Brilliant Bonmati breaks Germany's resolve to fire Spain into Euros final
Spain will meet England in Basel on Sunday in the Euro 2025 final
Spain continue to make history after reaching their first-ever Euros final with a 1-0 extra-time win over Germany in Zurich, but it was not easy.
Aitana Bonmati's moment of unexpected brilliance gave Spain the win in the 113th minute; an outstanding near-post finish that showed why she has two Ballon d’Ors.
It was a frustrating semi-final for the Spanish, as Germany had a clear game plan: to disrupt possession and any attacking fluidity. It worked. While the Spanish were becoming more frustrated by the minute, the Germans grew into the match.
Germany started the game looking for an early direct goal through the goal kicks of quarter-final hero Ann-Katrin Berger, who found Klara Bühl, Giovanna Hoffmann and Jule Brand in space behind the Spanish defensive line. Bühl had her first clear chance just eight minutes into the match that left her one-on-one with Cata Coll, but the Bayern Munich striker shot just wide of the post.
Spain have struggled with low blocks and crowded midfields throughout this tournament, and Germany stepped out with the same game plan that Switzerland executed in the quarter-finals. They did well to close down spaces on the wing and passing lanes in the midfield, forcing Spain to find new paths to goal, which they struggle with.
For Spain, Patri Guijarro stepped up while Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati pushed deep into Germany’s half. Guijarro pushed higher up the midfield and looked to split defensive lines so the likes of Esther Gonzalez and Bonmati could take their first touches inside Germany’s box.
Gonzalez kept Berger on her toes throughout the first half with a few clear chances being saved by Berger. Irene Paredes hit the post off a corner-kick four minutes from half-time. Luck wasn’t on Spain’s side.
Tome’s team went into the break with 70% possession, 12 total attempts on goal compared to Germany’s two, and a total of 30 attacks to Germany’s three. But in the second half, Germany had clearer chances to go ahead, and forced Coll into a last-minute brilliant double save to send the match into extra-time.
The second half saw fewer clear chances from the world champions, and by the last 15 minutes of the match, Germany had multiple opportunities to put the game to bed.
In the extra 30 minutes played, Germany defended, waiting for just one opportunity to score, and Spain kept attacking relentlessly. A moment of brilliance was required to advance to the final.
Athenea del Castillo regained possession near the box and played Bonmati in near the touchline. She looked to be short on option, but managed to squeeze a hard, low shot in between Berger and the near post, shaking the side netting and the entire Stadion Letzigrund.
What defined Spain’s match
Frustration. Every Spanish player on the pitch cut a frustrated figure, with nothing going to plan. Mariona Caldentey was invisible, not being able to find spaces through her trademark passing. Putellas and Bonmati were nullified in midfield, unable to shine in their usual pockets in the middle of the pitch.
Guijarro was Spain’s most consistent player, taking advantage of space that was left from Germany’s low block, but once she released the ball higher up the pitch, the play died quickly at the feet of a German defender. There was minimal cohesion, unusual for a team that has been driven so much by their identity and togetherness so far in the tournament.
Consistency. Despite their endless attempts on goal, they never stopped. Spain once again showed their mental strength across the pitch to not let frustration fog their focus.
With every decisive save from Coll, her teammates celebrated knowing they can’t risk being a goal down. No one ever backed down when it mattered most.
What defined Germany’s match
Discipline. Germany had an outstanding match containing Spain’s attacking dangers. That was their clear intention, celebrating every block as if they scored a goal. A low and compact defensive line is Spain's kryptonite.
The Germans knew they had strength in their attacking line and had their opportunities to win the match. Bühl had three clear chances to put her side ahead, including an 87th-minute free-kick to win the match. Coll watched as the ball bounced under her, but just wide.
Throughout extra-time, Germany kept their consistency and mental strength to execute their game plan with intensity. With every sliding tackle, they gave themselves the opportunity to find just one chance, one play, one goal in their quest to reach a second consecutive Euros final.
Even after Spain scored, Lea Schüller forced Coll into another game-saving, last-minute save. Germany bow out of the Euros with their heads held high.
Something you might have missed
Laia Aleixandri was absent from Spain’s defensive line after picking up her second yellow of the tournament against Switzerland in the quarter-final. This forced Tome to play Maria Mendez as the left-sided centre-back alongside Paredes.
With Germany being so compact deep into their own half, Aleixandri’s absence was notable when Spain required decisive and penetrative passing from deeper positions. Mendez’s weaker decision-making with the ball at her feet left Spain with less attacking play than usual, in a match which needed that the most.
What’s next?
The final. Spain take on England in the Euro 2025 final in Basel on Sunday. It is a chance for England to seek revenge after their loss in the 2023 Fifa World Cup final, and it is a chance for Spain to avenge their Euro 2022 quarter-final loss to the Lionesses in extra-time.
This is Spain’s first-ever Euros final, and it is England’s second consecutive final.
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