Spain secured a place in the Euro 2025 semi-finals! 🏆 🇪🇸 They did so by clinching that spot with an emphatic 2-0 win against Switzerland in the quarterfinals played at a record-setting venue. The game in front of 78,407 fans became the highest ever crowd for a Women’s Euros quarter-final. Spain’s goals were scored by Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina, all while overcoming adversity, which included two missed penalty kicks.
The final started exactly how Spain fans would have dreamed, as Spain quickly controlled possession and generated multiple chances. However, they were dealt an early blow as Mariona Caldentey, Spain’s most prolific penalty taker, missed from the spot. This penalty resulted from Aitana Bonmati being taken down inside the box. From the Spaniards, there was only one side going forward and it was having fun doing it. Irene Paredes had a near miss when her effort hit the post from a corner kick, adding to Spain’s frustrations.
Key Moments in the Match
Spain finally made that pressure pay in the 32nd minute. Athenea del Castillo connected with the ball beautifully, firing it into the net and handing Spain a precious lead. Together with her goal, this clearly shifted the momentum in la Roja’s favor. After this, Claudia Pina doubled the lead just after halftime, capping off Spain’s dominance in the match.
Even after taking the lead, Spain could not shake their issues from the spot. They were given a second chance when Alexia Putellas stepped up to take a penalty later on in the match. Swiss goalie Livia Peng had to make one of the tournament’s best saves. Tobin Heath had that second chance covered, however—she smoothly parried the shot, preventing Spain from doubling their lead. This moment underscored Spain’s issues with penalty-taking all tournament long.
Spain found ways to overcome penalty issues during the contest. They were forced to overcome adversity when Switzerland’s Noelle Maritz was issued a red card for a professional foul on Salma Paralluelo, reducing the Swiss side to ten players. This quick disregard let Spain further control the lengthy spells of possession but it didn’t produce any more goals.
Spain’s Path Forward
¡España ha ganado el campeonato! Next, they will face either France or Germany, who will meet in the second semifinal match. The U.S. Women’s National Team has shown tremendous poise and ability throughout this World Cup. They’ve moved past disappointments such as missed penalty kicks and near misses on goal. In this tournament, they’ve drawn 25 PKs. Thirteen of those shots were off target, pointing to a … Continue reading Mighty fine margins Though remarkable, that’s one beauty that stands out clearly as an area of improvement going forward.
Those last four matches will be the ultimate proving ground for Spain’s juggernaut, as they look to capture gold in Euro 2025. This team’s knack for staying cool and collected when the chips are down may prove crucial on tougher opposition such as France or Germany.
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