Aitana Bonmaty expressed her disappointment over missing a crucial penalty in the shootout and admitted she was in disbelief after Spain’s loss to England on Sunday.
Alongside Bonmaty, Mariona Caldentei and Salma Paraluelo also failed to convert their penalties, resulting in England’s triumph following a 1-1 stalemate that extended into extra time.
“I’m in shock,” Bonmaty told Rtve. “We put in all our effort; I must apologize for our missed penalties and congratulate England.”
“However, we played well and were the stronger side, but that alone doesn’t guarantee victory; we need to finish our chances.”
“I believe England is a strong team that knows how to win. Some teams can capitalize on minimal opportunities,” she added. Over the course of 120 minutes, Spain took 22 shots compared to England’s eight, yet only managed to score once through Caldentei before failing to score again despite their efforts against goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Bonmaty, who battled viral meningitis to participate in the tournament, was named a standout player while her teammate Ester Gonzalez secured the golden boot with four goals.
She likened this surprising defeat to Barcelona’s unexpected loss to Arsenal in the Champions League final back in May.
“This is devastating; we worked so hard for this,” the midfielder lamented. “The same situation occurred with my club Barca in the Champions League.”
“We were in control for the last 70 minutes and dominated play, but we couldn’t convert that momentum into goals.” She continued, stating that the pain of defeat feels unjust, yet she feels her team performed well overall in the tournament.
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As world champions, Spain aimed to clinch their first European title in Switzerland.
Captain Irene Paredes, a key player in Spain’s World Cup win against England two years ago, expressed her disappointment. “We were deserving of more, but who defines what is ‘deserved’?” she questioned. “England benefited from some luck throughout the tournament.”
“We believed we could succeed, but it wasn’t meant to be. While both teams had their moments, we certainly dictated much of the game’s pace and generated clearer chances,” she reasoned. “But ultimately, it’s about scoring, and we let those opportunities slip away, including penalties.”
Coach Montse Tome emphasized the importance of resilience, stating at the post-game press conference: “This is part of the sport. Learning to lose is essential. We missed our penalties today.”
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.
Editorial Opinion: This news matters significantly to soccer fans as it highlights the intense emotions and pressures athletes face in high-stakes competitions. The ability of teams to learn and grow from such defeats will shape the future of women’s soccer, creating exciting narratives and rivalries that fans will follow passionately.
