González's double inspires Spain to emphatic Euro 2025 win over Portugal

The Guardian

2 days ago

The minute's silence was immaculate, poignant, loaded and ultimately broke into applause. 'Rest in peace Diogo Jota,' spelled a series of cards held up behind Inês Pereira's goal; the air was thick with emotion in those moments before kick-off and one of the first things to say is that Portugal's players deserve the highest admiration for turning out to compete. They may not have shared a dressing room with Jota or his equally mourned brother, André Silva, but that cannot minimise the fact two members of their nation's tightly-knit footballing family had been taken away in devastating circumstances.
It took guts and no little honour to show up and keep running, probing, scrapping, hunting for moments to take pride in while their opponents left no doubt that they are runaway favourites for this competition. Spain should be lauded, too, for resisting any temptation to go easy, starting at a rattling pace and completing a thoroughly professional job. In their case that often means administering a sound beating and there is no escaping that they delivered one here.
They settled for five, Cristina Martín-Prieto adding late gloss, and could strike further fear into their rivals by giving a brief runout to Aitana Bonmatí. But the night's awful context was always hanging, the heartbreaking fate of Portugal's lost star a visual presence in the form of placards held among the fans. 'You took the name of Portugal beyond borders,' read a tribute hung from the upper tier of the west stand. 'Now it is our turn to raise your name.'
Francisco Neto, the Portugal manager, did that himself after the match. He explained that he had coached Jota during a spell as assistant coach of the men's under-19 side; the pair had remained on warm terms and Jota, true to every account of his personality, had taken a close interest in the fortunes of the women's team.
'Today is a really sad day because two of us lost their lives so young,' Neto said. 'It's not a good day. If we had the chance to change everything, of course we would.
'Diogo followed our team because he loved the country. We kept in contact. When we would cross the room and see the men's team, I would talk with him and he always knew our results. He knew the team, the players, and this is the culture we have in Portugal.'
Jota embodied Portugal's roaming, joyful, acutely accomplished football spirit. It is a matter of time before their women's team, hoping for a first knockout spot this summer, produces heroes with his staying power. The Barcelona forward Kika Nazareth, a safe bet to be among them, was not deemed fit enough to start but would have been hard pressed to shift the dial. Even before tragedy visited them, opening their tournament against Spain looked the tallest of orders.
The improving condition of Bonmatí, who had caused widespread concern by contracting viral meningitis, bodes well for Spain although she requires handling with care. They should be able to ramp up without her, although this became a welcome opportunity to taper down. Montse Tomé's team had scored 11 times in two Nations League ties against Portugal in April; here they were two up within seven minutes and, in mid-20s heat, could run through the hits when it suited thereafter.
It took under 90 seconds for Esther González, found by a raking pass from the left-back Olga Carmona, to tame the ball smartly before improvising a deft finish past Pereira. The second quickly followed, Mariona Caldentey snaking a tantalising low cross from the other side and seeing the 18-year-old Vicky López convert at full stretch.
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Portugal assembled into a huddle after López's goal. They hung in admirably, Pereira saving from González and twice from Clàudia Pina. Between those chances Alexia Putellas sidefooted wide, but she would join in four minutes before half-time after a shimmy past Diana Gomes. González quickly doubled her tally, Pina's cross striking the far post and presenting the simplest finish. It was no slight on Portugal that the favourites were impossible to subdue.
The livewire Jessica Silva, among the players who made tributes to Jota on Instagram, symbolised Portugal's appetite to persist. After the interval she tried to catch Adriana Nanclares out and then, blazing past Laia Aleixandri, forced a booking. A goal would have raised the roof and it almost came when Ana Capeta jabbed over. In the end Martín-Prieto had the last word but only one figure had, in truth, dominated thoughts all day.
Portugal had been backed fabulously, their contingent largely culled from an extensive émigré community, and faced their most vocal bank of supporters together after the final whistle. They lined up behind a banner printed with 'Thank you for everything, Diogo Jota', the two groups acknowledging one another for an extended spell. They will never need telling to elevate his memory.