Women's Euros
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Spain are leading 1-0 against England at half-time in the 2025 European Championship final.
After a frenetic start in Basel, Mariona Caldentey headed the world champions into the lead from Ona Batlle's pinpoint cross.
Sarina Wiegman's side will have to come from behind again if they are to defend their title. If Spain hold on, they will win this trophy for the first time.
England's players, many of whom play in the WSL, know plenty about Arsenal winger Caldentey — and her performance in this half has been enough to give Lucy Bronze a headache.
Whether cutting inside to overload in midfield or pulling wide to deliver the ball in for Gonzalez, she has been a real threat.
She got her reward by leaving Bronze stuck in the mud as she leapt highest for a header to put Spain 1-0 up.
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They have the crucial advantage going into half time — and Spain are good value for their goal. Here's how we rated them in that half:
There's still work to do for England, who find themselves a goal down despite a bright start. Here's how we rated their first 45 minutes:
Subs:
HT England 0-1 Spain
How often have we seen an injured player risked in a major tournament final, only to show that they weren’t ready to start?
Based on that first-half performance, there is no way Lauren James should have been in the England line-up today.
Clearly hampered by her injury, the 23-year-old wasn’t able to contribute anything close to her usual standard and she, along with Stanway, allowed Batlle a free run into the penalty area to set up the opening goal.
Kelly has offered more of a threat off this bench at this tournament. She should have started in light of James’ injury.
HT England 0-1 Spain
An opening goal like that, in a game like this, highlights exactly why this Spain team are the world champions. Bonmati, Putellas and Batlle all did superbly to create the chance and then Caldentey did the rest.
But while it was an excellent goal from a Spanish point of view, it was a poor one for England to concede. James and Stanway allowed Batlle to ghost past them into a crossing position and then Bronze let Caldentey steal a march on her at the back post.
I suspect Wiegman's half-time team talk won't be particularly delighted with the defending…
England made their best start to a game this tournament.
Their tempo was high, they kept the ball well and defended astutely.
Spain took their chances and England did not.
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That's the break!
England go in at half-time trailing again.
Mariona Caldentey grimacing in pain after Lucy Bronze accidentally caught her after they landed following an aerial challenge.
I hate it when the crowd starts doing Mexican waves in the middle of the game for no reason. It must be really distracting for the players.
Some fans tried to start one a moment ago, but luckily someone stopped them.
Toone was screaming for Kelly to pass her the ball there…
44' England 0-1 Spain
Chloe Kelly has made a genuine impact early on.
Lovely touch from Toone, Kelly crosses, cleared.
Then Leah Williamson pings a gorgeous crossfield pass out to the winger, who is thrillingly direct.
She takes on Batlle, cuts inside, shoots… dragged it past the near post. Well wide.
Good intent though!
42' England 0-1 Spain
Gosh, Aitana Bonmati, what a player.
She sportingly kicks it out after being played the ball, returning possession to England after James kicked it out so she could go off.
Then she travels down the right, slings in the cross… nodded narrowly wide by Esther Gonzalez. Leah Williamson just did enough.
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Since Caldentey's goal, England have barely crossed the halfway line.
They seem to be unable to react despite the fact that, until the goal, if any team deserved to be ahead on the scoreboard, it was England.
That didn't look good for Lauren James. She picked up an ankle injury in the game against Italy, forcing her off at half-time.
If James had not been fit, Chloe Kelly would have started.
39' England 0-1 Spain
Lauren James looks to be injured.
She was nudged off it by Athenea del Castillo, set off on a sprint to track the runner, then just booted the ball out of play frustratedly after Stanway won it back.
Sad. She's coming off. Chloe Kelly putting the shinpads on and she hop, skips and jumps onto the pitch.
I suspect that may have been a change which would have happened anyway eventually.
Spain are moving like a hive mind, almost telepathic, pressing at its finest.
Watching them swarm England’s backline is a masterclass in coordinated pressure.
That birthday chant is for Aggie Beever-Jones, 22 years old today.
She got her first England kit exactly 15 years ago.
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A few minutes before Spain’s goal, possession was tight at 54 per cent Spain, 46 per cent England.
Now it’s 60-40, and looks like it could be more if you consider the confidence quotient.
35' England 0-1 Spain
It's not fantastic from Lauren James as her marker Ona Batlle bursts into the box, but it is a very useful recovery as she charges back to neutralise the run and shrug Batlle away so the ball rolls out.
Hemp and James are being kept hard at work stopping the flying full-backs of Batlle and Carmona.
Pinning Olga and Ona back is half the Batlle (sorry).
32' England 0-1 Spain
England have retreated into their shell somewhat after conceding.
Spain are just recycling the ball and playing it in front of the English team without much pressure on the ball.
They will love that.
