Spain is in the final of the Women’s European Championship after a hard fight and the first victory against Germany. The world champions are also favorite in the final against England – but should not be too safe for their cause.
After her shot was hit in the short corner of the German gate, Aitana Bonmati cheered with wide -opened eyes and spread out arms. It only took a few seconds and the 27-year-old was in the middle of a Spanish jubilee grape. The reservists were also sprinted onto the field to celebrate the 1-0 in the 113rd minute of the European Championship semi-final against Germany. A few minutes later it was clear that it was the golden goal for Spain – and the ticket was booked for the final of the European Championship.
There is great pressure from the Spanish team
The ecstatic cheers also read how big the pressure was that had fallen off from Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Co. at that moment. Because the scenario of a penalty shootout seemed realistic for a long time on a memorable evening in Zurich.
Especially since this might have had a psychological advantage for the German team, which had prevailed in the quarter -finals against France in the shootout, while Spain failed twice from the point in the round of the last eight against Switzerland (2-0).
Aitana Bonmati: “We wrote history again”
Accordingly, the mood among the southern Europeans who were able to avoid a penalty shootout was solved. “I shot with everything I had, with all my might. Shooting a goal in a game like this is something very special”said Bonmati visibly relieved about her hit. “I tried everything because I didn’t want to shoot a penalty. After the goal, I ran like crazy. I didn’t know where to go.”
Her goal also had a historical dimension. In the ninth duel with the DFB women, it was the first victory for the Spaniards, and they are also in the final for their fifth EM participation name. “I have the feeling that we wrote history again. I am proud to belong to this generation of footballers who have achieved so much”said BONMATI. Now she is looking forward to the new edition of the 2023 World Cup final against England in the Basel St. Jakob-Park (Sunday, 6 p.m., in the audio stream and in the live ticker on sportschau.de).
Spain with a lot of possession of the ball, but little yield
But the truth also includes: it had needed the brilliant moment of the two -time world footballer (2023 and 2024) and an error chain on the German defensive to decide the previously relatively stereotypical game.
As expected, Spain had the ball (67 percent) and had the ball circulated, which illustrates 720 passes played with a rate of 87 percent (Germany 351 passes, quota 72 percent). The DFB women often defended with seven or eight players in and around their own penalty area and, in turn, rely on offensive needles.
Germany misses the “Lucky Punch”
A game course that could have started from Spanish. The world champion came to good chances, but also Germany would have that “Lucky Punch” can set. Especially in the second half by Klara Bühl (63rd minute/85th) or Carlotta Wamser (90.+4).
In the end there was a narrow 1-0 victory for Spain, which also revealed the vulnerability of the world champion. Already in the quarterfinals against Switzerland it was shown that the team of trainer Montserrat Tomé did not like it if the opponents condense the room in front of and in their own sixteen. If the opponents keep against it and impose a rather robust style of play on the favorites. If you get involved in the Spaniards into many intensely guided duels to the border of what is permitted – and even beyond.
“Blood, sweat and Aitana”
Germany also used these stylistic devices and thus presented the favorite with enormous problems. “Blood, sweat and Aitana”was the analysis of the sports daily “AS”.
The ko phase is like a for Spain Increase run
If you like, the KO phase for Spain is like an increase run. The match against the clear outsider Switzerland was more difficult for the Iber women than expected. There followed 120 intensive minutes against replacement weakened Germany. Now with England a team is waiting for their “never-give-up mentality” and their resilience as well as feared.
The “Lionesses” will probably also rely on a very physical game and their robustness, they have already demonstrated their counter strength in the course of the tournament. Spain has the better individual players on paper, but England will – as it should be in a final – the toughest nut for the world champions. It will probably be a game in which the Iberians will have to suffer again.
“We already have to start thinking of England”
The Spaniards are also aware of this. And so in all the solutions after the European Championship semi-final mingled with a little tense again. “We are grateful for victory against Germany”Bonmati already looked ahead. “But we already have to start thinking about England.”