Germany 0 Spain 1: Lionesses handed chance for World Cup final revenge as pair to renew rivalry in Euro 2025 showpiece
Lion in wait Germany 0 Spain 1: Lionesses handed chance for World Cup final revenge as pair to renew rivalry in Euro 2025 showpiece
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
AITANA BONMATI was Spain's saviour once again as the world champions beat Germany to book a place in the Euro 2025 final.
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner fired home from a near-impossible angle to send her nation through and set up another major tournament final clash with England.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
Aitana Bonmati scored the injury time winner for Spain in their Euros semi-final against Germany
Credit: AP
3
It gives the World Champions a shot at dethroning England as European champions
Credit: Reuters
3
But Chloe Kelly and England could enact revenge for their heartbreak against Spain at the World Cup
Credit: Getty
Sarina Wiegman's side narrowly lost out to Spain in the final of the Women's World Cup in 2023.
And now England's comeback queens will have the chance to silence Spain in Sunday's final.
Nothing could separate the two teams until the 113th minute when substitute Athenea del Castillo sent Bonmatí through on goal.
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.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
wright as rain Fans love Wrighty return as heartwarming reaction to Agyemang goal spotted
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.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Although they struggled in possession throughout, Germany looked dangerous on the break with Bühl especially causing problems for the Spanish back four.
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.
Supersub Chloe Kelly's late winner sends England into Euro 2025 final
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Roar to victory: what the papers say about the Lionesses Euro win
On Sunday the Lionesses staked their claim to be considered the greatest English sports team of all time in Basel, battling back from trailing Spain to win a thrilling penalty shootout in the Euros. The UK papers captured the joy across their front pages on Monday. 'Queens of Europe. England make history with Euro 2025 victory,' was front page news at the Guardian. The Mirror dedicated its front and back pages to the win, hailing the 'LionYESes' on the front and the 'Queens of hearts' on the back. Monday's front and back pages are dedicated to the Lionesses - history makers and champions again 🏴 🏆 #TomorrowsPapersToday The Telegraph celebrated 'England's roar of victory' on its front page. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:England's roar of victory#TomorrowsPapersToday The i praised the team with the splash: 'Queens of Europe! England are champions again – in incredible show of defiance.' Monday's front page: Queens of Europe! England are champions again - in incredible show of defiance#TomorrowsPapersToday 'Golden girl Chloe fires Lionesses to Euros glory … next, a trip to the Palace,' wrote the Daily Mail on its front page. #TomorrowsPapersTodayDaily Mail: Golden girl Chloe fires Lionesses to Euros glory... next, a trip to the Palace. NOW SHUT MIGRANT PROTEST HOTEL. By Martin Beckford and Isaac more at 'Lionesses win Euros … again! Goalie is hero in thrilling penalty shootout,' was the lead story over at the Sun. After the nerve-racking penalty shootout, the paper celebrated goalie Hannah Hampton, with the headline 'The Hann of God', on its front page. #TomorrowsPapersTodayThe Sun: Lionesses win Goalie is hero in thrilling penalty shootout. THE HANN OF GOD. By ROBIN more at The Metro led with the headline: 'You've done us proud! Lionesses take Euros Final to Penalties – 'You were roarsome!' #TomorrowsPapersTodayMETRO: You've done us proud! Lionesses take Euros Final to Penalties – "You were roarsome!"Read more at Meanwhile the Times said: 'Lionesses rise to penalties drama and bring Euros title home.' #TomorrowsPapersTodayThe Times: Lionesses rise to penalties drama and bring Euros title home. Starmer to press Trump on more at
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Williamson believes England's 'vulnerability' aided Euro 2025 victory
The Lionesses came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with world champions Spain at St. Jakob Park, before defeating them 3-1 on penalties. It saw Williamson lift her second European title as England captain, becoming the only senior England captain to do so on foreign soil. But while buzzwords like resilience and a never-say-die attitude have followed their tournament trajectory, the 28-year-old suggests it was the willingness of her side to open themselves up to a belief in their own ability that proved the real key to success. 'You can have all of those words, and sport has all of those words circulating all the time and then you have people that are brave and put that into action and decide that you're going to go for it,' Williamson explained. 'You leave yourself vulnerable and all of those things. If you really, really try hard and it's not quite enough, that's an awful feeling. 'To put yourself out there like that, the reward is so great and we were brave enough to do it. I think that's the key to the team. 'Sarina [Wiegman] believes in us so much, it's hard not to believe that yourself. She said the same thing as she said before, 'We don't have to win, we want to win, and we're capable of winning so it's up to you girls,' and we did it.' Unbreakable. ✊ England had made a habit of coming back from behind, closing a two-goal deficit against Sweden in the quarter-finals before coming back from 1-0 down against both Italy and Spain. But having lost their opening match against France, England had played must-win football all from the outset and while it may not always have been pretty, they became accustomed to getting the job done. 'It was a hard-fought tournament and after our first game we looked ourselves in the mirror, we knew what we had to do, and we did it, repeatedly,' said Williamson. 'And now we're back-to-back champions and that feels good. 'Thank you to those of you who stuck with us. We'll party for you tonight if you've got work tomorrow and if not, go and enjoy yourselves.' It was club team-mate Alessia Russo who had headed England level, after Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead after 25 minutes. A resolute defensive display from Williamson and co kept the scores level and as neither team could find a breakthrough, with Salma Paralluelo's profligacy in front of goal at times England's saving grace, it was to penalties once more. The Lionesses had found their route to success from a shootout against Sweden and would do so again, despite not having favoured penalty takers Russo or Georgia Stanway on the pitch. Instead captain Williamson was one of those to step up, and while she saw her penalty saved by Cata Coll, Chloe Kelly did the bidding to make England Euro 2025 champions. 'I said, 'Really?! I made the cut?'' said Williamson on being picked to take a penalty. 'I struggled the back end of the tournament with an injury and I was very grateful to get through the game. I didn't think it was going to carry me that far, and it did. 'I hit it a little bit too low, I would have gone higher if I could do it again. But on the way back, Chloe said to me, 'Don't worry about it.' If anybody is going to tell me that in a penalty shootout, I'll take it off her.'
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Williamson believes England's 'vulnerability' aided Euro 2025 victory
The Lionesses came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with world champions Spain at St. Jakob Park, before defeating them 3-1 on penalties. It saw Williamson lift her second European title as England captain, becoming the only senior England captain to do so on foreign soil. But while buzzwords like resilience and a never-say-die attitude have followed their tournament trajectory, the 28-year-old suggests it was the willingness of her side to open themselves up to a belief in their own ability that proved the real key to success. 'You can have all of those words, and sport has all of those words circulating all the time and then you have people that are brave and put that into action and decide that you're going to go for it,' Williamson explained. 'You leave yourself vulnerable and all of those things. If you really, really try hard and it's not quite enough, that's an awful feeling. 'To put yourself out there like that, the reward is so great and we were brave enough to do it. I think that's the key to the team. 'Sarina [Wiegman] believes in us so much, it's hard not to believe that yourself. She said the same thing as she said before, 'We don't have to win, we want to win, and we're capable of winning so it's up to you girls,' and we did it.' England had made a habit of coming back from behind, closing a two-goal deficit against Sweden in the quarter-finals before coming back from 1-0 down against both Italy and Spain. But having lost their opening match against France, England had played must-win football all from the outset and while it may not always have been pretty, they became accustomed to getting the job done. 'It was a hard-fought tournament and after our first game we looked ourselves in the mirror, we knew what we had to do, and we did it, repeatedly,' said Williamson. 'And now we're back-to-back champions and that feels good. 'Thank you to those of you who stuck with us. We'll party for you tonight if you've got work tomorrow and if not, go and enjoy yourselves.' It was club team-mate Alessia Russo who had headed England level, after Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead after 25 minutes. A resolute defensive display from Williamson and co kept the scores level and as neither team could find a breakthrough, with Salma Paralluelo's profligacy in front of goal at times England's saving grace, it was to penalties once more. The Lionesses had found their route to success from a shootout against Sweden and would do so again, despite not having favoured penalty takers Russo or Georgia Stanway on the pitch. Instead captain Williamson was one of those to step up, and while she saw her penalty saved by Cata Coll, Chloe Kelly did the bidding to make England Euro 2025 champions. 'I said, 'Really?! I made the cut?'' said Williamson on being picked to take a penalty. 'I struggled the back end of the tournament with an injury and I was very grateful to get through the game. I didn't think it was going to carry me that far, and it did. 'I hit it a little bit too low, I would have gone higher if I could do it again. But on the way back, Chloe said to me, 'Don't worry about it.' If anybody is going to tell me that in a penalty shootout, I'll take it off her.'
