Latest news with #AitanaBonmati
Al-Ahram Weekly
43 minutes ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
From hospital bed to Euro hero - Bonmati back to her decisive best for Spain - World
"You could write a book about this," said Aitana Bonmati on Wednesday as she reflected on the last few weeks in her life after scoring the goal which took Spain into the final of the Women's Euro 2025. At the end of June the world's leading women's footballer was lying in hospital with viral meningitis and it looked like she might not be able to play for Spain at the tournament in Switzerland. Now she is preparing to lead her team into Sunday's final against England in Basel, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup decider which Spain won, after converting the only goal of the last-four clash with Germany late in extra time. "When the ball went in I started running around like a crazy person. I didn't know where to go," a smiling Bonmati said as she spoke to media at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich after collecting the trophy for player of the match. "It is so special to score in games like these and if I can help the team to keep making history that is very special indeed." Barcelona midfielder Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d'Or in each of the last two years, was taken into hospital at the end of June after reporting feeling unwell. Tests confirmed that she was suffering from a bout of viral meningitis and Bonmati could only watch from bed as her teammates beat Japan in a friendly. Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to recover in time for the Euros. Growing rivalry Yet she did recover, and appeared as a late substitute in Spain's opening game at the tournament, a 5-0 win over Portugal in Bern on July 3. The 27-year-old was back in the starting line-up for their final group match, a 3-1 victory over Italy, and retained her place for the quarter-final against the host nation before scoring the winner against Germany. "I don't believe in destiny, just in hard work and in my own mentality. I can only thank everyone who has supported me because it has not been easy," Bonmati admitted. "She didn't have an easy start to the Euros but she has managed to overcome her health problems and has worked hard to get fit again," remarked coach Montse Tome. Spain are now into their first ever senior women's European Championship final, two years after winning the World Cup for the first time. Bonmati was one of the stars of that superb team which defeated England in Sydney, and is now dreaming of another title. La Roja are the favourites, even if England are the defending continental champions, for the latest instalment in a growing rivalry between the nations. As well as the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euros last year in Berlin. In late May an Arsenal side featuring several members of Sarina Wiegman's current England squad defeated Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. Seven of the players who started for Barcelona that day in Lisbon also started against Germany on Wednesday, among them goalkeeper Cata Coll who made several vital saves before Bonmati got the winner. "Cata played really well, with some big saves when we were suffering," Bonmati said of Coll, who missed all of Spain's three group games due to tonsilitis. "Neither of us had the start we wanted at this Euros due to illness but we are lucky to be here today. "It shows what can happen in life. In the end we have had good news." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
From hospital bed to EURO 2025 hero: Aitana Bonmati back to her decisive best for Spain
'You could write a book about this,' said Aitana Bonmati on Wednesday as she reflected on the last few weeks in her life after scoring the goal which took Spain into the final of the Women's Euro 2025. At the end of June the world's leading women's footballer was lying in hospital with viral meningitis and it looked like she might not be able to play for Spain at the tournament in Switzerland. Now she is preparing to lead her team into Sunday's final against England in Basel, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup decider which Spain won, after converting the only goal of the last-four clash with Germany late in extra time. 'When the ball went in I started running around like a crazy person. I didn't know where to go,' a smiling Bonmati said as she spoke to media at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich after collecting the trophy for player of the match. Spain's Aitana Bonmati, background right celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Women's Euro 2025 semifinals match between Germany and Spain. | Photo Credit: MICHAEL BUHOLZER/AP 'It is so special to score in games like these and if I can help the team to keep making history that is very special indeed.' Barcelona midfielder Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d'Or in each of the last two years, was taken into hospital at the end of June after reporting feeling unwell. Tests confirmed that she was suffering from a bout of viral meningitis and Bonmati could only watch from bed as her teammates beat Japan in a friendly. Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to recover in time for the Euros. Growing rivalry Yet she did recover, and appeared as a late substitute in Spain's opening game at the tournament, a 5-0 win over Portugal in Bern on July 3. The 27-year-old was back in the starting line-up for Spain's final group match, a 3-1 victory over Italy, and retained her place for the quarter-final against the host nation before scoring the winner against Germany. 'I don't believe in destiny, just in hard work and in my own mentality. I can only thank everyone who has supported me because it has not been easy,' Bonmati admitted. 'She didn't have an easy start to the Euros but she has managed to overcome her health problems and has worked hard to get fit again,' remarked coach Montse Tome. Spain is now into its first-ever senior women's European Championship final, two years after winning the World Cup for the first time. Bonmati was one of the stars of that superb team which defeated England in Sydney, and is now dreaming of another title. ALSO READ | Spain reaches final after 1-0 extra-time win over Germany La Roja are the favourites, even if England is the defending continental champions, for the latest instalment in a growing rivalry between the nations. As well as the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euros last year in Berlin. In late May an Arsenal side featuring several members of Sarina Wiegman's current England squad defeated Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. Seven of the players who started for Barcelona that day in Lisbon also started against Germany on Wednesday, among them goalkeeper Cata Coll who made several vital saves before Bonmati got the winner. 'Cata played really well, with some big saves when we were suffering,' Bonmati said of Coll, who missed all of Spain's three group games due to tonsilitis. 'Neither of us had the start we wanted at this Euros due to illness but we are lucky to be here today. 'It shows what can happen in life. In the end we have had good news.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Déjà vu: England and Spain meet again in a final, this time at the Women's European Championship
ZURICH (AP) — Here we go again. There's a sense of déjà vu about the Women's European Championship final that pits defending champion England against World Cup winner Spain. The two nations faced off in the World Cup final two years ago with Spain edging an open match 1-0. 'I think obviously that was a massive disappointment and I feel like from a collective we probably feel like we didn't have our best performance that day, but I think … if you're trying to pull on that too much then you're going to be too emotional with too many things going on,' England midfielder Keira Walsh said on Thursday. 'Obviously you think about it a little bit but I think for us, put it to the side and focus on the game on Sunday. We've got so many new players in this team who are really confident and bring so many things to this team, so it's exciting and we can just focus on the positives.' Both teams needed 120 minutes to get through their gruelling semifinals. England's super-subs had their part to play again on Tuesday with late goals first taking the match to extra time and then securing a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Italy. Spain needed a moment of magic from two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati to get past a resilient German side 1-0 on Wednesday. It will be a first Euros final for Spain but even before the tournament it had been the favorite to add the European title to its collection after winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years. Spain's triumph at the World Cup was marred by the Luis Rubiales scandal, after the-then head of the Spanish soccer federation kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the awards ceremony. Rubiales was subsequently charged with sexual assault and convicted a few months before the start of Euro 2025, bringing an end to one of the worst chapters in the history of Spanish soccer. Walsh, who made 100 appearances for Barcelona over two-and-a-half seasons, was playing in Spain at the time and witnessed the fallout first hand. 'I think the most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final, there's not the controversy surrounding it,' she said. 'I think just for the girls this time and as a friend and another football player, for them just to go and enjoy it. 'They play incredible football and they deserve to be there, so as a human being I just want them to go out and enjoy the game of football.' Walsh doesn't feel Spain's star-packed squad received enough credit after the World Cup triumph. 'Obviously after the game there was a lot of controversy and I don't think for them there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were, it was all about the other stuff that had gone on,' she said. 'I think as a professional that was disappointing to see. Obviously I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Déjà vu: England and Spain meet again in a final, this time at the Women's European Championship
ZURICH (AP) — Here we go again. There's a sense of déjà vu about the Women's European Championship final that pits defending champion England against World Cup winner Spain. The two nations faced off in the World Cup final two years ago with Spain edging an open match 1-0. 'I think obviously that was a massive disappointment and I feel like from a collective we probably feel like we didn't have our best performance that day, but I think … if you're trying to pull on that too much then you're going to be too emotional with too many things going on,' England midfielder Keira Walsh said on Thursday. 'Obviously you think about it a little bit but I think for us, put it to the side and focus on the game on Sunday. We've got so many new players in this team who are really confident and bring so many things to this team, so it's exciting and we can just focus on the positives.' Both teams needed 120 minutes to get through their gruelling semifinals. England's super-subs had their part to play again on Tuesday with late goals first taking the match to extra time and then securing a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Italy. Spain needed a moment of magic from two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati to get past a resilient German side 1-0 on Wednesday. It will be a first Euros final for Spain but even before the tournament it had been the favorite to add the European title to its collection after winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years. Spain's triumph at the World Cup was marred by the Luis Rubiales scandal, after the-then head of the Spanish soccer federation kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the awards ceremony. Rubiales was subsequently charged with sexual assault and convicted a few months before the start of Euro 2025, bringing an end to one of the worst chapters in the history of Spanish soccer. Walsh, who made 100 appearances for Barcelona over two-and-a-half seasons, was playing in Spain at the time and witnessed the fallout first hand. 'I think the most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final, there's not the controversy surrounding it,' she said. 'I think just for the girls this time and as a friend and another football player, for them just to go and enjoy it. 'They play incredible football and they deserve to be there, so as a human being I just want them to go out and enjoy the game of football.' Walsh doesn't feel Spain's star-packed squad received enough credit after the World Cup triumph. 'Obviously after the game there was a lot of controversy and I don't think for them there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were, it was all about the other stuff that had gone on,' she said. 'I think as a professional that was disappointing to see. Obviously I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got.' ___ AP soccer:
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Spain edge Germany to set up Euro 2025 final with England – Women's Football Weekly
On the podcast today: Spain are through to their first European Championship final after a tense 1-0 extra-time victory over Germany in Zurich. Aitana Bonmatí delivered the decisive goal in the 113th minute to set up a historic night for the world champions. The panel unpacks a fiercely competitive semi-final, from Bonmatí's brilliance to Cata Coll's heroics in goal, and asks how Spain managed to keep their composure against a resilient German side. Elsewhere, the panel assess what's next for Germany after a campaign full of adversity and transition. Plus, we ask if Spain's patience and squad depth could be the keys to another major trophy, and look ahead to Sunday's blockbuster final, a World Cup rematch between England and La Roja. Also, the panel responds to your emails, reflects on Euro 2025's surprises, and shares thoughts on the legacy this tournament will leave behind. Sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter – all you need to do is search 'Moving the Goalposts sign up' or follow this link. Support the Guardian here.
