Latest news with #LaRoja
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 Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Why is Jenni Hermoso not playing for Spain?
SPAIN'S record goalscorer Jenni Hermoso is missing from their Euro 2025 squad – and the reasons behind her absence have raised eyebrows across the footballing world. The Women's Euro 2025 final will see the Lionesses take on Spain this Sunday, July 27, in what promises to be an epic showdown and rematch of their 2023 World Cup final. But eagle-eyed fans will notice Spain's all-time top scorer won't be lining up for La Roja, despite being instrumental in their World Cup triumph just two years ago. Fourth time snubbed Hermoso, who has netted an impressive 57 goals for her country, has been left out of four consecutive Spain squads by coach Montse Tomé. When announcing her Euro 2025 squad back in June, Tomé claimed there was "too much competition for places" in the forward positions, suggesting the decision was purely based on footballing merit. More recently, the Spanish coach explained that seven players were ahead of Hermoso in her position when selecting the squad for this summer's tournament. The 34-year-old striker was Spain's starting centre-forward during their World Cup triumph, playing a crucial role in their 1-0 victory over England in the final in Sydney. The controversial kiss Many believe Hermoso's ongoing absence is connected to one of football 's most controversial moments in recent history. Spain's World Cup final victory against England in August 2023 was overshadowed when then-Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales planted an unsolicited kiss on Hermoso's lips during the medal ceremony – an action that sparked international outrage. The incident led to Hermoso filing a criminal complaint against Rubiales for alleged sexual assault, and he eventually resigned from his position after initially refusing to step down. The aftermath created deep divisions within Spanish football, with many players boycotting the national team until significant changes were made at the federation. 'Best way to protect her' When Tomé first took over as head coach following Jorge Vilda's departure amid the scandal, she initially explained Hermoso's absence from her first squad by saying it was "the best way to protect her" following the traumatic events in Sydney. This reasoning quickly evolved, however, with Tomé citing "sporting reasons" when asked about Hermoso's continued absence in February 2025, reports ESPN. The timing of Hermoso's continued exclusion has raised questions, especially after a Netflix documentary was released chronicling the Rubiales World Cup kiss scandal. What makes the decision particularly puzzling is that many of the players who had previously boycotted the national team over concerns about conditions and the handling of the Rubiales incident have since returned to the fold. The Euro 2025 squad includes several players who had signed open letters demanding further changes at the Spanish Football Association, including stars like Barcelona 's Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, who had refused to play in the World Cup due to similar concerns. 3 Yet Hermoso – the player most directly affected by the controversy – remains on the outside looking in. Keeping dignified silence Speaking after the Euro 2025 squad announcement, Hermoso herself addressed the situation with characteristic restraint, stating to the BBC: "I have a clear conscience", maintaining her dignity throughout the saga, letting her performances at club level do the talking despite the international snub. Some football analysts have suggested that Hermoso's continued absence might be an attempt to move past the scandal by removing the player most associated with it. Others wonder if there are behind-the-scenes tensions that haven't been made public. How will Spain cope? Spain has managed to reach another major tournament final without their record goalscorer, suggesting they've coped well with her absence. Tomé has reshaped the forward line without Hermoso, relying on other attacking options throughout the tournament. The question now facing Spain is whether they've made the right decision from a purely footballing perspective. Hermoso's experience and goal-scoring ability could have been valuable assets in Sunday's final against the Lionesses. 3 What does it mean for the final? As England and Spain prepare to face off once again, Hermoso will be watching from afar – a strange position for someone who was at the heart of their greatest triumph just two years ago. For Spanish fans, they'll be hoping their team can lift another trophy on Sunday, July 27 and perhaps begin to write a new chapter in their football history – one that eventually includes reconciliation with one of their greatest ever players. For England, they'll be looking to avenge their World Cup final defeat and claim European glory – with or without Hermoso on the opposing team sheet, the challenge remains formidable. The absence of such a key player adds another fascinating subplot to what promises to be a thrilling Euro 2025 final this weekend.
South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Walsh: Spain 'deserve' to enjoy Euro 2025 final without 'controversy'
England will meet Spain once again on Sunday having lost 1-0 to them in the World Cup final in Australia in 2023 as a result of Olga Carmona's strike. While it marked a first major trophy for La Roja, their celebrations were disrupted after Luis Rubiales kissed striker Jenni Hermoso without consent, leading to a conviction of sexual assault. Contrary to the players' hopes, the victory in 2023 did not have the same impact in Spain as the Lionesses' Euro 2022 win had in England a year before. 'There's a lot of respect between both the teams. The most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final, there's not the controversy surrounding it,' said Walsh. 'The girls deserve to be there, they deserve it. So first and foremost, as human beings they can actually just go out and enjoy themselves. 'I don't think there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of them were. 'It was all about the other stuff that had gone on and as a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team, and they deserved more than what they got.' Walsh was playing her domestic football in Spain at the time of the World Cup final, coming up against many of her Barcelona teammates in the clash. Having sandwiched her time with the Spanish giants between spells at Manchester City and Chelsea, she saw firsthand the differences in uptake following England's international success and Spain's. 'Experiencing what it was like in Spain, they could have had more,' added Walsh. 'The way [the WSL] jumped after we won the Euros and everything around it, if you compare it to Spain, it probably wasn't the same and they had won the World Cup.' Her links with the Blaugrana mean she will once more come up against familiar opposition in Basel when England face Spain at St. Jakob Arena with a second consecutive European title up for grabs. 'I speak to Jana Fernandez a lot, we're good friends, and obviously I've got a few friends from Barcelona as well,' she said. 'She was just texting me and saying about our last two games. She said that she's happy for us that we're in the final and said there's a lot of respect between the two teams. 'Moving abroad is difficult because you are on your own. I think that's why I've got so many good friends on the Spanish team because they've always looked after me. 'Irene Paredes always invited me round for dinner with her family and when I wasn't feeling great, I was with Mariona. All those girls really, really spent time to take care of me.' Time to go again. We will face Spain in the #WEURO2025 final. 🤩 But while the good feeling remains towards her former teammates, on Sunday all that will be set aside as attention focuses solely on how to beat Spain. 'It is a rivalry. There's respect between the two teams and they play incredible football, and we know that we do on our day as well,' said Walsh. 'It's going to be a great game and hopefully it's a good one for the fans to watch. After the game, we'll go back to being friends, but right now we're rivals.' And while that rivalry has been put the test in the Nations League twice in 2025, with a win apiece, tournament football brings a new dynamic that both sides have shown they are capable of handling. While the Lionesses have earned a reputation for never giving up, twice coming from behind to win after extra time or penalties, Spain also proved their mettle with 1-0 extra-time victory against Germany. 'We've not given up in any game, so that's the message we've been sending,' said Walsh. 'But also, Spain are an incredible team and we've played them many times and we know what their strengths are. 'It's going to be a difficult game and obviously they went to extra time last night and won, so they've proved that they can also do the same.'
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keira Walsh: Spain 'deserve' to enjoy Euro 2025 final without 'controversy' of World Cup
Keira Walsh believes rivals Spain deserve to enjoy the Euro 2025 final after their World Cup victory was marred by the controversy surrounding Luis Rubiales and the RFEF. England will meet Spain once again on Sunday having lost 1-0 to them in the World Cup final in Australia in 2023 as a result of Olga Carmona's strike. While it marked a first major trophy for La Roja, their celebrations were disrupted after Luis Rubiales kissed striker Jenni Hermoso without consent, leading to a conviction of sexual assault. Contrary to the players' hopes, the victory in 2023 did not have the same impact in Spain as the Lionesses' Euro 2022 win had in England a year before. 'There's a lot of respect between both the teams. The most important thing for them is that they can enjoy this final, there's not the controversy surrounding it,' said Walsh. 'The girls deserve to be there, they deserve it. So first and foremost, as human beings they can actually just go out and enjoy themselves. 'I don't think there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of them were. 'It was all about the other stuff that had gone on and as a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team, and they deserved more than what they got.' Walsh was playing her domestic football in Spain at the time of the World Cup final, coming up against many of her Barcelona teammates in the clash. Having sandwiched her time with the Spanish giants between spells at Manchester City and Chelsea, she saw firsthand the differences in uptake following England's international success and Spain's. 'Experiencing what it was like in Spain, they could have had more,' added Walsh. 'The way [the WSL] jumped after we won the Euros and everything around it, if you compare it to Spain, it probably wasn't the same and they had won the World Cup.' Her links with the Blaugrana mean she will once more come up against familiar opposition in Basel when England face Spain at St. Jakob Arena with a second consecutive European title up for grabs. 'I speak to Jana Fernandez a lot, we're good friends, and obviously I've got a few friends from Barcelona as well,' she said. 'She was just texting me and saying about our last two games. She said that she's happy for us that we're in the final and said there's a lot of respect between the two teams. 'Moving abroad is difficult because you are on your own. I think that's why I've got so many good friends on the Spanish team because they've always looked after me. 'Irene Paredes always invited me round for dinner with her family and when I wasn't feeling great, I was with Mariona. All those girls really, really spent time to take care of me.' But while the good feeling remains towards her former teammates, on Sunday all that will be set aside as attention focuses solely on how to beat Spain. 'It is a rivalry. There's respect between the two teams and they play incredible football, and we know that we do on our day as well,' said Walsh. 'It's going to be a great game and hopefully it's a good one for the fans to watch. After the game, we'll go back to being friends, but right now we're rivals.' And while that rivalry has been put the test in the Nations League twice in 2025, with a win apiece, tournament football brings a new dynamic that both sides have shown they are capable of handling. While the Lionesses have earned a reputation for never giving up, twice coming from behind to win after extra time or penalties, Spain also proved their mettle with 1-0 extra-time victory against Germany. 'We've not given up in any game, so that's the message we've been sending,' said Walsh. 'But also, Spain are an incredible team and we've played them many times and we know what their strengths are. 'It's going to be a difficult game and obviously they went to extra time last night and won, so they've proved that they can also do the same.'
Jordan Times
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Jordan Times
Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Euro 2025 final
ZURICH — Aitana Bonmati netted the only goal of the game late in extra time as world champions Spain edged Germany 1-0 in their Women's Euro 2025 semifinal on Wednesday to set up a title decider this weekend against England. A tense game in Zurich was ticking down towards penalties when reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati struck in the 113th minute, surprising the usually reliable German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger at her near post. It was not one of Barcelona star Bonmati's most influential performances, yet she still delivered when it mattered to keep Spain on course to win their first European Championship crown. "We knew that the goalkeeper often leaves her near post open in these situations, so I didn't think twice. I didn't want the game to go to penalties," said a beaming Bonmati. Spain were also grateful to goalkeeper Cata Coll for some vital interventions, including a spectacular double save to deny Klara Buehl and Carlotta Wamser right at the end of normal time, as Germany were agonisingly eliminated. The Spaniards will now face reigning European champions England on Sunday in Basel in what will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup decider, when La Roja triumphed 1-0 in Sydney. If Montse Tome's side come out on top again, they will become the first nation to hold both the world and European titles at the same time since Germany almost 15 years ago. Spain had never beaten Germany before, and now it advances to its first ever Euro final, with the chance to cement their status as the leading force in international women's football. "We have made history again today, getting to a first Euro final and beating Germany for the first time," said Bonmati. "We are proud to be part of this generation of players, but this is not over yet. We can enjoy this and then tomorrow we need to start thinking about England." Germany, meanwhile, had been hoping to avenge their defeat by England in the last Euro final in 2022, but they will not add to their record tally of eight European Championship victories. "She doesn't have to take responsibility. She made so many wonderful saves to get us where we are," Germany coach Christian Wueck said of goalkeeper Berger. "There is no blame, we are very proud of the team." Spain should have been the fresher of the two sides, having played their quarter-final against hosts Switzerland a day before Germany got the better of France on penalties after playing almost the whole game with 10 players. Tale of two goalkeepers Germany were also missing three starters from that match, with Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nuesken suspended while right-back Sarai Linder was injured. Wueck's team did unsurprisingly have the majority of the 22,432 crowd behind them at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium, and they also had Berger in goal. A star of the win over France, she made a fine save to keep out a shot from Spain's Esther Gonzalez -- her teammate at Gotham FC in the United States -- just before the midway point in the first half, tipping the ball over for a corner. Spain captain Irene Paredes headed against the post from a Claudia Pina corner and Gonzalez was again denied by Berger before half-time. It was then Germany's turn to have the best chances in the second half, but Coll made a crucial block from Buehl just after the hour mark, and the Bayern Munich star also curled a free-kick just wide late on. Then came the stunning double save from Coll right at the end of the allotted four minutes of injury time, as the Barcelona goalkeeper kept out a deflected Buehl shot that was looping in and quickly got up to stop Wamser's follow-up. That was a sign that it would not be Germany's night, and they then saw defender Sophia Kleinherne come off in tears early in extra time after overstretching while trying to stop Salma Paralluelo going clean through on goal. Spain's winner eventually came, as Bonmati let a ball from Athenea del Castillo run past her in the area before beating Berger with a shot from a tight angle. There was still time for Coll to excel again, flying to her left to save from Lea Schueller as Spain held on.
