logo
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Says 'Spain Vs France Not A Ballon D'Or Decider'

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Says 'Spain Vs France Not A Ballon D'Or Decider'

News1803-06-2025
Last Updated:
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal feels the UEFA Nations League won't determine the Ballon d'Or winner, despite strong seasons for him and PSG's Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal has asserted that Thursday's Nations League Final Four performances will not determine the Ballon d'Or winner, despite both he and Paris St Germain forward Ousmane Dembele competing.
Spain and France will meet in Stuttgart for a place in the final, with the victor facing either Germany or Portugal, who play in the other semi-final on Wednesday.
Both Yamal and Dembele have been instrumental for their clubs and countries this season, and either could claim the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy at the Paris ceremony in September.
However, Yamal countered a journalist who implied Thursday's match could sway the vote.
'If you had to award the Ballon d'Or, would you give it to the best player of the year or the one who wins on Thursday?" Yamal asked Spanish broadcaster Cadena COPE on Monday.
'I'm confident we'll win on Thursday, but regardless of the result, I'd vote for the player of the year. If something were to happen to me or Dembele on Thursday, who would you vote for? The player in Sunday's final?
'I would give it to the best player of the year, and I'd keep it for myself."
The competition between the two is fierce, with Dembele having secured a Ligue 1, French Cup, and Champions League treble, while 17-year-old Yamal won La Liga, the Spanish Cup, and Spanish Super Cup.
Dembele has scored 35 goals in all competitions for club and country this season, compared to Yamal's 19.
The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, covering the period from 1 August to 31 July, will be announced in early August, with the ceremony scheduled for 22 September.
First Published:
June 03, 2025, 09:06 IST
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Defending Champions England Defeat Spain On Penalties To Win 2025 Women's Euro
Defending Champions England Defeat Spain On Penalties To Win 2025 Women's Euro

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

Defending Champions England Defeat Spain On Penalties To Win 2025 Women's Euro

Last Updated: Chloe Kelly's decisive penalty helped England defeat Spain 3-1 in a shootout to win the 2025 Women's Euro, avenging their 2023 World Cup loss. Star England forward Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the 2025 Women's Euro after Sunday's final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. This win against Spain allowed the Lionesses to avenge their loss in the 2023 World Cup final and retain their continental crown. Spain seemed poised to replicate their win against England in Sydney in 2023, dominating the match at St Jakob-Park in Basel and leading through Mariona Caldentey's first-half header. However, England didn't panic, having already come from behind against Sweden in the quarters and Italy in the semis before bagging wins. Alessia Russo headed in the equaliser just before the hour mark and with no further goals, the game went to a shoot-out. Kelly, who had a significant impact off the bench, netted the winning penalty. It was an agonising defeat for Spain, who couldn't convert three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved. This win against Spain helps to offset the pain of losing the World Cup final in 2023 and solidifies Wiegman's status among the coaching elite as well. She has now won three successive European Championships, having led her native Netherlands to a win in 2017 before repeating the feat with England. Spain, meanwhile, fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia. La Roja dominated possession as expected, but paid the price for not bagging the victory over an England team that never gives up. Wiegman's side had come from 2-0 down against Sweden in the last eight, scoring twice to force extra time and winning on penalties. Substitute Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute equaliser denied Italy in the semis in Geneva, with Kelly scoring the winner in extra time. Despite not playing well for much of their run to the final, England's resilience prevailed. Wiegman had gambled on the fitness of Lauren James, which paid off, but not as planned. James, having suffered an ankle injury against Italy, didn't last until half-time and was replaced by Kelly. By that point, Spain were already ahead, scoring when Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo combined to set up Ona Battle, whose cross from the right was headed in by Caldentey. Montse Tome's Spain, featuring seven Barcelona footballers in their starting line-up, had been in control before that and England's best hope seemed to rely on potential complacency from their opponents. An example of this occurred when the match was still goalless, and Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll played a careless short pass to Laia Aleixandri in her area. Lauren Hemp seized the chance, but Coll reacted well to make the save. Even at 1-0, England remained in the match, capitalising on their opportunity in the 57th minute when Kelly crossed from the left for her Arsenal teammate Russo to equalise. England, supported by a majority of fans in the crowd of 34,203, sensed yet another comeback victory over Spain. Coll's fingertips prevented a Kelly effort from finding the far corner midway through the second half. Agyemang then replaced Russo, hoping to play the super-sub role, while Salma Paralluelo was among Spain's substitutes. Paralluelo found herself in promising positions as the match progressed into extra time and the tension-filled penalty shoot-out. Beth Mead's first kick for England was saved after she was forced to retake and skipper Leah Williamson had her effort stopped by Coll as well. However, Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles both scored, while Patri Guijarro was the only successful taker for Spain before Kelly stepped up to win it. (With AFP Inputs) tags : England vs Spain England women's football team Sarina Wiegman Women Euro 2025 Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 07:47 IST News sports » football Defending Champions England Defeat Spain On Penalties To Win 2025 Women's Euro Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

ANALYSIS-Soccer-English grit beats Spanish skill to secure Euro glory
ANALYSIS-Soccer-English grit beats Spanish skill to secure Euro glory

Hindustan Times

time6 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

ANALYSIS-Soccer-English grit beats Spanish skill to secure Euro glory

By Philip O'Connor HT Image BASEL, Switzerland, July 27 (Reuters) - England were on the ropes often at the Women's Euros, and they always found a knockout blow, before beating Spain in a final penalty shootout to show that skill may be a way to dominate games, but it takes the heart of a lioness to win them. Chloe Kelly was the hero, firing in the spot-kick to ensure the defending champions retained their crown, but every English player had to dig deep to thwart a Spanish side who were best everywhere except on the final scoreboard. Down 2-0 at the break, England's tournament almost ended in the quarter-finals as Sweden looked set to cruise through, but Kelly and Michelle Agyemang dragged the champions back into the game with late goals before they won the penalty shootout despite having four kicks saved. They made heavy weather of Italy in the semis and again Kelly came to the rescue, scoring a 119th-minute winner to send them into the final despite another flawed performance. In contrast, Spain cruised, purring like the engine of one of the many sports cars that can be seen zipping along city streets in the more affluent parts of Switzerland. They beat the host nation, and eased past Germany in the semis to make the final. They met England in the 2023 World Cup final when a first-half goal set Spain on course for victory and their first major title. The story was almost a carbon copy on Sunday as they took the lead through Mariona Caldentey in the 25th minute. Led by playmaker Aitan Bonmati, the Spaniards sensed a weakness on England's left flank and probed it relentlessly until Ona Batlle came up with the cross for Caldentey to score. KELLY INTRODUCTION The introduction of Kelly before the break for the injured Lauren James strengthened that wing, and when Kelly set Russo up for the equaliser the tide did not exactly turn, but the belief of the English players certainly grew. Battered by a number of crunching tackles, fullbacks Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood continued to throw themselves into every challenge, while captain Leah Williamson made a lung-bursting run to create a late chance that hinted at reserves of energy not even she knew she had. Having been to the brink so many times, England believed. When the game finished 1-1 and the penalty shootout awaited, the English players seemed relaxed and confident, with their Spanish counterparts looking slightly more on edge. The Spaniards had the game in the palms of their hands for 120 minutes, but it began slipping away as Hannah Hamton started to save their spot-kicks, first from Caldentey and then from Bonmati, before Paralluelo fired her effort wide. Kelly made no mistake, lashing the ball into the net as the English fans in the stadium erupted in joy. "This is England, I think this is our moment, we've dug in for the 120 minutes, we've done what we needed to do to keep Spain out. It was just one kick and that was it and so we did that this time," Hampton said. For all their dominance, this is a final that Spain will feel got away from them. Despite all their success in recent years, they lacked the cutting edge they needed to get the job done, and when it really mattered, England had it in spades. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by ed Osmond)

Women's Euro 2025: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title
Women's Euro 2025: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title

The Hindu

time7 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Women's Euro 2025: England beats Spain in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw to retain title

England thrived in high drama yet again to take down Spain in a penalty shootout and win another Women's European Championship title on Sunday (July 27, 2025). Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give defending champion England a 3-1 win in the shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time. 'I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,' said Kelly, whose goal decided a second straight Women's Euros final. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal. The defending champion won the only way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025. England had fallen behind in the first half, fought back in the second and relied on its superb substitutes — including Kelly – just as it did against Italy and Sweden previously in the knockout rounds. England leveled the score in the 57th on Alessia Russo's header from a cross by Kelly after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th finishing Ona Battle's cross. Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament — and not for one second against England — yet the reigning World Cup winner could not seal its first European title. 'I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments. Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany 2-1. In extra time Spain had good possession in the England penalty area so many times yet did not force a decisive goal. 'It was cruel,' Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. 'We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that's not enough.' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the first by Beth Mead. It was appropriate in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new soccer rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves. Arsenal attackers like scoring with perfectly placed headers from inviting crosses sent to the ideal spot. Spain took the lead Sunday with a very English goal – a full back's cross from the byline finding the head of an Arsenal player to score, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day. The strong Spanish flavor leading to Caldentey's opener was in the neat passing to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle's direct run into space. Caldentey was in the Arsenal team that won the Women's Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes. The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly's right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the head of Russo who guided the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net. England coach Sarina Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women's Euros tournament. Despite how close she came three times this month. The top female national-team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title. Both those titles were won as the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad. Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women's Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches each time. There was royalty from both nations in the VIP box at St-Jakob Park including heirs to each throne. Prince William, the first son of Britain's King Charles, was with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He is president of the English Football Association. Also present were Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sofía. At the 2023 World Cup final Sofia was at the game with her mother Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store