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The Guardian
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
The value of Spain's Patri Guijarro: ‘Watch her play and you can't help but smile'
It's England v Spain again in a major tournament final and most people know the strength of the world champions' midfield. We have Alexia Putellas and we have Aitana Bonmatí. Superstars. But what about that third player? Who is she and what does she do? Well, there is an unwritten rule in Spanish football which says that when Patri Guijarro plays well, so do Spain and Barcelona. Undervalued and indispensable in a midfield triangle with the two Ballon d'Or winners, the Mallorca native has become essential for club and country. 'It's so easy to play alongside her, she makes everything easy,' said the two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas earlier at Euro 2025. 'It's a privilege to play with her. She's the best pivot in the world. Every inch of the pitch she covers, she does it with quality and intelligence.' The 27-year-old, who has been with Barcelona since 2015, is so versatile that she can play in other positions – and do it better than those who regularly feature there. When Putellas missed the 2022- 23 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Barcelona did not sign a replacement for her. Guijarro moved higher up the pitch and Barça brought in Keira Walsh as a holding midfielder. Guijarro adapted seamlessly to her more attacking role, with the standout performance coming in the Champions League final against Wolfsburg, where her two goals turned the game around to end in a 3-2 win. Vicky López is one of the players who has benefited from featuring in the same side as Guijarro. The teenager (she turns 19 on Saturday) was tasked with replacing Bonmatí for Spain's first two games at the Euros and she felt it was very easy to slot in. 'She is one of the best players in the world, but she's always been undervalued in my opinion,' López said of Guijarro before the semi-final against Germany. 'She's the spine of the team and the reason why we all play well. There's passes that only she sees. If you watch her play, you can't help but smile.' Looking at Spain's matches at these Euros, Putellas and Bonmatí have been closely marked, minimising space for the Spanish attack, but Guijarro has been outstanding defensively and offensively against the low blocks. Her aggressive high press allows Spain to recover the ball in more advanced positions and, operating nearer the forwards, closing down passes, closing down spaces and taking care of ball recovery, her performances allow Putellas, Bonmatí and the wingers more space and time to start attacks. 'It's not an easy position because it doesn't get the recognition it deserves,' the Spain manager, Montse Tomé, said this week. 'Her humility and hard-working personality, on and off the pitch, allow players such as Bonmatí, Putellas, Vicky, Mariona [Caldentey], and [Clàudia] Pina to play more freely. She's a key part of our team.' The semi-final was a case in point. Germany forced Putellas and Bonmatí high up the pitch so they were already on the edge of a crowded penalty area with their backs to goal when they received the ball. Guijarro, however, was deeper in the Germany half with a big part of the pitch in front of her like a chessboard, knowing exactly where she could play the ball and move the pieces in front of her. 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 When Spain scored the only goal of the game, Guijarro was pressing high and wide alongside Athenea del Castillo. That forced Sydney Lohmann to attempt a long ball but, with tired legs and the added pressure from the right-back, Ona Batlle, the pass came up short and it was an easy interception for Del Castillo, who made the assist for Bonmatí. Guijarro's goal against Italy also showed how important her positioning is against a low block. Caldentey was at the top of the box and had one defender in front of her blocking a pass. Bonmatí was pushed wide with two Italian players next to her while Putellas had four opponents nearby. That meant Guijarro was unmarked on the edge of the box and she put Spain ahead with a brilliant first-time finish into a bottom corner. She has the finishing and passing of an attacking midfielder and the defending and composure of a defensive midfielder. She can do it all. Leaving a big impression on people who watch her is how she started her professional career at 17. She was playing for her local side, Collerense, in a match against Barcelona and caught the attention of their manager, Xavi Llorens. He went on to sign her the following summer and she made her debut for the Catalan club in the 2015-16 season. A decade later, she's played more than 300 matches for Barcelona, winning 20 major honours in the process, including six league titles and three Champions Leagues. She has remained humble and when she was asked whether she sees herself as a future winner of the Ballon d'Or she said: 'Patri Guijarro, Ballon d'Or winner? No, I don't see it yet.' Another match-winning performance against England on Sunday may go some way towards changing that.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Bonmatí-Powered Spain Seeks To Overwhelm England's Grit In Euros Final
For all Spain women's pedigree, it has never won a European Championship final. Any from the free-scoring constellation might have stepped up as Spain found itself locked in a goalless European Championship semifinal against Germany on Wednesday. Even so, deep into a major tournament, which requires incision alongside all the easy-on-the-eye soccer, it's hardly surprising that Ballon d'Or holder and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí finally struck the winner. Indeed, the midfield orchestrator delivered the final flourish to another neat passage of play that has characterized Spain's offensive output in Switzerland. The squad has the most goals in the competition, 17, including 14 in the group stage, with Bonmatí the 10th to contribute. Spain is far from bullet-proof defensively, but this is a fun and typically rhythmic La Roja side to watch. All of which makes the world champion a largely anticipated finalist. Yet there's still great significance. Despite the explosion of Spanish women's soccer over the last decade or so, this will be its first Euros final. And it will face England—a repeat of the World Cup finale in 2023, when ex-federation president Luis Rubiales' actions after full time marred the achievement. Montse Tomé is the attentive personality spurring the current crop on from the sidelines. A former Barcelona player, she was previously trainer Jorge Vilda's right-hand woman and became the first female to take the head coach role back in 2023. Blessed with some of the best players on the planet, she's already won the Women's Nations League, but it will be interesting to see whether England can disrupt her selection from dictating the terms (which it has for most of the tournament) on Sunday. Both of the head coaches for the Euros final are women—Spain's Tomé (pictured) and England's ... More Wiegman. England Bring Plenty Of Fight England reaching the showpiece game was also a realistic expectation. It's the fifth straight occasion that Lionesses' head coach Sarina Wiegman—previously at the wheel of her native Netherlands—has dragged a side to the final of a tournament. Meanwhile, Spain and England, the latter reigning champion from Euro 2021, boast athletes with the highest market values in the tournament by some distance, according to Off The Pitch. Be that as it may, England's resolve has been the difference so far, needing to recover from a defeat against France at the beginning and from deficits to Sweden and Italy in the knockout rounds, both involving late goals. Epitomizing that, and helping England get over the line, is teenager Michelle Agyemang. She's gone from the outskirts at Arsenal, even a ball girl for Wiegman's England, to a warrior-esque scorer from the bench—all while tinkling the ivories on the piano she brought to Switzerland. Ahead of the final, full-back Lucy Bronze says, 'I don't think you'll find a team in world football with more fight and more resilience than this England team.' On the evidence to hand, who's to argue with her? Still, England will need to raise its game as well as maintain its stubbornness against Spain, which has the steel to match; Bonmatí was hospitalized with viral meningitis shortly before the competition started. In terms of complete play, Spain—equipped with dynamos such as Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, and the brilliant Claùdia Pina—has the edge. Given the opponents' resilience and a chink of weakness in the backline, it will require that firepower, and more in reserve, to prosper in the showdown.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
England v Spain: where the Women's Euro 2025 final could be won or lost
Spain's domination in the middle of the park, in and out of possession, is what contributed significantly to their victory over England at the World Cup in 2023. The trio of Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro are very technical and comfortable on the ball and create midfield rotations. Guijarro is instrumental, allowing the other two to make their runs and finding the passes to cut through defensive lines. In the semi-final against Germany, she completed more passes than anyone else. How England set up their midfield will be crucial. Their Nations League victory in February was down in large part to the selfless work rate of Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Keira Walsh, who at times had to sacrifice the creative aspects of the game to close the midfield spaces, cut off the passing triangles that Spain love and prevent them from having free rein to roam through the thirds. The left side of England's defence has been targeted throughout the tournament. Remember Delphine Cascarino for France, Stina Blackstenius and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd for Sweden and Sofia Cantore for Italy. England have not looked comfortable there, no matter who has been selected to start. Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey will be licking their lips at the prospect of imposing themselves early on Alex Greenwood and whoever is chosen at left centre-back. England tend to be caught high in that area and will need to be extremely disciplined and perhaps sit a little deeper to stop themselves being exposed to the pace of Spain. It also raises the question about whether Sarina Wiegman could start with a three at the back to try to add more protection and pack their box with numbers when Spain break. Spain 2 England 1, 3 June 2025, Barcelona England were knocked out of the Nations League after going ahead through Alessia Russo in the 21st minute. In the second half, Spain's Clàudia Pina made an instant impact from the bench, scoring two minutes after coming on, then doubled her tally 10 minutes later as Spain secured victory in the 70th minute. The Lionesses would have qualified for the semi-finals at Spain's expense with a win. England 1 Spain 0, 26 Feb 2025, London A Wembley crowd of 46,550 watched England defeat Spain in the teams' first meeting since the World Cup final, in Nations League A Group 3. Jess Park's 33rd-minute goal secured victory for the Lionesses. Lucía García's first-half attempt that rattled the crossbar and second-half chances for the winger Salma Paralluelo were the highlights of Spain's attacking play but England held on. Spain 1 England 0, 20 August 2023, Sydney Spain became world champions with a dominant performance. Lauren Hemp hit the bar from outside of the box early on but that was the pinnacle of England's first-half chances and Olga Carmona ensured Spain went into the break ahead with a clinical finish past Mary Earps. Earps produced a fantastic 70th-minute penalty save from Jenni Hermoso and made further saves to keep England in the game but Spain deserved their win. Eze Obasi It is unlikely England will see much of the ball, either by design or by Spain's sheer ability to dominate possession. Therefore, the Lionesses must make sure they take their opportunities when they fall. One ways to do this is to bypass midfield and set players such as Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp away with crossfield passes and by going route one over the top. In Hannah Hampton, they possess one of the best distributors in the goalkeeping game. Her pass to Russo in England's second match took out 95% of the Netherlands team for Lauren James' opener and she is constantly hitting Lucy Bronze and Greenwood on the sidelines as she sets off England's attacking play. Equally, Leah Williamson is one of the best ball-playing centre-backs and has registered the most accurate long balls per 90 of anyone in the competition. Hemp against Batlle will be an eye-catching contest down England's left. Both are lightning quick; in fact, Batlle has registered the tournament's highest top speed at 30.5 km/h. Spain's right-back likes to push high, which Hemp will have to be aware of defensively, but it is a strong option for England to hit on the transition and exploit the space left in behind. Irene Paredes and Russo know each other very well having come face-to-face in this year's Champions League final. Russo's intelligence and energy in the press are among her strongest assets and she closed down Paredes exceptionally throughout. The Spain defender loves time on the ball and is the most accurate passer in the competition. The England forward can break through at pace, something Spain have not looked altogether comfortable with. Equallyat the other end the new defensive unit of Williamson and either Esme Morgan or Jess Carter will have to be alert to deal with the direct threat of Esther González. One more to keep an eye on is Walsh v Bonmatí in midfield – two players who know each other's strengths and weaknesses well. 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 England's squad depth has been the talk of the tournament. The options Wiegman has at her disposal give her a variety of ways to change a game. Michelle Agyemang has caught the headlines with two late goals from the bench that have arguably kept the Lionesses in the competition. Chloe Kelly is a big impact player whose delivery from wide areas is second to none and Aggie Beever-Jones is one of the most instinctive finishers. It is also the versatility of the players that serves Wiegman well; their ability to do a job wherever needed. Beth Mead played in every midfield position after coming on fo James against Italy and applied herself with aptitude. Montse Tomé has finishers of her own. Athenea del Castillo has come on twice to change a match, scoring against Switzerland and setting up Bonmatí's extra-time winner against Germany. Salma Paralluelo is another who has that ability, hitting tired defences with her pace late on.
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Spain sets sight on England in pursuit of elusive UEFA Women's Championship
Spain's remarkable run in international competitions could reach another high on Monday morning AEST when it takes on England in the UEFA Women's Championship final in Basel. The Spanish are playing in their first European decider in only their fifth appearance at the tournament. The reigning world and Nations League champions will be looking for a repeat of their 1-0 defeat of England in the 2023 World Cup final in Sydney. They qualified for the Euro 2025 final by defeating Germany 1-0 via an extra-time goal to Aitana Bonmatí in the semifinals. "Now we'll start looking at England more closely," Spain coach Montse Torme said. "Although, our analysts have already been watching them live and studying their performance in this Euro [tournament]. "We're going to dive deeper into their game, and we're going all-in." For all its dominance in recent years, Spain is still a relative newcomer at the top table in women's football. Spain's only previous visit to the Euro semifinals was in 1997. Quarterfinal exits came in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 tournaments. ABC Sport will be live blogging the UEFA Women's Championship final on Monday morning AEST. England needed extra time to snatch a 2-1 win over Italy in their semifinal on Wednesday AEST. The Lionesses are defending champions, having won the 2022 Euros on home soil. Reuters/ABC
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five things we learnt from Spain's late win over Germany
A nail-biting UEFA Women's Euro 2025 semi-final saw Aitana Bonmatí score a late stunner in extra time, sending la Roja into their first-ever European final and bringing Germany's tournament to an end. Going into the game, Spain were considered to be the favourites and the pressure was on for the defending world champions, who were yet lost a game this tournament. That pressure shone through in their nervous performance — Spain lacked composure in front of goal. Neither side managed to score within regulation time and while it seemed that the momentum favoured Germany, that alone wasn't enough to send them through to the final. A defensive slip-up in the 113th minute facilitated Aitana Bonmatí's winning goal, setting up a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final against England. A world-class goal from a world-class player Two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Aitana Bonmatí showed up exactly when it mattered. The game looked as though it was set for penalties, with neither side having managed to find the back of the net after 110 minutes of play. However, with excellent timing and execution, Athenea del Castillo found Bonmatí in space in a dangerous area, setting up her chance to strike off the right foot and narrowly slip her strike past Ann-Katrin Berger to score the winning goal. It was the kind of play we have come to expect of Spain this tournament, and late is better than never. Spain looked uncomfortable and lacked composure most of the game La Roja had been going from strength to strength throughout this tournament, scoring more goals than any other team and dominating play through possession. Their on-ball strategy had seen them through the tournament so far, but in Germany they found a challenger. Despite dictating the tempo, Spain struggled to break past the German defensive line. As the game progressed, Tomé's side looked agitated compared to the more disciplined and controlled Frauenteam. As the game approached extra time, it was anyone's guess who would go through to the final. Although Spain ultimately prevailed, the cracks in the wall were showing. It sets up an interesting match for the the Lionesses' on Sunday. Heroics between the sticks As the clock ran down to the end of regulation time, it was a tournament first — a goalless game after 90 minutes. Although there was much to be said for missed opportunities at both ends, credit goes to the goalkeepers for holding the line. Ann-Katrin Berger made 8 critical saves over the course of the game including a double at the 45th minute that left a smile on her face. Though rarely called into action over the course of the tournament so far, Cata Coll showed her class in the final moments of regulation time. A double save against Klara Bühl and Carlotta Wamser in the last ten seconds of stoppage time saved Spain from devastation. Both Berger and Coll were critical until the final whistle, and whilst it was Spain who advanced, both players delivered performances worthy of the highest stage. Germany will threaten again at future tournaments Christian Wück's side have been tested more than most this tournament. Reshuffles and injuries have forced the team to constantly adapt to new positions. Losing captain Giulia Gwinn to a knee injury in the first game of the group stage – and then facing suspensions and other injuries – stretched the team. Nonetheless, their resilience under these circumstances gave them a fiery resolve that made them a challenging opponent in the knock-out stages. Almost their entire final group stage fixture and quarter-final match were played with ten women — tough preparation for their match against the highly-skilled Spanish team. Germany's future is bright, with the best of many of their young players yet to reach their peaks. Spain's performance will leave England hopeful With all eyes on Basel, England will meet Spain at St Jakob-Park this Sunday [17:00 BST, 18:00 CEST] in a rematch of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. The Lionesses clawed their way into the final with a late penalty from Chloe Kelly scored in the final two minutes of extra time. They will have watched every second of Wednesday's game and seen exactly what we have — Spain are not unbeatable. If Sarina Wiegman's side can exploit Spain's weaknesses and unnerve them as Germany did, they have a strong chance of successfully defending their Euros title on Sunday.
