Latest news with #Women'sEuropeanChampionship
San Francisco Chronicle
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Euro 2025 favorite Spain chasing history against eight-time champion Germany in semifinals
ZURICH (AP) — World Cup winner Spain has never reached the final of the Women's European Championship. It has also never beaten Germany. Both those things could change on Wednesday. Spain plays Germany in the Euro 2025 semifinals in Zurich, knowing that it has never managed to get the better of its opponents in eight previous meetings — five losses and three draws. 'For my experience in the Spanish team in the last seven years, I had the chance to play five times against Germany. We never managed to beat them but I also feel that in those five times we were closer and closer to the victory,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said Tuesday. 'Today we are in another point, they are also a different team. But Germany is always Germany.' Spain beat Switzerland to reach only its second-ever Euros semifinal — 28 years after its first. After winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years, the team is moving closer to adding the European Championship trophy to its collection. Spain has lost just one of its past 15 matches — winning 12 — since its last encounter with Germany, a 1-0 defeat in the bronze medal match at last year's Paris Olympics. 'Every player tries to find a way to write history,' captain Alexia Putellas said. 'I see tomorrow's match more as an opportunity than revenge. 'The Olympics was a totally different competition. That game will have nothing to do with tomorrow's game. We have the opportunity to beat them for the first time.' While Spain is favorite to progress, Germany has proved you can never write off the record eight-time European champion. Germany managed to beat France on penalties in their quarterfinal, despite playing with 10 players from the 13th minute after midfielder Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling an opponent's hair. And Germany is ready to dig deep to defy the odds again. 'Well I think the performance we have shown is the blueprint of all the matches really,' Germany defender Rebecca Knaak said. 'It's the perfect example of passion, mental strength. All these things are characteristics we exhibit. 'So this is important tomorrow as well and of course we have been prepared on a tactical level as well by the coach and the team," she added. "But the fundamental characteristic has been built in the French match.' That was actually the second straight time Germany had to play the majority of the match at a numerical disadvantage. Defender Carlotta Wamser was sent off barely half an hour into a 4-1 loss to Sweden in their final group stage match. Wamser returns but Germany will again have to reshuffle its defense with Hendrich suspended and Sarai Linder joining captain and right-back Giulia Gwinn on the injury list. Midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken is also suspended after receiving her second yellow card of the tournament against France. 'It says a lot about the team that we accepted every situation as they came along," Knaak said. "There were so many different and unusual situations, and we adapted. 'We supported each other and at the end it doesn't really matter who plays next to whom," she continued, "we are a team and we have the squad for exactly those reasons, that we can adapt and we can adapt to the opponents as well.' The final will be played on Sunday in Basel.
Winnipeg Free Press
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Euro 2025 favorite Spain chasing history against eight-time champion Germany in semifinals
ZURICH (AP) — World Cup winner Spain has never reached the final of the Women's European Championship. It has also never beaten Germany. Both those things could change on Wednesday. Spain plays Germany in the Euro 2025 semifinals in Zurich, knowing that it has never managed to get the better of its opponents in eight previous meetings — five losses and three draws. 'For my experience in the Spanish team in the last seven years, I had the chance to play five times against Germany. We never managed to beat them but I also feel that in those five times we were closer and closer to the victory,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said Tuesday. 'Today we are in another point, they are also a different team. But Germany is always Germany.' Spain beat Switzerland to reach only its second-ever Euros semifinal — 28 years after its first. After winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years, the team is moving closer to adding the European Championship trophy to its collection. Spain has lost just one of its past 15 matches — winning 12 — since its last encounter with Germany, a 1-0 defeat in the bronze medal match at last year's Paris Olympics. 'Every player tries to find a way to write history,' captain Alexia Putellas said. 'I see tomorrow's match more as an opportunity than revenge. 'The Olympics was a totally different competition. That game will have nothing to do with tomorrow's game. We have the opportunity to beat them for the first time.' While Spain is favorite to progress, Germany has proved you can never write off the record eight-time European champion. Germany managed to beat France on penalties in their quarterfinal, despite playing with 10 players from the 13th minute after midfielder Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling an opponent's hair. And Germany is ready to dig deep to defy the odds again. 'Well I think the performance we have shown is the blueprint of all the matches really,' Germany defender Rebecca Knaak said. 'It's the perfect example of passion, mental strength. All these things are characteristics we exhibit. 'So this is important tomorrow as well and of course we have been prepared on a tactical level as well by the coach and the team,' she added. 'But the fundamental characteristic has been built in the French match.' That was actually the second straight time Germany had to play the majority of the match at a numerical disadvantage. Defender Carlotta Wamser was sent off barely half an hour into a 4-1 loss to Sweden in their final group stage match. Wamser returns but Germany will again have to reshuffle its defense with Hendrich suspended and Sarai Linder joining captain and right-back Giulia Gwinn on the injury list. Midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken is also suspended after receiving her second yellow card of the tournament against France. 'It says a lot about the team that we accepted every situation as they came along,' Knaak said. 'There were so many different and unusual situations, and we adapted. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'We supported each other and at the end it doesn't really matter who plays next to whom,' she continued, 'we are a team and we have the squad for exactly those reasons, that we can adapt and we can adapt to the opponents as well.' Defending champion England plays Italy on Tuesday in the other semifinal. The final will be played on Sunday in Basel. ___ AP soccer:
Hamilton Spectator
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Euro 2025 favorite Spain chasing history against eight-time champion Germany in semifinals
ZURICH (AP) — World Cup winner Spain has never reached the final of the Women's European Championship. It has also never beaten Germany. Both those things could change on Wednesday. Spain plays Germany in the Euro 2025 semifinals in Zurich, knowing that it has never managed to get the better of its opponents in eight previous meetings — five losses and three draws. 'For my experience in the Spanish team in the last seven years, I had the chance to play five times against Germany. We never managed to beat them but I also feel that in those five times we were closer and closer to the victory,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said Tuesday. 'Today we are in another point, they are also a different team. But Germany is always Germany.' Spain beat Switzerland to reach only its second-ever Euros semifinal — 28 years after its first. After winning the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years, the team is moving closer to adding the European Championship trophy to its collection. Spain has lost just one of its past 15 matches — winning 12 — since its last encounter with Germany, a 1-0 defeat in the bronze medal match at last year's Paris Olympics. 'Every player tries to find a way to write history,' captain Alexia Putellas said. 'I see tomorrow's match more as an opportunity than revenge. 'The Olympics was a totally different competition. That game will have nothing to do with tomorrow's game. We have the opportunity to beat them for the first time.' While Spain is favorite to progress, Germany has proved you can never write off the record eight-time European champion. Germany managed to beat France on penalties in their quarterfinal, despite playing with 10 players from the 13th minute after midfielder Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for pulling an opponent's hair . And Germany is ready to dig deep to defy the odds again. 'Well I think the performance we have shown is the blueprint of all the matches really,' Germany defender Rebecca Knaak said. 'It's the perfect example of passion, mental strength. All these things are characteristics we exhibit. 'So this is important tomorrow as well and of course we have been prepared on a tactical level as well by the coach and the team,' she added. 'But the fundamental characteristic has been built in the French match.' That was actually the second straight time Germany had to play the majority of the match at a numerical disadvantage. Defender Carlotta Wamser was sent off barely half an hour into a 4-1 loss to Sweden in their final group stage match. Wamser returns but Germany will again have to reshuffle its defense with Hendrich suspended and Sarai Linder joining captain and right-back Giulia Gwinn on the injury list. Midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken is also suspended after receiving her second yellow card of the tournament against France. 'It says a lot about the team that we accepted every situation as they came along,' Knaak said. 'There were so many different and unusual situations, and we adapted. 'We supported each other and at the end it doesn't really matter who plays next to whom,' she continued, 'we are a team and we have the squad for exactly those reasons, that we can adapt and we can adapt to the opponents as well.' Defending champion England plays Italy on Tuesday in the other semifinal. The final will be played on Sunday in Basel. ___ AP soccer:
Metro
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Ian Wright vs Eni Aluko beef explained as Arsenal legend returns to ITV coverage
Ian Wright is set to be part of ITV's coverage of England vs Italy in the semi-finals of the Women's European Championship, returning to his punditry role for the first time since an unexpected clash with Eni Aluko. The Arsenal legend has been busy covering the Women's Euros but away from the television cameras, hosting the Crossways podcast with Steph Houghton. He will be back on screen on Tuesday night in Geneva, though, with the Telegraph reporting he will be alongside host Laura Woods, former Emma Hayes and Karen Carney. Aluko has been working in a punditry role during the tournament in Switzerland but has now completed her duties with ITV so will not be involved. The Telegraph note that Wright was not originally part of ITV's broadcast team, but is doing the same as he did during the 2023 World Cup, by arriving for the semi-finals onwards. Wright has long been a regular part of women's football coverage and that was actually how his unlikely argument with Aluko started. There was a surprise attack on Wright from the former England forward, which the 61-year-old did not appreciate. Aluko accused Wright of 'blocking' opportunities for female broadcasters in an interview with the BBC's Woman's Hour in April, and said that the former Arsenal and England striker is 'dominating' the women's game. 'What we don't want is a repeat dominance of men in the women's game, as broadcasters, as coaches, earning more money than women when we can't do the same in the men's game,' she said. 'I would never, ever be able to usurp Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, these are guys who have done it for a long time, they are brilliant broadcasters, they rightly dominate their sport. I think the same should apply in the women's game. 'I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game. I think he should be aware of that. 'The fact of the matter is, as I said, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all. 'But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example, Ian is dominating the women's game.' Aluko's comments attracted criticism as the former Arsenal striker has been a major advocate of the women's game for several years. It also emerged that Wright has been paying £1,700 a month to fund Kayleigh McDonald's rehab after she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Stoke City last year. 'I wouldn't be in a great place mentally if it wasn't for Ian Wright,' said McDonald. 'I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn't for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn't know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.' Wright has also made a £15,000 donation towards training courses to help increase the number of female grassroots coaches. Aluko said: 'Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant. 'In my interview with Woman's Hour this week, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football – whether that's in coaching, broadcasting or commercial spaces – and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch. 'But it was wrong for lan's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. 'I've known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.' The Arsenal legend said he wanted to move on from the situation, but also felt that he could not accept the apology. 'I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management,' Wright said. 'I've seen the apology on social media but I can't accept it, but I also want to move on.' 'Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question,' an ITV spokesperson told The Guardian. More Trending 'As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions.' Wright was further supported by his podcast co-host Houghton, who said: 'Ian, can I just say this, and this has not been pre-empted, I think I posted on Instagram: What you have done for our game is unbelievable and you've got to take all the credit that everybody's thrown at you this last week because you are a super-hero. And I love working with you.' Now Wright is making his return to covering the Lionesses and will be hoping to be watching them beat Italy and reach the Euro 2025 final. MORE: Why the Lionesses will not take the knee before Italy Women's Euros semi-final MORE: England vs Italy: How to watch Euro 2025 semi-final on TV and live stream tonight MORE: Three big decisions Sarina Wiegman has to make for England's Euro 2025 semi-final
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Italy on Brink of Euro Final, 3 Years After Players Were Permitted to Turn Pro
Italy is one win away from reaching the final of the Women's European Championship, but just three years ago its players couldn't even get professional contracts in their own country. Little wonder veteran captain Cristiana Girelli was in tears after her two goals inspired Italy to a 2-1 victory over Norway last week, and a first semifinal appearance at the tournament in 28 years. The Azzurre next plays defending champion England on Tuesday in Geneva. "It's a great joy to be among the top four in Europe, and it is a happiness that we want to share because we know how important it is to bring home the results in Italy and especially for the new generations," Girelli said, after again wiping the tears from her eyes. "Because obviously we do this for our glory, but there is a much deeper meaning, which we certainly want to bring, which is that in Italy women can play soccer too." Of course they can, although they couldn't hope to make a lot of money for it until 2022 after years of amateur-only status. It was in April of that year that the executive board of the sport's national federation approved new regulations to open the way for a women's professional era starting July 1 — in time for the following Serie A season. A 1981 Italian law limited female players to amateur status, meaning they couldn't earn more than $32,000 per year before taxes. Benefits such as social security contributions, an end-of-career fund, pension, medical protection for injuries and maternity leave were a distant dream. The 35-year-old Girelli and many of her national teammates have experienced the change firsthand, with several of them having had to do hospitality jobs to support their soccer careers. "There were difficult years where we really suffered a lot," Girelli said. The push to make the women's game professional in Italy followed the national team's surprise run to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Women's World Cup. It was also helped by the big clubs — Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma and Lazio — starting to invest more in their women's teams. Progress has been slower than in the countries of its traditional soccer rivals — such as England, France and Spain — but Italy is showing signs that it is catching up on the international stage. Under coach Andrea Soncin, Italy is proving it can go toe-to-toe with the top teams, culminating in its first semifinal match at the European tournament since a run to the 1997 final. "It's something magical," Girelli said. "But to tell you the truth, I have felt something special in the air since I arrived in Switzerland. Since the coach took charge of this team, I felt something special. "And you know, women are never wrong with their feelings," she continued with a wry smile. While it hasn't quite reached fever pitch back home, 2.4 million television viewers in Italy — a 16.2% audience share — watched the team's match against Norway and that's likely to be even more for the semifinals. "We hope this love, this affection, this atmosphere that's coming to us from Italy doesn't disappear," Girelli said. "I really hope that with all my heart because we struggled to get here. "We've reached something amazing, something extraordinary, and however it goes, I really hope it continues to feed this passion, this love for us." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
