Euro 2025: Spain star Aitana Bonmatí says she's mentally stronger after stay in hospital
Bonmatí said Thursday she is '100% physically' on the eve of a quarterfinal game against host Switzerland that will be exactly three weeks since she was hospitalized with viral meningitis.
"I think this new Aitana is even stronger mentally with the same ambitions," the two-time defending Ballon d'Or winner said in translated comments. 'I reminded myself who I am.
'I feel very well, you can see from my face I glad to be here,' Bonmatí added, though she acknowledged she had learned because 'I am not used to managing these kinds of situations.'
Bonmatí was treated in a Madrid hospital before traveling to Switzerland one day later than the rest of the world champion and tournament favorite's squad.
'I was frustrated, I suffered I must admit. It was five days before the start of the tournament," she said at the pregame news conference at the stadium in Bern.
'What happened was unexpected. I felt super well, physically I was perfect,' she said. 'But I never thought I wouldn't be here. I thought I may miss some games.'
Bonmatí even was well enough to enter from the bench on the second day of Euro 2025, in the 81st minute of Spain's 5-0 win over Portugal. She came on for the second half of the 6-2 win against Belgium, when the score was 2-1.
She played the full game in a 3-1 win over Italy ensuring Spain finished top of its group. The team tied the tournament record of scoring 14 goals in the opening phase.
'I am happy because the team was super good,' Bonmatí said. 'We played an excellent tournament and now the best part is coming.'
Spain faces the host nation in the quarterfinals, as at Euro 2022 in England losing 2-1 after extra time to the eventual title holder.
Spain also met Switzerland in the first knockout round at the 2023 World Cup and Bonmatí scored twice in a 5-1 win in the round of 16.
Spain coach Montse Tomé has a full and fearsomely talented squad to pick from with a little uncertainty over the goalkeeper position.
Adriana Nanclares of Athletic Bilbao has been a surprise choice ahead of Barcelona's Cata Coll, and Tomé said the players did not know yet who she wants to start the game.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sunderland agree deal to sign Granit Xhaka from Leverkusen, per Fabrizio Romano
After two years at Bayer Leverkusen, former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is set for a return to the Premier League. According to Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland and Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a €20 million deal for the Swiss international. Xhaka, who has already agreed personal terms with the newly-promoted Premier League club, is expected to travel to England on Monday to complete the move. The 32-year-old will sign a contract with Sunderland until 2027.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rangers mystery as Igamane and new key signing unseen at training ahead of Panathinaikos
Thelo Aasgaard appears to have lost his battle to be fit for Rangers Champions League showdown with Panathinaikos. And there was no sign of Hamza Igamane either as Russell Martin's men trained before jetting out to Athens for the second leg of their second round qualifier. Martin had warned that Aasgaard was "touch and go" for last week's game against the Greeks, and the Norwegian missed the first leg 2-0 win at Ibrox with an injury suffered in a closed doors friendly win against Dunfermline. READ MORE: Tottenham boss Thomas Frank breaks Mikey Moore to Rangers transfer silence READ MORE: Mikey Moore blows Rangers hero Jermain Defoe away as strike legend reveals key career advice for Tottenham kid Now it looks as if he won't be available for Wednesday night's encounter in the Greek capital. Hamza Igamane came on as a second half sub against The Shamrock, but he appears to have been another Auchenhowie absentee. The Moroccan was in the stands for the weekend friendly draw against Middlesbrough. Martin put that down to a knock suffered against Panathinaikos, but Igamane remains the subject of intense transfer speculation. Record Sport revealed that Feyenoord have the forward on their wanted list this summer, while Lille remain keen but are reluctant to meet Rangers' £15million valuation. "He picked up a little bit of an injury on Tuesday night, said Martin. "So, I think he missed a lot of pre-season, and he's been really trying hard to catch up fitness-wise. He's got himself in a good place." However, not being out on the grass with the rest of the squad suggests that this could be a game too soon for Igamane, with Gers heading to Motherwell on Saturday to kick-off their Premiership campaign. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jesurun Rak Sakyi to Rangers faces major hurdle as Crystal Palace change transfer rules
In-demand Jesurun Rak-Sakyi appears to have had the door slammed shut on a move to Rangers by Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner. The Scottish Premiership side are keen to sign the England youth international on an initial loan with a £10million option to buy. Rangers have already seen their bid to land the wide man thrown into doubt after the 22-year-old limped off during Palace's friendly clash with Crawley Town. READ MORE: Oliver Antman tees up Rangers transfer as £5m winger makes Ibrox revamp fit his demanding criteria READ MORE: Who will win Panathinaikos vs Rangers as our writers predict Champions League qualifying clash And while the full extent of the injury has get to emerge, Eagles' boss Glasner has moved to close the door on any more departures ahead of the Community Shield showdown with Liverpool on August 10 - unless new faces are brought in. He told Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung: 'Even though all the players are still here, we haven't made the most of the transfer window so far. "I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year. 'As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more. "If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible.' The latest set-back in the pursuit Rak-Sakyi comes after Rangers boss Russell Martin admitted he's a player both he and the club's decision makers are keen to land. Martin, speaking to Sky Sports News last week, said: "He's a player I like. We tried to take him to Southampton, it didn't quite happen. I like him and the recruitment staff like him, but how far that's gone... I'm not too sure. "He's a really good player. We look at all sorts of different profiles that we think can help the team, it doesn't necessarily have to be one type of profile. Players are very different. "We just need the ones with the right mentality who are desperate to come and play here. We'll see where we end up in four weeks' time." Since then, alternative deals for wingers have emerged with Tottenham's teenage star Mikey Moore set to join the Glasgow giants on loan. Go Ahead Eagles' star Oliver Antman is also a target - but Celtic's pursuit of teammate Jakob Breum could scupper any deal. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football
