Latest news with #CatalinaColl
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Spain to face England in Euro 2025 final after Bonmatí's extra-time strike sinks Germany
The rain drenched Spain's players in this wide, sweeping bowl but nobody was in any rush to leave the pitch. They were still out there more than two and a half hours after they had begun their shot at history, waving at their exultant families and reliving what had just passed. A first European Championship final awaits on Sunday, which may have felt inevitable for three weeks but feels no smaller a milestone for that. England present a familiar last hurdle and what a tie it should be between two sides that, in different ways, had to squeeze over the line. In the end it had to be Aitana Bonmatí. Extra time was drifting to a conclusion and, for the first time this summer, Spain were screaming for a spark from the world's best player. They had plenty of chances to win inside 90 minutes but, against an outstanding Germany side, could so easily have been vanquished too. Had their keeper, Catalina Coll, not made a remarkable double save at the end of normal time they would finally have reckoned with mortality. Bonmatí, for one, did not fancy playing so loosely with the odds again. A customary stroke of genius or the spoils of sloppy goalkeeping? The debate will rage about Bonmatí's winner and a fair reading would err towards the former. Ann-Katrin Berger had been immaculate between the posts for Germany and did not look in immediate danger when Athenea del Castillo played Bonmatí, who had let the ball run through her legs and darted to meet it, through towards the right byline. Presumably Berger had set herself for a cross; she could not react in time to the thrashed first-time strike inside her near post that few players would have dared attempt in the circumstances. Nobody could doubt the scorer's intention, either. Afterwards Bonmatí explained Spain had been perfectly aware that Berger was predisposed to leaving that area of her goal exposed. This was the same Bonmatí who, a month previously, had been hospitalised by viral meningitis in a turn of events that severely clouded Spain's preparations. Back then it would have taken an admirable level of optimism to imagine her going the distance in a tense, rugged, enthralling last-four clash and ultimately waving the magic wand. England must find a way to cope with her and the rest of a team that, while short of its best here, remains a notch above any other contender at this competition. A rerun of the 2023 World Cup will hold few surprises. 'I know what they can do,' said the midfielder Mariona Caldentey of England's qualities as sheets of water continued to teem down. 'It will be a hard game. They're in the final even if they haven't played the greatest football yet. It's something we have never won and is something we are missing. We respect England, but we will go for it.' For long periods it appeared that, against the pre-match odds, Germany's muscle memory could win out. They have ruled the continent eight times and it feels a trick of the light that their drought will now extend 16 years to Euro 2029. Even if it takes a colossal stretch to cast them as plucky underdogs they could make that case here, weakened by injuries and suspensions while on the back of a remarkable win over France in which they had ground through 113 minutes with 10 players. This was a side that, similarly light on numbers for an hour, lost 4-1 to Sweden here 11 days previously. It helped that they kept a full complement against Spain and the frustration for Christian Wück's players will be that they played the occasion perfectly. The balance between defensive resolve and attacking thrust was cleverly poised; they knew Berger would be leaned on at intervals but it would have been no scandal had the dice rolled their way. 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 The irrepressible Klara Bühl, an almost unplayable outlet on the left, had numerous attempts at deciding matters in their favour and missed a presentable early chance to set them on their way. She tested Coll in the second half and arrowed a free-kick just wide but it was a deflected shot from Elisa Senss that, with almost the final action before the additional period, almost broke through. A backpeddling Coll had to scramble the ball from under her bar and, when Carlotta Wamser followed up, reacted to block on the line. It was a defining moment to match Bonmatí's later flourish. Earlier Berger, hero of that epic against France, could count a spectacular tip-over from Esther González among a number of interventions. She was beaten when Irene Paredes headed against her left post but, beyond a flurry before half-time, Spain were kept at arm's length. They were rarely fluent, at least by their peerless standards, against opponents who had expected to run hard and did exactly that. Now their modern rivalry with England travels from Sydney to Basel with two years and, for those who took in both Euro 2025 semi-finals, several lifetimes in between. 'We had the correct mindset at the right moments,' Bonmatí said. Nobody exemplifies it more.
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Spain cruise into women's Euros semis with 2-0 win over Switzerland
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Spain v Switzerland - Stadion Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland - July 18, 2025 Spain's Catalina Coll and Ona Batlle celebrate after the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo BERN (Reuters) -Spain forward Athenea del Castillo came off the bench to open the scoring and Claudia Pina added a superb second as they beat hosts Switzerland 2-0 on Friday to reach the women's Euro semi-finals, where they will face France or Germany. After a scoreless first half in which Mariona Caldentey missed a penalty, it took a moment of brilliance from Aitana Bonmati to break the deadlock for the world champions in the 66th minute, teeing up Athenea with an instinctive backheel for the substitute to guide the ball past Swiss keeper Livia Peng. Five minutes later, Pina doubled her side's advantage as Switzerland captain Lia Waelti was dispossessed just outside her own penalty area, and Pina curled a superb shot into the top corner before wheeling away in celebration. The drama continued right to the end, with Spain's Alexia Putellas missing a late penalty and Switzerland's Noelle Maritz shown a straight red card for a stoppage-time challenge asthe hosts exited the tournament having made it to the knockout stages for the first time. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond)
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inspired goalie Cata Coll can't save Barcelona from Women's Champions League shock
Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll runs during a warm up session prior to the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, right, shoots the ball to score the opening goal past Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll, center, during the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, bottom, is comforted by Barcelona President Joan Laporta during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, is comforted by a team staff member at the end of the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll runs during a warm up session prior to the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, right, shoots the ball to score the opening goal past Barcelona goalkeeper Catalina Coll, center, during the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, bottom, is comforted by Barcelona President Joan Laporta during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, right, is comforted by a team staff member at the end of the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati walks past the winner trophy during the podium ceremony after Arsenal won the women's Champions League final soccer match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Cata Coll used everything she had. The Barcelona goalkeeper leapt to tip an on-target goal over the bar. She stabbed a foot out at the last second to deflect another net-bound strike. Advertisement While her teammates floundered against Arsenal, Coll did all she could to keep Barcelona's hopes alive of a third successive Women's Champions League title. Everything she had wasn't enough, though. Coll could do nothing to stop an unmarked Stina Blackstenius from firing home a low shot from inside the box and giving Arsenal the most desired trophy in European women's club soccer with a 1-0 win in Lisbon on Saturday. And, like that, Barcelona's quest to three-peat and claim a fourth title in five years was dashed. A side that boasted two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas and several other world champions from Spain's 2023 title team underperformed across the field. The highest scoring attack in Europe that had blasted all-comers fizzled out against Arsenal, lacking precision in passing and finishing touch. Advertisement Except, that is, for Coll. She stretched high to paw a missile by Frida Maanum over in the first half. She then stood firm and guessed right when Blackstenius broke clear in the second half, using her leg to deflect her strike wide. But she couldn't help where Barcelona most needed it: In the final meters in front of Arsenal's net. 'We played a bad first half and then when we improved, the ball just wouldn't go in. That's soccer,' Coll said. 'Reaching a final is always a success. This is not a slump. I continue to completely believe in this team.' Barcelona won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout rounds. That is a big reason, along with the sixth consecutive Liga F title that Barcelona won this year, that Coll and her teammates pledge that they will be back and challenging for the Champions League title next season. Advertisement No double in Europe for Barcelona The disappointment for its women's team comes after its men's side lost to Inter Milan in a Champions League semifinal that it was moments away from winning. Barcelona was eyeing a possible European triple after its under-19 men's team won the UEFA Youth League. Bonmatí's best effort against Arsenal's disciplined defense met the leg of a defender. Forward Claudia Pina hit the bar early in the second half, but the high-octane attack failed to make a late push for an equalizer. The world champion playmaker said her team will build on this loss. 'We weren't at our best level, but we gave all we had. In situations like that, football sometimes punishes you,' Bonmatí said. 'We need to push onwards and use what's happened here to our benefit in the future.' ___ AP soccer:
