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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Women's Euro 2025 final
ZURICH: Aitana Bonmati netted the only goal of the game late in extra time as world champions Spain edged Germany 1-0 in their Women's Euro 2025 semifinal on Wednesday to set up a title decider this weekend against England. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport A tense game in Zurich was ticking down toward penalties when reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati struck in the 113th minute, surprising the usually reliable German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger at her near post. It was not one of Barcelona star Bonmati's most influential performances, yet she still delivered when it mattered to keep Spain on course to win their first European Championship crown. 'We knew that the goalkeeper often leaves her near post open in these situations, so I didn't think twice. I didn't want the game to go to penalties,' said a beaming Bonmati. Spain were also grateful to goalkeeper Cata Coll for some vital interventions, including a spectacular double save to deny Klara Buehl and Carlotta Wamser right at the end of normal time, as Germany were agonizingly eliminated. The Spaniards will now face reigning European champions England on Sunday in Basel in what will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup decider, when La Roja triumphed 1-0 in Sydney. If Montse Tome's side come out on top again, they will become the first nation to hold both the world and European titles at the same time since Germany almost 15 years ago. Spain had never beaten Germany before, and now they advance to their first-ever Euro final, with the chance to cement their status as the leading force in international women's football. 'We have made history again today, getting to a first Euro final and beating Germany for the first time,' said Bonmati. 'We are proud to be part of this generation of players, but this is not over yet. We can enjoy this and then tomorrow we need to start thinking about England.' Germany, meanwhile, had been hoping to avenge their defeat by England in the last Euro final in 2022, but they will not add to their record tally of eight European Championship victories. 'She doesn't have to take responsibility. She made so many wonderful saves to get us where we are,' Germany coach Christian Wueck said of goalkeeper Berger. 'There is no blame, we are very proud of the team.' Spain should have been the fresher of the two sides, having played their quarter-final against hosts Switzerland a day before Germany got the better of France on penalties after playing almost the whole game with 10 players. Germany were also missing three starters from that match, with Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nuesken suspended while right-back Sarai Linder was injured. Wueck's team did unsurprisingly have the majority of the 22,432 crowd behind them at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium, and they also had Berger in goal. A star of the win over France, she made a fine save to keep out a shot from Spain's Esther Gonzalez — her teammate at Gotham FC in the United States — just before the midway point in the first half, tipping the ball over for a corner. Spain captain Irene Paredes headed against the post from a Claudia Pina corner and Gonzalez was again denied by Berger before half-time. It was then Germany's turn to have the best chances in the second half, but Coll made a crucial block from Buehl just after the hour mark, and the Bayern Munich star also curled a free-kick just wide late on. Then came the stunning double save from Coll right at the end of the allotted four minutes of injury time, as the Barcelona goalkeeper kept out a deflected Buehl shot that was looping in and quickly got up to stop Wamser's follow-up. That was a sign that it would not be Germany's night, and they then saw defender Sophia Kleinherne come off in tears early in extra time after overstretching while trying to stop Salma Paralluelo going clean through on goal. Spain's winner eventually came, as Bonmati let a ball from Athenea del Castillo run past her in the area before beating Berger with a shot from a tight angle. There was still time for Coll to excel again, flying to her left to save from Lea Schueller as Spain held on.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Seeking to learn, Puka Nacua asks Davante Adams to lead the LA Rams' receiving drills
LOS ANGELES – Although Puka Nacua is one of the NFL's top receivers as he heads into his third season with the Los Angeles Rams, he thinks he still has plenty to learn from the new teammate wearing his old uniform number. Nacua was full of praise and admiration for Davante Adams after just one practice in training camp at Loyola Marymount University on Wednesday. Nacua is determined to soak up the techniques and teachings of the six-time Pro Bowl selection who joined the Rams as a replacement for Cooper Kupp in the spring. 'I've asked Davante to lead our position group drills,' Nacua said. 'There was respect from him coming in, saying I don't want to push you out of the way or to try to take your spot or that I should be up there No. 1, but it's something (where) I have a huge amount of respect for his game, and I'm blessed to be around people like Coop and to have Davante come in.' Theres also a practical reason for Nacua's invitation to Adams: 'When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him. So I was like, 'Hey, I think it would make my job a little easier if you go first.'' For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Nacua's respect for Adams has been obvious from the day Adams signed. Nacua willingly ceded the No. 17 jersey he had worn for two seasons in Los Angeles, switching to the No. 12 he wore in college. Adams got the ball frequently during the Rams' opening workout, impressing the fans in the stands while catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo. Matthew Stafford is starting training camp on the sidelines as he recovers from back soreness, leaving Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett in the pocket for the first week. Nacua was observing Adams with admiration, watching everything from his famous release skills at the line of scrimmage to his ball concentration in traffic. 'His illusion of speed and lateral quickness is something I'm trying to add to my game in the way that it fits my skill set,' Nacua said. 'I wouldn't say there's a lot of people that can replicate some of the things that he can do, but I try to understand the movement so I can add it to my game.' But Adams also recognizes the remarkable ascent of Nacua, the former fifth-round pick. Nacua's average of 88.4 yards receiving per game is the second-best in NFL history among non-scab players, trailing only Minnesota's Justin Jefferson (96.5). Nacua has 184 catches for 2,476 yards in just 28 regular-season games for the Rams, but he could be even more dangerous with Adams as his counterpart. Defenses will be unable to focus primarily on Nacua as they did at times in his first two seasons when Kupp was injured or ineffective, likely allowing Nacua to get into more advantageous matchups for Stafford. The big picture looks good for Nacua, but he's also concentrating on learning the small details from Adams, whose skills he can list in encyclopedic detail. 'I'd say his body control and obviously his elusiveness at the line of scrimmage,' Nacua said. 'But then his awareness, the rotation of defenders and how to attack leverage on anyone, everything down the field, and then to have the illusion of going the opposite direction of where you want to go. He does a great job, and he explains it so well in the meeting room, so it makes it fun to watch tape and to be like, 'OK, how can I add some of these things to my toolbox?'' Nacua is one year away from the chance to sign a contract extension, but he isn't thinking much about the massive looming payday if he produces another prolific season with Stafford and Adams. 'A little bit, but I try my best to stay completely present where my feet are,' Nacua said. 'It's exciting to see guys push the envelope for the wide receiver game.'
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Chargers rave about wideout McConkey, with Harbaugh saying he's 'uncoverable' 1 on 1
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is making such an impression with the Los Angeles Chargers that coach Jim Harbaugh says he's uncoverable one on one, and linebacker Daiyan Henley is still arguing about a catch the second-year pro made in workouts a month ago. McConkey is coming off a sensational season in which he set team rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards receiving while scoring seven touchdowns. Everyone is expecting more from McConkey – except for maybe Henley during their friendly practice rivalry – as he and quarterback Justin Herbert continue to develop the chemistry that has made them one of the NFL's top pass-and-catch duos. Harbaugh, who brought the Chargers to their former hometown for two days of training camp practices this week, said fellow receiver Quentin Johnston and Ladd are playing at an elite level. Then he added about McConkey: 'Ladd, he's even better than he was last year. It's not like hyperbole. It's not. He's uncoverable right now by one guy. That's awesome.' McConkey let out a little chuckle when asked about Harbaugh's comment. 'I don't know about that,' McConkey said Wednesday at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh began his head coaching career in 2004. 'Obviously as receivers, like yeah, we're striving for that. But other guys, they're getting paid on the other side of the ball, too. You're going to win some and lose some. Hopefully I win more than I lose. It's obviously a great feeling knowing he has confidence in me,' said McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2024. 'You go out there and make plays, he believes in me, go out and show him what I'm about.' After completing 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, Herbert has the most completions (1,945) and yards passing (21,093) by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Herbert said McConkey is the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. 'The way he understands the game of football and how he sees defenses, I think that's what makes him like that. He's just got a great understanding of how people are going to try to guard him and where the leverage is and just the way to break it. He's done such a great job with the quarterbacks just being friendly and always being in the right spot, so it's been huge to see.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the Chargers are hoping for a long, long fruitful career for Ladd and his relationship with Herbert will be a big part of it. 'I think we're seeing that right now. It takes two to tango, and those guys getting more time on task together, more chemistry – Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here and I'll put it on your inside shoulder – those types of things, those next-level type things,' Roman said. The coordinator said there were a few times during the first four games last year where McConkey wasn't perfect at all. 'We had to correct some things, a couple plays in particular. He learned from it and it never happened again. He got that and he moved on, and he kept climbing the ladder, and you saw that chemistry grow.' McConkey said there's plenty to work on despite his success last year, including running better routes. 'When I go back and watch games, I want to just eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year that we've been working on throughout this offseason,' he said. 'There's so much more to gain, and we're going to continue to try and build on that, and hopefully it takes off as the season goes.' During workouts last month at the team's base in El Segundo, McConkey did a quick curl route in the end zone. Herbert threw it low, and Henley, heading into his third year, went down with the receiver. Harbaugh signaled touchdown, but Henley still disputes that. Henley was asked about a sack during practice on Wednesday and immediately pivoted to last month's disputed pass play. 'I watched the playback. I hope you watched the playback. The ball hit the ground. OK, well, I've got the tape. You know how you guys are, offense, offense, offense.' Asked about the rivalry with Henley, McConkey said: 'He hasn't come over there for one-on-ones yet, so still waiting on that one. It's all fun and games. Obviously, Daiyan's a heck of a player, but if we line up one on one, I like my chances.' The Chargers played in San Diego for 56 seasons before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 after failing to secure a deal for a new stadium. They pay 1 a year to play at SoFi Stadium built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers were 11-6 last year before losing at Houston in the wild card round. Tickets for Tuesday's practice were distributed to active-duty military and veterans, and Wednesday's tickets went to season ticket holders. Neither day's crowds came close to filling 6,500-seat Torero Stadium.
