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Daily Express
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
England, Spain Euro 2025 decider
Published on: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Spain's forward Athenea del Castillo (left) and German forward Selina Cerci at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich. Spain is looking to add the continental crown to their world title. BASEL: England are aiming to retain their title and avenge defeat at the hands of Aitana Bonmati's Spain in the Women's World Cup final of two years ago when the rivals meet again on Sunday to decide who will win Euro 2025. The showdown at St Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel promises to be a fascinating contest between a Spain side looking to add the continental crown to their world title, and an England team who can secure back-to-back European Championship victories, and make up for the heartache of 2023 in the process. Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time, with Olga Carmona scoring the only goal—another victory for La Roja on Sunday would cement their status as the dominant force in women's international football. 'We have so much respect for them and the quality they have, but we also believe in ourselves, that we can really step up,' said England's Ella Toone on Friday. Toone, 25, scored the first goal for the Lionesses when they beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win the last Women's Euros three years ago, and has played a key role in Switzerland on their run to a third straight major tournament final. 'It is amazing. To make three consecutive finals for England is something that we can all be so proud of,' she said at the team's base in Zurich. That remarkable run has come under the management of Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who took charge in 2021 and immediately turned them into contenders. 'She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in and we know we are in good hands. It is an unbelievable achievement for her,' added Toone of Wiegman, who also won the Euros with her native Netherlands in 2017. It has not been an easy road to the final for England this time, with the Lionesses coming back from the brink of elimination more than once. Their title defence started with a 2-1 defeat by France in their opening group game three weeks ago. The Lionesses recovered to reach the knockout stages by hammering the Netherlands and Wales, but then required a remarkable comeback from two goals down to eventually beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals. They then trailed to Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva until a 96th-minute goal by Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, and Chloe Kelly scored the winner just as another shoot-out loomed. 'The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special,' said Kelly, who has made a big impact from the bench in the last two rounds. But it remains to be seen if that resilience will be enough against a brilliant Spain side led by reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati. The Barcelona midfielde—who was in hospital with viral meningitis just before the tournament started—scored the extra-time r winner as Spain edged Germany in the last four to reach a first ever European Championship final. 'All the hard work we have put in has paid off,' said coach Montse Tome, who took over from Jorge Vilda following the 2023 World Cup triumph. Spain could have as many as seven starters on Sunday who featured in that game in Sydney, including Alexia Putellas—she was only a bit-part player at the World Cup as she recovered from a knee injury, but Bonmati's predecessor as Ballon d'Or winner has been much more influential here. The theme of revenge could also apply to the Spaniards, who were knocked out of the last Euros by England, going down in extra time in the quarter-finals. Just two months ago an Arsenal side featuring several members of 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 are likely to start for Spain on Sunday, including Bonmati and Putellas. If they come out on top they will be the first nation to win the Women's World Cup and Euros back-to-back since Germany in 2007 and 2009, and they can also follow in the footsteps of their men's counterparts—Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euro last year. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Spain's celebrations revealed about the Women's Euro 2025 favourites
It was a little insight into a team that might well end up being hailed as the greatest. After the final whistle of what might have superficially looked like a fairly routine 2-0 quarter-final win, Spain's players celebrated as if they'd won a trophy. There was joyous camaraderie. They ran to the fans. There were group photos where they beckoned members of staff to get involved. Players were even larking about, imitating kung-fu kicks and chasing after each other. An obvious quip here is that it was closer than any opposition player has got to them in this tournament so far, with the manner of the two goals against Switzerland particularly prominent examples. Substitute Athenea del Castillo was through unmarked for the first. Claudio Pina was then left free to hit her spectacular trademark. Except, the Spanish players also gave Switzerland a guard of honour, and that felt about much more than just hailing excellent and proud hosts. It looked like respect, for a team that had actually made Spain work harder than anyone for quite a while. By the hour-mark, with the score 0-0, it looked like it was going to be one of those long anxious tournament nights that their men's team has historically endured. Mariona Caldentey's penalty miss even seemed to be playing on their minds, as they just struggled to work their way through the durable hosts. The first 45 minutes were actually the first half of this tournament where Spain hadn't scored. You could say there's another potential blueprint there, except Spain of course always have plans of their own. On 62 minutes, Montse Tome finally made some changes, bringing on both Leila Ouahabi and Athenea. Spain had the different runs that were needed, after a period where their possession had threatened to become a touch self-parodic. They had so much of the ball in front of the Swiss goal but, faced by a mass of bodies, they could only offer laboured passes inside. Then, after such frustration facing goal, the mercurial Aitana Bonmati figured out the solution with her back to goal. She flicked the ball delightfully, allowing Athenea to surge through and finish just four minutes after coming on. Goalkeeper Livia Peng might have done better, but then something eventually had to give. Spain had only moments before forced goalmouth chaos with a corner, hitting the frame of the goal for the second. Switzerland were starting to tire. And this, ultimately, is the great challenge of facing Spain. You can make them work, and really toil for that opening goal, but the very process ultimately means they make you work much harder. It's exhausting, which is when those gaps start to appear. Player of the match, Aitana, also displayed a mentality that elevates them: 'I was always calm.' She always felt the goal was coming. If it isn't enough that Spain tire you out, either, they've also got a range of different attackers to bring on. Athenea was that, and that was even before introducing Vicky Lopez. A mere six minutes after that opening goal, Pina had the ball in that danger area 25 yards from goal and exquisitely curved another fine effort into the top corner. You can of course see it coming, but there's little you can do about it. What price she does that to win the tournament? We might be getting ahead of ourselves here, but that's how good Spain are. Even when they're not at their best, they still display qualities that would offer any opposition major concerns. There was even a psychological hurdle passed here, which perhaps explains the extent of the joy afterwards. This was the first knock-out game Spain had ever won in the Euros, which feels remarkable for a team that is now so good. That speaks to the previous issues, and the speed of their evolution. It was of course at this stage three years ago that they lost to Sarina Wiegman's England. Germany or - especially - France will at least pose Spain's sternest test so far in Wednesday's semi-final in Zurich, and the world champions will have to do it without the suspended Laia Aleixandri. That's a problem if it is against France's pace. There is also another potential solution for potential opposition, if you can get that far: penalties. Spain actually missed two - taking it to an incredible 12 of 17 in these quarter-finals so far - since Alexia Putellas also missed one late on. Worse, it was a replica of the one she missed in the Olympics last year. There is something astonishing about players as technically good as Spain's failing to score like this. They're the best passers in the world, and the trick to penalties is really passing it inside the post. Maybe it's for the best that there are some inexplicable flaws, though. If the win was still Spain's, part of the night was Switzerland's. They'd done themselves proud as hosts, as was recognised by the home crowd in Bern. They went off jumping up and down in happiness. We might well see even more of that from Spain.
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Germany vs Spain: Live Stream UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Semifinal, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Germany takes on Spain on Wednesday to determine the final spot in the Women's Euro final, with the winner facing England for the title on Sunday. Which side will get the victory and move on to battle for the tournament title? Tune in to FOX on Wednesday to find out. Jule Brand of Germany controls the ball during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park on July 19, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Jule Brand of Germany controls the ball during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park on July 19, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Photo byHow to Watch Germany vs Spain Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM EDT Channel: FOX Location: Stadion Letzigrund Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE) Spain defeated Switzerland 2-0 in the quarterfinals. After a scoreless first half, Spain's Athenea del Castillo broke through with a goal in the 66th minute to put the Spanish on top. Just a few minutes later, Clàudia Pina provided the team's second goal. The defending World Cup champions have never won the Euros. The team's 1997 semifinals appearance was its deepest run ever, and was followed by three straight failures to even qualify. In 2022, the team lost in the quarterfinals for a third year in a row. Germany and France were tied 1-1 at the end of the match, sending it to penalty kicks to determine the winner. The Germans won 6-5 on penalties, with Sjoeke Nüsken, who scored the only goal of the match for Germany, scoring the winning PK. The Germans have dominated this tournament. If we include West Germany, the team has won this tournament eight times and finished as the runners-up in 2022. You can live stream the UEFA Women's Euro semifinals on Fubo. Start your free trial now to catch all the great women's soccer action. Live stream the Germany vs Spain match on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Kuwait Times
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Del Castillo and Spain ‘full of hope' ahead of Euro 2025 semi
LAUSANNE: From being a bit-part player in the team that won the Women's World Cup two years ago, Athenea del Castillo has performed a key role in Spain's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2025, in which they will face Germany on Wednesday. The Real Madrid attacker, 24, was brought into Spain's starting line-up for their last group game against Italy and scored an early equalizer before her team went on to win 3-1. She was then relegated back to the bench for the last-eight tie against hosts Switzerland in Bern but the game changed after her introduction as a substitute just past the hour mark. Del Castillo replaced Mariona Caldentey and broke the deadlock four minutes later, setting Spain up for a 2-0 victory - and surely giving coach Montse Tome a selection headache for the clash with Germany in Zurich. 'I have to just focus on the things that I can influence. Luckily I am managing to help the team whatever my role is, whether I am starting or not,' Del Castillo told AFP at the Spanish team's base in Lausanne. A win for Spain against Germany will keep them on track to add a first ever European crown to the World Cup they won in 2023, when they defeated England in the final. 'We are full of hope, we are so excited. We dream of being European champions but to do that we need to win on Wednesday so all our energy is going into that game,' Del Castillo said. 'We know all about the potential in the Germany team. They are a great side who have been European champions eight times after all.' Spain still lean heavily on the players who won them the World Cup, notably Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati as well as her fellow Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes. But Del Castillo, while not yet a guaranteed starter, has become a more important player than during that tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Then, under previous coach Jorge Vilda, she started the team's first match before gradually disappearing from circulation. She then featured in the side that participated in the 2024 Olympics and lost to Germany in the bronze medal match - a defeat they will seek to avenge on Wednesday. Infectious 'We have been through so much together and that has helped us mature as a team,' she said on the margins of a training session by Lake Geneva. 'I still see myself as one of the youngsters even though there are players much younger than me like Vicky (Lopez) and Maite (Zubieta), and then there are older players like Irene and Alexia who have been around longer and been to so many more tournaments. We have that mix of youth and experience, of joy but also maturity.' Del Castillo is known for her glowing smile and infectious personality, and she has no intention of changing even as she becomes more and more recognizable thanks to her exploits with Spain and Real. 'I have not changed much. I still do the same things, I still try to enjoy life and luckily everything is going well at home, with my family and friends,' said the native of Cantabria in northern Spain. 'I am very happy in Madrid -- I prefer the north but I like Madrid as a city. I love to go out for a wander, listen to music, be with my family. If I changed what I did off the pitch that would also change me on it and I don't like that because then I would lose my essence.' Despite still being at a relatively tender age, the player who idolized Cristiano Ronaldo growing up now has over 60 caps and is conscious of being a leader in the Spain squad. 'I know how to differentiate between moments when you have to work and times when you can give a little bit of joy,' she said, before suggesting that the side has improved since losing to Germany at last year's Olympics. 'I think we have matured a lot since then. We are better at controlling games in different moments now. I think that will help us, but it will above all be about staying calm and focusing on our objective.' – AFP
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Athenea Del Castillo And Spain 'Full Of Hope' Ahead Of Germany Euro 2025 Semi-Final
From being a bit-part player in the team that won the Women's World Cup two years ago, Athenea del Castillo has performed a key role in Spain's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2025, in which they will face Germany on Wednesday. The Real Madrid attacker, 24, was brought into Spain's starting line-up for their last group game against Italy and scored an early equaliser before her team went on to win 3-1. She was then relegated back to the bench for the last-eight tie against hosts Switzerland in Bern but the game changed after her introduction as a substitute just past the hour mark. Del Castillo replaced Mariona Caldentey and broke the deadlock four minutes later, setting Spain up for a 2-0 victory -- and surely giving coach Montse Tome a selection headache for the clash with Germany in Zurich. "I have to just focus on the things that I can influence. Luckily I am managing to help the team whatever my role is, whether I am starting or not," Del Castillo told AFP at the Spanish team's base in Lausanne. A win for Spain against Germany will keep them on track to add a first ever European crown to the World Cup they won in 2023, when they defeated England in the final. "We are full of hope, we are so excited. We dream of being European champions but to do that we need to win on Wednesday so all our energy is going into that game," Del Castillo said. "We know all about the potential in the Germany team. They are a great side who have been European champions eight times after all." Spain still lean heavily on the players who won them the World Cup, notably Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati as well as her fellow Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes. But Del Castillo, while not yet a guaranteed starter, has become a more important player than during that tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Then, under previous coach Jorge Vilda, she started the team's first match before gradually disappearing from circulation. She then featured in the side that participated in the 2024 Olympics and lost to Germany in the bronze medal match -- a defeat they will seek to avenge on Wednesday. Infectious "We have been through so much together and that has helped us mature as a team," she said on the margins of a training session by Lake Geneva. "I still see myself as one of the youngsters even though there are players much younger than me like Vicky (Lopez) and Maite (Zubieta), and then there are older players like Irene and Alexia who have been around longer and been to so many more tournaments. "We have that mix of youth and experience, of joy but also maturity." Del Castillo is known for her glowing smile and infectious personality, and she has no intention of changing even as she becomes more and more recognisable thanks to her exploits with Spain and Real. "I have not changed much. I still do the same things, I still try to enjoy life and luckily everything is going well at home, with my family and friends," said the native of Cantabria in northern Spain. "I am very happy in Madrid -- I prefer the north but I like Madrid as a city. I love to go out for a wander, listen to music, be with my family. "If I changed what I did off the pitch that would also change me on it and I don't like that because then I would lose my essence." Despite still being at a relatively tender age, the player who idolised Cristiano Ronaldo growing up now has over 60 caps and is conscious of being a leader in the Spain squad. "I know how to differentiate between moments when you have to work and times when you can give a little bit of joy," she said, before suggesting that the side has improved since losing to Germany at last year's Olympics. "I think we have matured a lot since then. We are better at controlling games in different moments now. I think that will help us, but it will above all be about staying calm and focusing on our objective."
