Soccer-Spain coach Tome upbeat about Bonmati's fitness
(Reuters) -Spain coach Montse Tome said Aitana Bonmati's recovery was progressing positively but stressed that health remains the priority, as the world champions prepare to face Portugal in their women's European Championship opener on Thursday.
Bonmati, the Ballon d'Or winner for the past two years, rejoined the squad on Monday after being discharged from hospital following a bout of viral meningitis.
"You saw a bit of the training, I think about 15 minutes, but she was working completely separately, and her progress is very positive," Tome told a press conference on Wednesday.
'As for today's training, she will already be able to do some exercises with the team. She's so eager — we have to hold her back a bit — but according to the medical staff, her progress is positive. Health comes first, and she's been able to complete all the tasks required."
Barcelona midfielder Bonmati missed Spain's 3-1 win over Japan last week, casting doubt over her availability for Thursday's Group B clash in Zurich.
Midfielder Patricia Guijarro said Bonmati's return had lifted the team's spirits.
"She's euphoric, happy, and of course, we'll see her tomorrow and give her a big hug. Above all, she's happy to be here," Guijarro said.
Spain, who won their first World Cup title last year, are among the favourites at Euro 2025.
Bonmati has scored 30 goals in 78 appearances for Spain, and was a key player in their 2023 World Cup victory.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Miami; Editing by Ed Osmond)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Switzerland Falls 2-1 to Norway in Euro 2025 Opener
WHEN Switzerland's Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Women's Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high. 'It felt amazing. I couldn't imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, it's something I will never forget,' the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat. 'The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and it's so sad that we didn't make it through the second half.' Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal. Wednesday's game was Switzerland's third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done. 'It's a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, we're disappointed that we couldn't win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday,' she said. 'And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyone's rooting, and we really felt that.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Just frustration: Piastri explains radio cursing at Alpine
MCLAREN'S Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri said cursing at former employers Alpine over the radio at last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix was just a humorous way of expressing his frustration. The Australian made a comment after having to go off track to avoid Renault-owned Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto. 'Alpine still managed to find a way to (expletive) me over all these years later, huh?,' he told race engineer Tom Stallard in an exchange not broadcast on television at the time. Piastri told Reuters at a McLaren fan event in London's Trafalgar Square on Wednesday that his swearing had just been spur of the moment. 'It was just kind of a frustrating coincidence. My qualifying got hampered by an Alpine. I got impeded in the race by both the Alpines. So, it was kind of just a build-up of a few things,' he said. 'And it was more out of frustration. 'I still have a lot of friends at Alpine. A lot of people that I respect a lot. 'It was just kind of an ironic coincidence that the things that hampered me a bit in the weekend were all with Alpine. But, yeah -- more just me trying to express my humour and frustration in the race.' Piastri joined McLaren after being named by Alpine as their driver for 2023, only for the Australian to very publicly reject the seat with a statement that has become part of Formula One lore. Then Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer questioned the driver's integrity, and threatened legal action, but McLaren won easily when the matter went to the contract recognition board. Alpine are now last in the championship, and are still going through turmoil, while McLaren won the constructors' title last year and are runaway favourites again.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Sweet success eludes proud Swiss in narrow Norway defeat
WHEN Switzerland's Nadine Riesen put her side 1-0 up against Norway in their Women's Euro 2025 opener at St. Jakobs-Park on Wednesday the whole nation erupted and even though the Swiss let their lead slip and lost 2-1, they still left the stadium with their heads held high. 'It felt amazing. I couldn't imagine that I would score a goal, and even happier that we could celebrate all together. The atmosphere was so nice, and the whole stadium and, yeah, it's something I will never forget,' the 25-year-old Riesen told Reuters, beaming with pride despite the defeat. 'The first half, I think we played pretty well, we showed what we can do. We wanted to give the whole of Switzerland something back... and it's so sad that we didn't make it through the second half.' Norway captain Ada Hegerberg scored just after the break and Switzerland then conceded an own goal. Despite plenty of chances and a penalty award that was overturned after a VAR review, the hosts could not fashion another goal. Wednesday's game was Switzerland's third single-goal defeat to Norway in 2025 but Riesen said her side were proud of what they had done. 'It's a positive feeling, leaving from here -- of course, we're disappointed that we couldn't win, we wanted the three points for sure, so we will keep looking for that, and we will take the first half into Sunday,' she said. 'And hopefully also the atmosphere, because we felt like we were 12 players on the pitch, not only 11, because everyone was supporting, everyone's rooting, and we really felt that.'
