Women's Euros
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Spain have advanced to the final of the European Championship for the first time, beating Germany 1-0 in the semi-final of Euro 2025.
Spain controlled play throughout the match but could not find a goal in normal time. Aitana Bonmati finally broke through in the 113th minute, beating Ann-Katrin Berger at her near post.
Spain will face England in the final on Sunday, a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final which the Spaniards won 1-0.
GO FURTHER
Germany 0 Spain 1 – Aitana Bonmati’s strike lifts Spain to first Euros final appearance
When Aitana Bonmati was taken ill with viral meningitis just before the start of this tournament, there were no guarantees that she would even make it to the Euros.
But the Spanish midfielder recovered and is back to her best as the heartbeat of this team.
Sure enough, she was the woman of the moment when Spain needed her tonight — an even more remarkable achievement considering her journey in recent weeks.
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Believe it or not, two nations meeting in consecutive World Cup/Euros finals has happened once before in women's football.
Germany beat Sweden in the final of Euro 2001 by a score of 1-0 on Claudia Muller's golden goal.
The Germans then repeated the feat at the 2003 World Cup, beating the Swedes in the final 2-1 on another golden goal, this time from Nia Kunzer.
Can Spain be the first women's team to hold the World Cup, Nations League and European Championship trophies at the same time?
The could become only the second to be simultaneously Euro and world champions (after Germany) if they can overcome England in the final.
They weren't at their best tonight, but there is a reason why they are so feared in world football.
Our full-time ratings for the German side are as follows.
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This snap, a portrait shot of the two key midfielders tussling in the engine room, is a snapshot of the stylistic differences between the sides.
Brand: tall, rangy, physical. Bonmati: diminutive, agile, technical. Probably the best player on each side.
Eventually, in the key moment, Bonmati was clinical. When given a chance to respond, Brand overhit her cross with several team-mates waiting with only seconds left.
What a battle this was. And what a battle it will be in the coming years of European football.
Here's how Spain rated after their narrow victory.
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Given their injuries, suspensions and their shootout win over France in the quarterfinal, it was a valiant effort from Germany today.
They had their chances going forward — and should have made more of them — but lacked real cutting edge in front of goal.
Still, it was an effort to be proud of and they were defensively resolute enough to limit Spain until the very end of the match.
Germany's errors tonight weren't as stark as those red cards for in the past two games, but they still carry most of the blame for their loss here.
As well as Germany defended for much of the game, it was still a matter of when, not if, Spain would score.
To stand any chance, Germany had to get on the board themselves. They had the chances to do so and were just too wasteful.
She has been one of the standout players of the tournament but Ann-Katrin Berger could not stop Bonmati's near-post finish for that Spain winner.
Berger swaps shirts with Esther Gonzalez at full time with a smile — that's game recognising game after some good saves from the German to deny the Spanish striker.
What a prospect this is: a mouthwatering repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
Coming into the tournament, most people predicted this pairing in the final but there have been plenty of twists and turns (mostly for England) along the way to cast doubt on the possibility.
But now we know — and we can't wait.
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Jule Brand didn't really deserve to be on the losing side tonight.
The 22-year-old, wearing No 22, was near-omnipresent in both defence and attack, bringing the aggression out of possession and drawing several yellow-card fouls with driving bursts from midfield.
Her ball-carrying was so good too. Just a shame her night ended with overhitting a cross in the dying embers of extra time.
She still has a massive future in the sport.
Despite the continuing impressiveness of Jule Brand, her opposite midfielder Aitana Bonmati really grew into the match.
The double Ballon d’Or Feminin winner dictates so much from the middle of the park and was the emotional heartbeat of the Spanish team.
And all that before conjuring and scoring the only goal of the match.
After leading Spain to the final here, and setting up the chance for victory here in Switzerland on Sunday, who would bet against a third Ballon d’Or award in a row?
This generation is writing the history of women's football in Spain. First Euro final of their history, first time they beat Germany in their history.
It's a first ever win over Germany and a first Euro final for Spain!
They needed extra time but they pull off the win.
We get a repeat of the World Cup final two years ago: England vs Spain comes on Sunday.
120' Germany 0-1 Spain
Spain are nearly there now…
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Schuller with that powerful long shot already showing the attacking threat and ball-striking ability Germany have missed up front for nearly all of this game.
Easy to say with hindsight, but that change came too late, in my book.
117' Germany 0-1 Spain
That's another big save from Coll!
Schuller with a rasping drive from range and the Spain 'keeper tips it around the post. It's now or never time for Germany.
That's why she's the best player in the world.
Maicon against North Korea-esque with the rattling near-post finish.
The kind of thing that would have seen Rio Ferdinand yelling out “Ballon d'Or! Ballon d'Or!” if she hadn't already won the thing twice.
Three in a row on the cards?
