7 days ago
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- The Irish Sun
Ireland legend joins Jacqui Hurley in making quirky prediction for Women's Euros semi from RTE couch
LOUISE Quinn and Jacqui Hurley both said "Viva España" when it came to predicting a winner between Spain and Germany.
While that wasn't anything groundbreaking, the manner with which they did so was a bit more creative than the norm as they tapped into each country's respective food culture.
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Cork native Jacqui is clearly a big fan of paella
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Louise Quinn also backed the tournament favourites to advance
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Aitana Bonmatí scored as the World Cup holders look to add another major trophy to their collection
Credit: Getty
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Spain will now play England on Sunday at 5pm
Host Jacqui held up a sign that said: "Paella > Schnitzel."
Explaining her rationale, she added: "If I was at the game tonight this would be the sign I'd hold up because not only are Spain going to beat Germany but paella is way better than schnitzel."
Meanwhile
Similarly, she tacked on: "If I was at the game I'd hold this sign up because I think Spain are going to beat Germany."
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They were proven right in the end though the World Cup holders were taken to extra-time before Aitana Bonmatí
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner's near-post strike was the only goal of the game and set up a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final between themselves and England.
Nothing could separate the two teams until the 113th minute when substitute Athenea del Castillo sent Bonmatí through on goal.
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After turning Rebecca Knaak, the midfielder caught Ann-Katrin Berger out of position by finding a small gap at the near post.
Spain dominated the ball throughout but Germany were able to break their high press on multiple occasions, with Giovanna Hoffmann misfiring twice and Klara Bühl dragging her early effort wide in the first half.
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Montse Tomé's side came close to taking the lead on the brink of half-time, with Esther González forcing a brilliant close-range save from Berger after receiving a long ball from Patri Guijarro in the box.
Clàudia Pina then challenged the Germany goalkeeper once again just moments later, although Berger was just about able to keep the ball out.
Spain's first big opportunity of the second half came when Bonmatí turned past Knaak with the drop of a shoulder before shooting, but her effort was blocked by the outstretched knee of Sophia Kleinherne.
Although they struggled in possession throughout, Germany looked dangerous on the break with Bühl especially causing problems for the Spanish back four.
CLOSE CALLS
The 24-year-old came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock with a free kick from over 25 yards out in the late stages of normal time, but her curled effort narrowly ran past the post.
Spain quickly responded, with substitute Salma Paralluelo attempting an audacious backheeled shot just outside the six-yard box which was calmly collected by Berger.
The forward then narrowly missed the opportunity to tap-in a low-driven cross from Athenea del Castillo before the final whistle.
Bühl came close once again with just a few seconds left to play when her effort from outside the box took a huge deflection off Olga Carmona, looping upwards and forcing Cata Coll into a crucial save on the line.
Carlotta Wamser jumped onto the rebound of the goalkeeper's initial save, forcing a huge second block which ultimately took the clash to extra time.
Bonmatí's strike fired La Roja to their first-ever competitive win over Germany.
