Aitana Bonmati’s remarkable goal in extra time propelled Spain to their first-ever Women’s European Championship final, clinching a 1-0 victory over Germany. This win marks a historic achievement, as it is Spain’s first victory against Germany in this tournament’s history, and sets the stage for a rematch against England, who they previously defeated in the 2023 World Cup final.
Throughout the match, Germany displayed a resolute defence, pushing the world champions into extra time. Bonmati expressed her pride in the team’s performance, stating, “I feel so proud. We deserved this.” In a tense 113th minute, Bonmati received a pass from Athenea del Castillo, skillfully evaded defender Rebecca Knaak, and delivered a stunning shot from a tight angle that sealed Spain’s place in the final. She noted that the team had prepared for the match with in-depth analysis, which helped her exploit a gap left by the German goalkeeper.
Spain’s latest victory adds to their recent successes, having already won both the World Cup and Nations League in the past two years. The upcoming final against England promises to be an exciting matchup, as England also required extra time to overcome Italy 2-1 in their semi-final encounter.
For German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, the match ended disappointingly. Despite her previous heroics that secured a quarter-final win against France, she shouldered the blame for conceding the crucial goal, admitting she should have protected the near post better.
The contest began with Germany almost taking an early lead through Klara Bühl’s near miss, while Spain struggled to break through an organised German defence until the later stages of the first half. Essential interventions from Berger kept the match scoreless until Bonmati’s decisive goal turned the tide in Spain’s favour.
Spain’s consistent attacking efforts were highlighted by several attempts on goal, including a close header from Irene Paredes that hit the post. Meanwhile, Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll made crucial saves to maintain their chances, displaying resilience during tight moments in the match.
As the excitement builds for the final, Spain aims to secure their first European Championship title to complement their recent achievements on the global stage, while Germany will reflect on a competitive campaign that ultimately fell short against the reigning champions.