Aitana Bonmatí's extra-time goal propelled Spain to their first-ever Women's European Championship final, securing a 1-0 victory over Germany in the semi-final. The match, held in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, was a hard-fought contest that saw Spain dominate possession but struggle to break down a resilient German defense.
The game remained scoreless after 90 minutes, leading to extra time. With a penalty shootout looming, Bonmatí seized the moment in the 113th minute, receiving a pass from Athenea del Castillo, outmaneuvering Rebecca Knaak with a clever feint, and squeezing a shot past German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger from a tight angle. Bonmatí spotted a gap at the near post, exploiting a vulnerability that the Spanish analysts had identified.
"I feel so proud. We deserved this," Bonmatí exclaimed. "We have played a great tournament throughout... First to beat Germany and then to advance to the final of the Euros. Who could ask for more?".
Spain's victory was historic on multiple fronts. It marked their first-ever win against Germany in a major women's final and secured their place in their first European Championship final. They will now face reigning European champions England in Basel on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0.
The upcoming final presents Spain with the opportunity to become the first nation since Germany nearly 15 years ago to simultaneously hold both the World Cup and European Championship titles. Moreover, if Spain triumphs, they will be the first nation to have won all of UEFA's current national-team competitions, across men's and women's, senior and youth levels, in both football and futsal.
Germany, who had won nine of their previous ten Euro semi-finals, proved a formidable opponent. Goalkeeper Cata Coll made crucial saves, including a double save in stoppage time, to deny Klara Buhl and Carlotta Wamser and keep Spain in the game. Germany also managed to keep Spain's attack at bay for a long time, with Berger making a fantastic save to deny Esther González in the 21st minute.
Olga Carmona emphasized the significance of the victory for the fans, stating, "We were very happy with the goal from Aitana... It brought us closer to the final, [something] we have wanted so much and didn't want to miss... The goal from her has given us a lot of euphoria, but above all, peace of mind because we had been trying our best throughout the game and in the end [we did it]". She also acknowledged the fans' support, saying, "The record of attendance [at EURO 2025] has been spectacular... We are very grateful, thank you to all those who came. There were a lot of them, and we dedicate this victory to them".
For Bonmatí, the goal was particularly meaningful, especially considering she had suffered a meningitis-related health scare leading up to the tournament. She acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down the German defense, stating, "(I feel) proud. We deserve it. We've had a brutal championship. But we've also had a great tournament so far until today... Today we also suffered, of course, against Germany".
As Spain prepares to face England in the final, they carry the hopes of a nation and the ambition to cement their status as the leading force in international women's football.
