Bonmatí-Powered Spain Seeks To Overwhelm England’s Grit In Euros Final

Any from the free-scoring constellation might have stepped up as Spain found itself locked in a goalless European Championship semifinal against Germany on Wednesday. Even so, deep into a major tournament, which requires incision alongside all the easy-on-the-eye soccer, it’s hardly surprising that Ballon d’Or holder and Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí finally struck the winner.

Indeed, the midfield orchestrator delivered the final flourish to another neat passage of play that has characterized Spain’s offensive output in Switzerland. The squad has the most goals in the competition, 17, including 14 in the group stage, with Bonmatí the 10th to contribute. Spain is far from bullet-proof defensively, but this is a fun and typically rhythmic La Roja side to watch.

All of which makes the world champion a largely anticipated finalist. Yet there’s still great significance. Despite the explosion of Spanish women’s soccer over the last decade or so, this will be its first Euros final. And it will face England—a repeat of the World Cup finale in 2023, when ex-federation president Luis Rubiales’ actions after full time marred the achievement.

Montse Tomé is the attentive personality spurring the current crop on from the sidelines. A former Barcelona player, she was previously trainer Jorge Vilda’s right-hand woman and became the first female to take the head coach role back in 2023. Blessed with some of the best players on the planet, she’s already won the Women’s Nations League, but it will be interesting to see whether England can disrupt her selection from dictating the terms (which it has for most of the tournament) on Sunday.

England Bring Plenty Of Fight

England reaching the showpiece game was also a realistic expectation. It’s the fifth straight occasion that Lionesses’ head coach Sarina Wiegman—previously at the wheel of her native Netherlands—has dragged a side to the final of a tournament. Meanwhile, Spain and England, the latter reigning champion from Euro 2021, boast athletes with the highest market values in the tournament by some distance, according to Off The Pitch.

Be that as it may, England’s resolve has been the difference so far, needing to recover from a defeat against France at the beginning and from deficits to Sweden and Italy in the knockout rounds, both involving late goals. Epitomizing that, and helping England get over the line, is teenager Michelle Agyemang. She’s gone from the outskirts at Arsenal, even a ball girl for Wiegman’s England, to a warrior-esque scorer from the bench—all while tinkling the ivories on the piano she brought to Switzerland.

Ahead of the final, full-back Lucy Bronze says, “I don’t think you’ll find a team in world football with more fight and more resilience than this England team.” On the evidence to hand, who’s to argue with her? Still, England will need to raise its game as well as maintain its stubbornness against Spain, which has the steel to match; Bonmatí was hospitalized with viral meningitis shortly before the competition started.

In terms of complete play, Spain—equipped with dynamos such as Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, and the brilliant Claùdia Pina—has the edge. Given the opponents’ resilience and a chink of weakness in the backline, it will require that firepower, and more in reserve, to prosper in the showdown.