1 week ago
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Sam MarsdenJul 23, 2025, 06:58 PM ET
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Spain's match-winner Aitana Bonmatí said she knew Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger would permission abstraction astatine her adjacent station aft scoring the extremity which sets up a European Championship last against England connected Sunday.
Bonmatí struck the winning extremity successful the 113th-minute arsenic Spain registered their first-ever triumph implicit Germany astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic reaching the last of the Euros for the archetypal clip successful their history.
The midfielder collected a walk wrong the country from Athenea del Castillo, spun and past fired wrong Berger's adjacent station to nonstop Spain's substitutes hurtling onto the transportation astatine the Stadion Letzigrund.
"We had analysed [Berger] with the goalkeeping manager and we knew that successful these situations she sometimes leaves abstraction astatine the adjacent post," Bonmatí said successful a quality league aft being named the game's MVP.
"Once I turned, I didn't deliberation twice. I conscionable struck the shot with everything I had due to the fact that I didn't privation to spell to a punishment shootout.
"When the shot went in, I conscionable started moving similar crazy. I didn't cognize wherever to go. I saw the full seat connected their feet, pouring towards me.
"This extremity belongs to each of us, to everyone progressive with the team. We each worked hard to acquisition these moments and what amended mode than to stock it with the group."
It was a cruel mode for Berger's tourney to end. She was sensational against France successful the quarterfinal and captious successful Germany keeping satellite champions Spain retired for arsenic agelong arsenic they did, making 8 saves.
However, she accepted work for Germany's precocious defeat.
"I instrumentality the blame," she told reporters. "The adjacent station had to beryllium covered, that's clear. That's wherefore I'm adjacent much disappointed successful myself.
"I tin marque arsenic galore saves arsenic I want, but that extremity should person simply been mine, and that's wherefore I consciousness incredibly sorry, not adjacent for myself, but for the team, due to the fact that they truly gave everything."
Spain present determination connected to Basel wherever they volition look holders England successful a repetition of the 2023 World Cup final, which La Roja won 1-0 successful Australia.
It is simply a accidental for Montse Tomé's broadside to make much past aft yet ending their Germany hoodoo and reaching a Euros final.
"Once again we person made past today," Bonmatí added. "We support breaking records for firsts, similar reaching the last of the European Championships for the archetypal clip and beating Germany astatine last.
"I americium truthful arrogant to beryllium to this procreation of footballers who are achieving truthful much. In the aboriginal I deliberation we volition beryllium adjacent much grateful for everything we are achieving.
"So, contiguous we're going to bask this, due to the fact that we merit it, but time we person to deliberation astir England. There are not galore days to go."
