Esther González scored twice when world champion Spain made a strong explanation by rousting Portugal 5-0 in their European championship opener for women on Thursday.
The 32-year-old González became the oldest player who played for Spain during the tournament and scored minutes before the youngest, 18-year-old Vicky López, added the second goal.
Spain -captain Alexia Putellas also scored for La Roja and showed that she is ready to lead the team to success after missing Euro 2022 with a knee injury. Spain lost to the final winner England in the quarterfinals of that tournament.
Replacement Cristina Martin-Spieto completed the score with a header in stop time.
Spain -captain Alexia Putellas also scored for La Roja and showed that she is ready to lead the team to success after missing Euro 2022 with a knee injury. | Photoredit: AP
Spain -captain Alexia Putellas also scored for La Roja and showed that she is ready to lead the team to success after missing Euro 2022 with a knee injury. | Photoredit: AP
González wasted little time before he opened the score after 87 seconds with a flick past inês Pereira. It soon became clear that the Portugal goalkeeper would have a busy competition. She did that.
Pereira did well to free up a cross, but could not stop Mariona Caldentey to give López a tap-in minutes later.
Only 24 minutes were played when the fans started a Mexican wave around the nearly 30,000-capacity Stadium, normally the home of the Swiss Super League team young boys.
Spain dominated the possession in a doctrine of a textbook. The work of teammates of the ball ensured that there was always a passing option. No player had the ball for a long time while they were left around and the Portuguese players were left to chase him.
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Putellas went close, Pereira denied Clàudia Pina, and it was no surprise when Putellas finally got the third goal after she had shown some brilliant control to avoid a defender in the 41st.
The fourth came two minutes later when González put in the rebound after Pina’s cross returned from the post.
But Spain coach Montse Tomé may be worried about the performance of her team if the level of control of her players fell. The late goal of Martin-Spieto was the only addition.
The competition was preceded by a moment of silence for Portugal and Liverpool Vooruit Diogo Jota, killed in a car accident with his brother the night before.
Caruso Nets Winner in Italy vs Belgium
Italy caused what a crucial opening victory could prove to be in the European Championship for Women by beating Belgium 1-0 on Thursday.
Arianna Caruso scored on the tranquility of the peace to give Italy an advantage in a tough group B, which is expected to surpass world cup winner Spain. The first two in the group will continue to the quarterfinals, and Belgium, Italy and Portugal will probably get a close battle for second.
Two-spring second with the euros, Italy has not reached the knockout phase since 2013.
Italy plays Portugal and Spain four days later on Monday. Next to Belgium is the world champion.
Thursday’s victory was also revenge for Italy, which lost to Belgium in the group stage at Euro 2022 and in the game came to a series of three straight defeats to the red flames.
Arianna Caruso from Italy celebrates the scoring during the Euro 2025 match between Belgium and Italy in Stade de Tourbillon in Zion, Switzerland. | Photoredit: AP
Arianna Caruso from Italy celebrates the scoring during the Euro 2025 match between Belgium and Italy in Stade de Tourbillon in Zion, Switzerland. | Photoredit: AP
UEFA previously announced that a minute of silence would be observed at Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday in memory of Portugal and Liverpool Vooruit Diogo Jota and his brother, who were killed in a car accident in Spain.
That was impeccably observed in a packaged Stade de Tourbillon in Zion.
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The first half was nice, with many good movements from both sides, but a lack of end product, because neither goalkeeper was really worried.
The biggest threat came from the Belgian captain and all-time top goalscorer Tessa Wullaert, and the Inter Milan Forward had the best chance of five minutes of the break. Her first shot was blocked and she then sent her second attempt just wide from the left post.
Italy broke the impasse only four minutes later. Lucia di Guglielmo Koos Caruso, who had been left completely uncomfortably on the edge of the area through the Belgian defense, and the midfielder of Bayern Munich went to the left side of the box before cutting in and curled into the top corner.
