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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will Patri Guijarro be the next Spain midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or?
When holding midfielder Patri Guijarro was asked to play in defence for the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea because Barcelona's regular centre-back Andrea Pereira was suspended, it was out of her comfort zone. But she was flawless and Barcelona won 4-0. And when Barca discovered that attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas was set to miss almost the entire 2022-23 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, their replacement in the transfer market was not an equivalent playmaker, but instead defensive midfielder Keira Walsh. Guijarro was asked to step forward into the role played by Putellas, the world's best player. She was up for the challenge. 'I watched a lot of videos of her to analyse how she moved and what she looked for in build-up play,' Guijarro said in No Nos Digas Que Es Imposible (Don't Tell Us It's Impossible), a new book about Barcelona by Maria Tikas. 'She's not a fast player, but she's very intelligent when it comes to finding space and looking forward.' When that season's Champions League final arrived, Guijarro was now established as a key attacking midfielder. Putellas had returned from injury, but she was not 100 per cent fit and had to be content with a place on the bench. Barcelona went 2-0 down to Wolfsburg, but Guijarro scored twice at the start of the second half to draw them level, before Fridolina Rolfo smashed in the winner. Guijarro, a starring centre-back in the equivalent fixture two years before, was named player of the match as an attacking midfielder. That sums up Guijarro; constantly sacrificing herself for the team and capable of playing almost any position. That is why she is such a good all-round holding midfielder, a position crucial to the possession play of both Barcelona and Spain. Traditionally, players in that role do not get the plaudits, especially when they are playing in the same midfield as Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who have split the past four Ballon d'Or awards between them. But maybe that is starting to change. 'Patri is the foundation of the team,' said team-mate Vicky Lopez in a press conference before the semi-final against Germany. 'She's the one who drives the team forward, who makes us all play well and perform at our best. If you watch a match and focus only on Patri, you can't help but smile when you see her play. 'Playing with her is very easy and very difficult at the same time. There are passes that only she sees and you don't expect. You have to get used to her. She doesn't give easy passes. Her passes are almost always forward, with purpose. For me, playing with her is very nice. She's one of the best in the world and very underrated.' Last year, Spain won the men's European Championship with Rodri voted the player of the tournament and then, later in the year, winning the Ballon d'Or. Rodri symbolised the new Spain. On the one hand, he had all the typical qualities of a Spanish holding midfielder: comfortable in possession and intelligent in a positional sense. But he was also a more aggressive, offensive-minded player than his predecessors. He pushed up and pressed high. He pushed forward to offer a goalscoring threat. His team, in turn, were more direct than previous Spain sides. And all this can be said of Guijarro. Look at a touch map from her performances so far at this tournament and it is not what you expect of a holding midfielder. Most of her touches are well inside the opposition half, partly a reflection of Spain's dominance, but partly because she often takes advantage of being unmarked to push on. Guijarro's aggression means Spain are excellent at getting into good attacking situations immediately after being without possession. Take this move early on in the 5-2 win over Belgium. Not many holding midfielders would be closing down this high up the pitch. But after Guijarro helps to force a turnover, she simply keeps on running and gets on the end of this through ball from Mariona Caldentey. Five seconds after hopefully closing down an opponent, Spain's holding midfielder is playing a cutback from close to the byline. Away from the pitch, Guijarro is a sensitive, reliable figure. She was one of the first signings of Barcelona's professional women's era in 2015, although she was initially hesitant, as she wanted to finish high school in her native Mallorca. Eventually, an agreement was made that she could finish her studies at La Masia, becoming something of a revolutionary as the first female player to study at the club's academy. She was instantly respected in the dressing room and was named one of the side's captains at the age of just 21. Those who know her best describe her as loyal and caring, to the point of neglecting herself and her own interests in order to look after others. She conveys this same attitude to the team when she plays. 'Patri is one of the best people you could ever meet,' says one person close to the player, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect relationships. Guijarro is also Spain's dressing-room DJ. When Lopez was selected to start against Portugal in the team's opening Euro 2025 game, she knew what to play. 'Before the match, Patri played some dembow songs to motivate me,' Lopez told RTVE after the match (dembow is a music genre with roots in the Caribbean). On and off the pitch, she looks after her team-mates and sets the rhythm. If Spain feel like a more aggressive, attack-minded side than at the 2023 World Cup — getting the ball forward quicker and also pressing with more intensity — it is partly because of the return of Guijarro, who refused to play for Spain during that era. She has long been famous for fighting for women's footballers' rights. She feels deeply that she has to leave this sport in a better state than she found it, not only in terms of sporting success, but also off the pitch. And she has demonstrated this in everything she has done throughout her career. She and Barcelona team-mate Pereira were co-founders of FutPro, a union for female professional footballers in Spain, and she became a member of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) assembly. 'There had never been any FutPro players who voted for the president of the RFEF, and finally we were able to,' she said in an interview with newspaper El Mundo earlier this month. 'For us, voting was like women's suffrage in Spain in 1933.' Lawyer Amanda Gutierrez, FutPro's president, told The Athletic: 'Thanks to a change that FutPro is working on following the 'Se Acabo' ('It's Over') movement, we insist there should be female assembly members. There is now one female futsal player and six in Liga F. It is very important to be an assembly member because they are the ones who vote for the president and decide the president's salary. They have a say in what is decided. It is a way of being involved and knowing what is going on. It is a huge responsibility and Patri took it on.' In September 2022, 15 Spain players sent an email to the RFEF declaring themselves unavailable for selection and demanding what they considered basic conditions for professional footballers. Guijarro was among the hard-liners; as the months went by, more than half of the initial 15 agreed to return. But she refused, alongside — most notably — Barcelona team-mates Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina, as well as Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizagirre and Amaiur Sarriegi. Spain lifted the World Cup without her, with holding midfielder Teresa Abelleira performing well in that position. Guijarro is not a proud person. What happened has not prevented her from returning to the national team when she felt the changes they were asking for within the institution had been made. She eventually agreed to return ahead of the Olympics last summer, after the RFEF's clean-up, which involved dismissing president Luis Rubiales and coach Jorge Vilda. Centre-back Leon remains a significant absence from this side, but the return of Guijarro and Pina, as well as Lopez's evolution into a first-teamer, have made Spain more complete. Among wonderful contributions in the final third from the likes of Pina and Putellas, Guijarro has probably been Spain's most consistent player at the Euros. The moment that sums it up best is her goal against Italy: not just because she got herself on the scoresheet, but because of the nature of the goal. Latching onto a loose ball from an Italy clearance, she simply slammed it into the net. Spain have scored prettier goals at this tournament, but this was what Guijarro is all about. What other defensive midfielders would regard as a potential interception, she sees as a potential goal. From defence to attack, without pausing for breath. Guijarro finished a respectable 11th in the Ballon d'Or voting last year, although she was behind five Barcelona team-mates, and ultimately her role is generally considered to be about letting more attacking players shine. But her performances at Euro 2025 have been even more dominant than we've become accustomed to. In this form, she is a serious contender to be named the best player at this tournament, and maybe the best in the world. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Barcelona, Spain, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Will Patri Guijarro be the next Spain midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or?
When holding midfielder Patri Guijarro was asked to play in defence for the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea because Barcelona's regular centre-back Andrea Pereira was suspended, it was out of her comfort zone. But she was flawless and Barcelona won 4-0. And when Barca discovered that attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas was set to miss almost the entire 2022-23 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, their replacement in the transfer market was not an equivalent playmaker, but instead defensive midfielder Keira Walsh. Guijarro was asked to step forward into the role played by Putellas, the world's best player. She was up for the challenge. Advertisement 'I watched a lot of videos of her to analyse how she moved and what she looked for in build-up play,' Guijarro said in No Nos Digas Que Es Imposible (Don't Tell Us It's Impossible), a new book about Barcelona by Maria Tikas. 'She's not a fast player, but she's very intelligent when it comes to finding space and looking forward.' When that season's Champions League final arrived, Guijarro was now established as a key attacking midfielder. Putellas had returned from injury, but she was not 100 per cent fit and had to be content with a place on the bench. Barcelona went 2-0 down to Wolfsburg, but Guijarro scored twice at the start of the second half to draw them level, before Fridolina Rolfo smashed in the winner. Guijarro, a starring centre-back in the equivalent fixture two years before, was named player of the match as an attacking midfielder. That sums up Guijarro; constantly sacrificing herself for the team and capable of playing almost any position. That is why she is such a good all-round holding midfielder, a position crucial to the possession play of both Barcelona and Spain. Traditionally, players in that role do not get the plaudits, especially when they are playing in the same midfield as Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who have split the past four Ballon d'Or awards between them. But maybe that is starting to change. 'Patri is the foundation of the team,' said team-mate Vicky Lopez in a press conference before the semi-final against Germany. 'She's the one who drives the team forward, who makes us all play well and perform at our best. If you watch a match and focus only on Patri, you can't help but smile when you see her play. 'Playing with her is very easy and very difficult at the same time. There are passes that only she sees and you don't expect. You have to get used to her. She doesn't give easy passes. Her passes are almost always forward, with purpose. For me, playing with her is very nice. She's one of the best in the world and very underrated.' Advertisement Last year, Spain won the men's European Championship with Rodri voted the player of the tournament and then, later in the year, winning the Ballon d'Or. Rodri symbolised the new Spain. On the one hand, he had all the typical qualities of a Spanish holding midfielder: comfortable in possession and intelligent in a positional sense. But he was also a more aggressive, offensive-minded player than his predecessors. He pushed up and pressed high. He pushed forward to offer a goalscoring threat. His team, in turn, were more direct than previous Spain sides. And all this can be said of Guijarro. Look at a touch map from her performances so far at this tournament and it is not what you expect of a holding midfielder. Most of her touches are well inside the opposition half, partly a reflection of Spain's dominance, but partly because she often takes advantage of being unmarked to push on. Guijarro's aggression means Spain are excellent at getting into good attacking situations immediately after being without possession. Take this move early on in the 5-2 win over Belgium. Not many holding midfielders would be closing down this high up the pitch. But after Guijarro helps to force a turnover, she simply keeps on running and gets on the end of this through ball from Mariona Caldentey. Five seconds after hopefully closing down an opponent, Spain's holding midfielder is playing a cutback from close to the byline. Away from the pitch, Guijarro is a sensitive, reliable figure. She was one of the first signings of Barcelona's professional women's era in 2015, although she was initially hesitant, as she wanted to finish high school in her native Mallorca. Eventually, an agreement was made that she could finish her studies at La Masia, becoming something of a revolutionary as the first female player to study at the club's academy. She was instantly respected in the dressing room and was named one of the side's captains at the age of just 21. Advertisement Those who know her best describe her as loyal and caring, to the point of neglecting herself and her own interests in order to look after others. She conveys this same attitude to the team when she plays. 'Patri is one of the best people you could ever meet,' says one person close to the player, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect relationships. Guijarro is also Spain's dressing-room DJ. When Lopez was selected to start against Portugal in the team's opening Euro 2025 game, she knew what to play. 'Before the match, Patri played some dembow songs to motivate me,' Lopez told RTVE after the match (dembow is a music genre with roots in the Caribbean). On and off the pitch, she looks after her team-mates and sets the rhythm. If Spain feel like a more aggressive, attack-minded side than at the 2023 World Cup — getting the ball forward quicker and also pressing with more intensity — it is partly because of the return of Guijarro, who refused to play for Spain during that era. She has long been famous for fighting for women's footballers' rights. She feels deeply that she has to leave this sport in a better state than she found it, not only in terms of sporting success, but also off the pitch. And she has demonstrated this in everything she has done throughout her career. She and Barcelona team-mate Pereira were co-founders of FutPro, a union for female professional footballers in Spain, and she became a member of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) assembly. 'There had never been any FutPro players who voted for the president of the RFEF, and finally we were able to,' she said in an interview with newspaper El Mundo earlier this month. 'For us, voting was like women's suffrage in Spain in 1933.' Lawyer Amanda Gutierrez, FutPro's president, told The Athletic: 'Thanks to a change that FutPro is working on following the 'Se Acabo' ('It's Over') movement, we insist there should be female assembly members. There is now one female futsal player and six in Liga F. It is very important to be an assembly member because they are the ones who vote for the president and decide the president's salary. They have a say in what is decided. It is a way of being involved and knowing what is going on. It is a huge responsibility and Patri took it on.' Advertisement In September 2022, 15 Spain players sent an email to the RFEF declaring themselves unavailable for selection and demanding what they considered basic conditions for professional footballers. Guijarro was among the hard-liners; as the months went by, more than half of the initial 15 agreed to return. But she refused, alongside — most notably — Barcelona team-mates Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina, as well as Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizagirre and Amaiur Sarriegi. Spain lifted the World Cup without her, with holding midfielder Teresa Abelleira performing well in that position. Guijarro is not a proud person. What happened has not prevented her from returning to the national team when she felt the changes they were asking for within the institution had been made. She eventually agreed to return ahead of the Olympics last summer, after the RFEF's clean-up, which involved dismissing president Luis Rubiales and coach Jorge Vilda. Centre-back Leon remains a significant absence from this side, but the return of Guijarro and Pina, as well as Lopez's evolution into a first-teamer, have made Spain more complete. Among wonderful contributions in the final third from the likes of Pina and Putellas, Guijarro has probably been Spain's most consistent player at the Euros. The moment that sums it up best is her goal against Italy: not just because she got herself on the scoresheet, but because of the nature of the goal. Latching onto a loose ball from an Italy clearance, she simply slammed it into the net. Spain have scored prettier goals at this tournament, but this was what Guijarro is all about. What other defensive midfielders would regard as a potential interception, she sees as a potential goal. From defence to attack, without pausing for breath. Guijarro finished a respectable 11th in the Ballon d'Or voting last year, although she was behind five Barcelona team-mates, and ultimately her role is generally considered to be about letting more attacking players shine. But her performances at Euro 2025 have been even more dominant than we've become accustomed to. In this form, she is a serious contender to be named the best player at this tournament, and maybe the best in the world.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
With her trademark shot, Claudia Pina has made herself indispensable for Spain at the Euros
When Claudia Pina was younger, she would use a ladder from her terrace to climb a wall of her house and drape a training vest over the top corner. Sometimes she did it herself, other times her father helped. Then, she would back away as far as she could and kick a ball toward the target for hours. She didn't realise at the time, but it was the beginning of the Spanish forward's trademark precision. With her club, Barcelona, and at Euro 2025, Pina has established herself as a specialist in long-range goals, always aimed at the top corner. Her friends joke that they are going to patent the shot and name it after her. 'The Pina' made its latest appearance on Friday against Switzerland in Spain's 2-0 quarter-final win against the hosts. With 20 minutes to go, and only up by a goal, Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro pressed Switzerland's Lia Walti, who let the ball loose in a moment of confusion near the penalty area. Pina saw an opportunity to capitalise, dribbling toward the centre of the area. Without hesitation, she found the top-right corner of the goal, hitting the back of the net and doubling her team's lead. It was her second goal of this Euros and her second from outside the area. It was also Spain's first knockout victory in a European Championship. 'This girl is out of this world,' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll said in the mixed zone after the match. The trouble with signatures is that, when you're good enough, everyone knows about them. Pina understands she has to start shooting to the other side because goalkeepers have already started diving toward her shot before the ball leaves her foot. Though, as Switzerland's Livia Peng found out, knowing where her shot is going and stopping her are two separate tasks. By Friday, Spain had not played for a week since their final group stage match against Italy. For Pina, who was rested because Spain had already qualified for the next round, the wait for the quarter-final was endless. Against Switzerland, the 23-year-old came out hungry and ready to pounce. During an uncharacteristically muted first half from the world champions, Pina's persistence was Spain's only real attack. In the first 45 minutes, she took a direct free kick that was saved by Livia Peng, followed by another chance in the 23rd minute that was saved. In the 56th minute, she tried a similar shot from the edge of the box, but the ball went wide. Soon after, she found her space at the edge of the box and her goal. 'When (Pina) makes that move, I think she's going to score. When she gets the ball, with space, she starts to drive forward, she prepares herself and that feeling when she puts her left leg on the ground, we believe it's going in,' head coach Montse Tome said at the post-match press conference. 'She's been scoring goals like that all season; she's very confident in that. She started on the left today, then we switched her to the right because we weren't seeing much fluidity. That's what we thought when we changed her, to have more punch, to get her into that finishing position, and she's being very effective.' 'She contributes a lot to Spain's game and, if she's lucky enough to (score), then great.' The goal was a carbon copy of the one she scored against Belgium in Spain's 6-2 group stage victory, the shot that soared past Lisa Lichtfus at 98.6 km per hour. That goal, and the one scored by her teammate Athenea del Castillo against Italy, were standout moments of the group stage. And it was those two players who helped Spain qualify for their first Euros semi-final. Pina's success this summer is a continuation of the momentum she's built with Barcelona. In 1,551 minutes last season, including 19 starts, Pina scored 10 goals and provided seven assists. The striker, who has not always had favourable minutes with Barcelona, has since earned the trust of head coach Pere Romeu. During the 2024-25 season, whether she has played as a starter or a substitute, she has been connected and has made the most of the minutes she has had, whether it was 90 or 10. She finished as the top scorer in the UEFA Women's Champions League with 10 goals and was the second top scorer for Barcelona in all competitions with 24 goals, only behind Ewa Pajor, who scored 43. In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Wolfsburg, she came on in the 58th minute for Pajor and by the 77th minute she had already scored twice — the match ended 6-1. One of her goals was, of course, her signature: a direct free kick that once again found the top corner of the net. In the first leg of the semi-final against Chelsea Women, she was a substitute, coming on in the 66th minute and scoring her first goal four minutes later before repeating the feat in the 90th minute. In the Copa de la Reina final against Atletico Madrid, she scored two decisive goals that gave Barcelona the title in a 2-0 victory and earned her the player of the match award. Against England in a Nations League match earlier this year, she was also the player who changed the game. Spain was down a goal when she came on in the 58th minute. Her first touches led to a goal. Ten minutes later, she scored a second goal to give her team the 2-1 victory. She used that trademark shot from outside the area into the top corner. 'I play whatever is needed, whatever is required of me,' Pina said after Friday's quarter-final. 'At the club, I also try to contribute whatever I can, whether I start or come off the bench. I'm ready.' In addition to her goals, Pina's season can also be described by her hard work and patience. Last summer, she wanted to give her game a boost. She did extra training sessions and sought mental support from a psychologist. 'I worked hard in the summer. I worked with a nutritionist, a physical trainer and a psychologist outside the club, and it helped me,' she explained at a press conference with Spain before the match against Switzerland. Her hard work paid off, and with more playing time than in previous years, Pina was able to prove her worth, emerging as one of the big names of the season for both Barcelona and the national team. Pina has not always had the confidence she has now. She admitted that if she had not had more playing time this year, she would have considered leaving Barcelona. 'It's difficult to give your all every day and have players ahead of you,' she said in a press conference before the game. 'You have to be patient because I'm young and there were players with more weight at the time. 'At Barcelona, we are all very good and in the end, the coach decides based on small details. If they hadn't given me the opportunity, maybe it was time to think about the future.' But Pina's patience has paid off, and Barcelona and Spain are enjoying the results. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Barcelona, Spain, La Liga, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
With her trademark shot, Claudia Pina has made herself indispensable for Spain at the Euros
When Claudia Pina was younger, she would use a ladder from her terrace to climb a wall of her house and drape a training vest over the top corner. Sometimes she did it herself, other times her father helped. Then, she would back away as far as she could and kick a ball toward the target for hours. She didn't realise at the time, but it was the beginning of the Spanish forward's trademark precision. With her club, FC Barcelona, and at Euro 2025, Pina has established herself as a specialist in long-range goals, always aimed at the top corner. Her friends joke that they are going to patent the shot and name it after her. Advertisement 'The Pina' made its latest appearance on Friday against Switzerland in Spain's 2-0 quarter-final win against the hosts. With 20 minutes to go, and only up by a goal, Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro pressed Switzerland's Lia Walti, who let the ball loose in a moment of confusion near the penalty area. Pina saw an opportunity to capitalise, dribbling toward the center of the area. Without hesitation, she found the upper right corner of the goal, hitting the back of the net and doubling her team's lead. It was her second goal of this Euro and her second from outside the area. It was also Spain's first knock-out victory in a European Championship. 'This girl is out of this world,' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll said in the mixed zone after the match. The trouble with signatures is that, when you're good enough, everyone knows about them. Pina understands she has to start shooting to the other side because goalkeepers have already started diving toward her shot before the ball leaves her foot. Though, as Switzerland's Livia Peng found out, knowing where her shot is going and stopping her are two separate tasks. By Friday, Spain had not played for a week since their final group stage match against Italy. For Pina, who was left out to rest because Spain had already qualified for the next round, the wait for the quarter-final was endless. Against Switzerland, the 23-year-old came out hungry and ready to pounce. During an uncharacteristically muted first half from the world champions, Pina's persistence was Spain's only really attack. In the first 45 minutes, she took a direct free kick that was saved by Livia Peng, followed by another chance in the 23rd minute that was saved. In the 56th minute, she tried a similar shot from the edge of the box, but the ball went wide. Soon after, she found her space at the edge of the box and her goal. Advertisement 'When (Pina) makes that move, I think she's going to score. When she gets the ball, with space, she starts to drive forward, she prepares herself and that feeling when she puts her left leg on the ground, we believe it's going in,' head coach Montse Tome said at the post-match press conference. 'She's been scoring goals like that all season; she's very confident in that. She started on the left today, then we switched her to the right because we weren't seeing much fluidity. That's what we thought when we changed her, to have more punch, to get her into that finishing position, and she's being very effective.' 'She contributes a lot to Spain's game and, if she's lucky enough to (score), then great.' The goal was a carbon copy of the one she scored against Belgium in Spain's 6-2 group stage victory. That shot that soared by Lisa Lichtfus at 98.6 km per hour. That goal, and the one scored by her teammate Athenea del Castillo against Italy, were standout moments of the group stage. And it was those two players who helped Spain qualify for their first Euros semi-final. Pina's success this summer is a continuation of the momentum she's built with Barcelona. In 1,551 minutes last season, including 19 starts, Pina scored 10 goals and provided seven assists. The striker, who has not always had favourable minutes with Barcelona, has since earned the trust of head coach Pere Romeu. During the 2024/25 season, whether she has played as a starter or a substitute, she has been connected and has made the most of the minutes she has had, whether it was 90 or 10. She finished as the top scorer in the UEFA Women's Champions League with 10 goals and was the second top scorer for FC Barcelona in all competitions with 24 goals, only behind Ewa Pajor, who scored 43. In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Wolfsburg, she came on in the 58th minute for Pajor and by the 77th minute she had already scored twice — the match ended 6-1. One of her goals was, of course, her signature: a direct free kick that once again found the top corner of the net. In the first leg of the semi-final against Chelsea Women, she was a substitute, coming on in the 66th minute and scoring her first goal four minutes later before repeating the feat in the 90th minute. In the Copa de la Reina final against Atletico Madrid, she scored two decisive goals that gave FC Barcelona the title in a 2-0 victory and earned MVP of the match. Against England in a Nations League match earlier this year, she was also the player who changed the game. Spain was down a goal when she came on in the 58th minute. Her first touches led to a goal. Ten minutes later, she scored a second goal to give her team the 2-1 victory. She used that trademark shot from outside the area to the top corner. Advertisement 'I play whatever is needed, whatever is required of me,' Pina said after Friday's quarter-final. 'At the club, I also try to contribute whatever I can, whether I start or come off the bench. I'm ready.' In addition to her goals, Pina's season can also be described by her hard work and patience. Last summer, she wanted to give her game a boost. She did extra training sessions and sought mental support from a psychologist. 'I worked hard in the summer. I worked with a nutritionist, a physical trainer and a psychologist outside the club, and it helped me,' she explained at a press conference with Spain before the match against Switzerland. Her hard work paid off, and with more playing time than in previous years, Pina was able to prove her worth, emerging as one of the big names of the season for both Barcelona and the national team. Pina has not always had the confidence she has now. She admitted that if she had not had more playing time this year, she would have considered leaving FC Barcelona. 'It's difficult to give your all every day and have players ahead of you,' she said in a press conference before the game. 'You have to be patient because I'm young and there were players with more weight at the time. 'At Barcelona, we are all very good and in the end, the coach decides based on small details. If they hadn't given me the opportunity, maybe it was time to think about the future.' But Pina's patience has paid off, and her Barcelona and Spain are enjoying the results.
Kuwait Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Italy join Spain in Women's Euro quarter-finals
BERN: Italy reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Friday despite losing 3-1 to Group B winners Spain, the Azzurre finishing ahead of rivals Portugal whose tournament ended with a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Belgium. Athenea, Patri Guijarro and Esther Gonzalez scored the goals in Bern for Spain who finished the group stage on a perfect nine points, five ahead of second-placed Italy who will face Norway in the last eight on Wednesday. 'We had one key objective and that was to get through,' said Andrea Soncin who has taken Italy to the last eight of the women's Euros for the first time since 2013. 'We can still develop and there is a gap between us and Spain, but you saw that with good organization we can compete. 'Obviously they have really great players who regardless of how organized you are can mess everything up for you, but we're very happy to have qualified.' Spain meanwhile will take on hosts Switzerland in a week's time as they aim to follow up their World Cup win with a first-ever Euros triumph. Montse Tome's team scored 14 times in three group matches, just four fewer goals they scored in Australia and New Zealand two years ago. 'We will make the most of the time, adapt so that the players have time to rest physically and mentally, and also have some fun,' said Tome. 'I hope we manage to keep doing what we are doing because we won three games from three, and it's the first time Spain have done this.' Italy, who took the lead through Elisabetta Oliviero in the 10th minute, ended the group stage one point ahead of third-placed Belgium who snatched a last-gasp win in Sion through Janice Cayman. Belgium were already eliminated before kick-off and only Portugal had a chance of overtaking Italy heading into the final round of Group B fixtures. Italy through But Soncin's Italy started the game knowing that a defeat would have likely been enough for a spot in the quarters even if Portugal beat Belgium due to the significant goal difference gap between the two teams. Three points separated Italy and Portugal at kick-off and Italian fans were able to relax when Tessa Wullaert stuck out her left leg to guide home Jill Janssens' low cross and put Belgium ahead in the third minute. Shortly afterwards Elena Linari thumped a header against the crossbar from Manuela Giugliano's corner, and then Oliviero gave Italy a shock lead by pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area after some poor defending from Spain. But Spain soon began to assert their dominance and four minutes later Athenea brought them level with a wonderful goal, dribbling towards the edge of the area before exchanging passes with Alexia Putellas and curling home a superb finish. The Spanish continued to have the lion's share of possession but Italy were dangerous on the break, with Martina Piemonte, up front in place of Cristiana Girelli, shanked wide when clean through on goal. And Barbara Bonansea headed over Sofia Cantore's cross two minutes before the break as Italy pushed to retake the lead. But Spain were deservedly in front three minutes after the break through Patri whose sliced first-time finish crept past Italy goalkeeper Laura Giulinani. Spain poured forward and added a third in stoppage time through Esther Gonzalez. But it mattered little by that point as even though Telma Encarnacao levelled late for Portugal, Cayman lashed home a loose ball in the 96th minute to give Belgium a thrilling win after they had two goals chalked off by VAR. Italy's players jumped and hugged once Belgium's success was confirmed, before basking in the applause of their travelling support. — AFP
