The Aitana Bonmati of Spain hit an excellent extra-time winner to dismiss her side to a 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday and to send it to the final of the European Championship of the Women for the first time.
The victory pointed a decision maker against Holder England in Basel on Sunday in a repeat of the World Cup final 2023 in which the Spaniards were crowned world champions for the first time.
Bolmati finally broke the impasse in the 113rd minute, grabbed a ball in the left channel and saw an opening left by Germany Keeper Ann-Katrin Berger at the nearby pole before hit a shot from a tight corner in the net.
Spain Captain Irene Paredes hit the foot of a pole with a first half header while her side dominated, in which the Germans built a solid block and invite the Spaniards to attack while trying to hit the counter.
Germany -Wing player Klara Buehl was impressive everywhere and came behind the Spanish defense in the 63rd minute, but shot directly on keeper Cata Coll.
With the Germans who defended excellently, Spain struggled to break them down, and it was almost caught in a stop time when Buehl had a bent effort that Coll had to claw away, but the game ended scoreless, forcing extra time.
The Germans, who came into play with a record of nine wins in 10 earlier semi -finals of the euro, saw in there to drag the game to punishments, but Bonmati had other ideas.
For Bolmati, who suffered a meningitis-related health fear in the run-up to the tournament, the goal was a sweet one, because the Spaniards beat Germany for the first time in a grand finale.
«(I feel proud. We deserve it. We have had a brutal championship. But we have also had a great tournament so far,» said Bonmati and acknowledged how difficult it was to break down the Germans.
«Of course we also suffered against Germany today. It is the first time we have also defeated Germany, and for those who win at the end of the European Championship, what else can you ask, right?»
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Berger, who was the hero of the quarterfinals shootout of Germany on France, took the responsibility for the goal that her side saw crashing out of the tournament.
«I also take the blame for that. The nearby post had to be treated, that is clear, and that is why I am even more disappointed in myself,» she said.
«I can make as many saves as I want, but that goal should have just been mine, and that’s why I feel incredibly regrets, not even for myself, but for the team, because they have given everything.»
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(680x322:682x324)/Marilou-Hamill-Mark-Hamill-082825-62c794e014094dbfbf7cf8d87f12eb7f.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Mark Hamill y su esposa de 47 años, Marilou, revelan sus dos reglas de boda (exclusivas)")
