad, and said it was too soon to be thinking about anyone's longer-term tenure. 'What I've said to all my players is just to take a breath,' said Wilkinson. 'I think we're right in the thick of something, there's so much emotion. 'There were great moments, and there were really hard moments and painful moments and big lessons and things we are excited about, and it's not the time to look at future plans for Jess, for Kayleigh (Barton), for some of our more experienced players. 'I hope that they stick together tonight and that they enjoy one another's company, that they celebrate the moments that they can celebrate. 'Jess has a goal and an assist, Hannah Cain has a goal, and that's what I ask of this team, is that they stick together as a team and are around each other for a while, then bigger life decisions can be made in the future.'
