Aitana Bonmaty of Spain scored the decisive goal at a crucial moment, leading her team to a 1-0 victory over Germany on Wednesday. This win marks Spain’s first appearance in the Women’s European Championship Finals.
The victory mirrored the drama of the 2023 World Cup final, setting up a showdown against the defending champions, England, in Basel on Sunday.
England also secured a place in the finals after overcoming Italy 2-1 in extra time on Tuesday.
Bonmaty, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, finally broke the stalemate in the 113th minute. She seized the ball on the left, firing it into the net from a narrow angle after exploiting a gap left by German goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
For Bonmaty, who faced health challenges related to meningitis before the tournament, this goal was particularly special, as Spain triumphed over Germany in a major final for the first time.
“I’m proud. We deserve this. It’s been a tough tournament, but we’ve had some fantastic moments,” Bonmaty stated. “We really struggled against Germany, and this is our first win over them. What more could we ask for in a European Championship final?”
Germany’s goalkeeper, Frohms, who leads the tournament with eight saves in the match and a total of 23, took responsibility for her team’s exit. “I share the blame. I should have covered the near post better. I’m incredibly disappointed because we all gave our everything,” she remarked.
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Germany aimed for a record ninth European title but faced an uphill battle against the world champions and tournament favorites.
They nearly took the lead through Clara Buhl, whose angled shot from a long ball by Frohms narrowly missed the right post.
While Germany managed to contain Spain’s formidable offense, they didn’t create a clear goal-scoring opportunity until the 21st minute.
Frohms, a standout in the quarterfinals against France, made another stellar save, deflecting a powerful shot from top tournament scorer Esther Gonzalez over the bar.
Giovanna Hoffmann should have scored for Germany in the 29th minute but missed a crucial chance in front of goal after a brilliant setup by Jules Brando.
Spain pressured Germany towards the end of the first half, nearly scoring just before the break when Gonzalez’s attempt was brilliantly blocked from the corner by Irene Paredes.
Frohms also made two crucial saves early in the second half, denying both González and Clàudia Pina.
Although Germany managed to limit Bonmaty’s influence, she almost found the breakthrough in the 58th minute, curling a shot that was blocked by Sofia Kleinhan.
Spanish goalkeeper Kata Kor had a quiet night but came up big with double saves against Carlotta Wams, keeping Spain in contention as the match headed to extra time.
Germany, who entered the match with a strong record of nine wins in the previous ten Euro semi-finals, sought to push the match to penalties, but Bonmaty had other plans.
This report uses information from Reuters, The Associated Press, and ESPN.
Fan Take: This victory is monumental for Spanish women’s soccer, showcasing its growing strength on the international stage. As Spain prepares to face England, this match could redefine rivalries and elevate the profile of women’s soccer globally.
