Spain edges Germany in extra time to head their first ever Women s Euro final

The rain poured down on the Spanish players in the vast, sweeping bowl of the stadium, but there was no rush to leave the pitch. They lingered for more than two and a half hours after the final whistle, waving to their exultant families and reliving every moment of what had just transpired. A first European Championship final on Sunday now awaits, a milestone that, while perhaps appearing inevitable for three weeks, feels no less significant for its arrival. England stands as a familiar final hurdle, promising a captivating showdown between two sides that, in their own unique ways, had to claw their way across the finish line.

Ultimately, it was Aitana Bonmatí who delivered the decisive blow. Extra time was nearing its conclusion, and for the first time this summer, Spain desperately needed a spark from the world's best player. They had created numerous opportunities to win within the initial 90 minutes, yet against an outstanding German side, they could just as easily have faced defeat. Had German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger not produced a remarkable double save at the end of normal time, Spain would have surely faced their elimination. Bonmatí, for her part, clearly had no desire to gamble so loosely with fate again.

Was it a customary stroke of genius or the result of sloppy goalkeeping? The debate will surely rage about Bonmatí’s winner, but a fair assessment would lean towards the former. Berger had been impeccable between the posts for Germany and appeared in no immediate danger when Athenea del Castillo played a clever ball to Bonmatí, who allowed it to run through her legs before darting to meet it near the right byline. Presumably, Berger had anticipated a cross; she simply could not react in time to the thunderous, first-time strike that found its way inside her near post – a shot few players would have dared attempt under such pressure. There was no doubt about the scorer’s intention, either. Afterwards, Bonmatí revealed that Spain had been perfectly aware of Berger's tendency to leave that area of her goal exposed.

This was the same Bonmatí who, just a month prior, had been hospitalized by viral meningitis, an event that severely clouded Spain’s pre-tournament preparations. Back then, it would have required immense optimism to imagine her going the distance in such a tense, rugged, and enthralling semi-final clash, let alone conjuring a moment of magic to decide it. England now faces the daunting task of finding a way to contain her and the rest of a Spanish team that, despite not being at their absolute best, still remains a notch above any other contender in this competition.

The upcoming final will be a rerun of the 2023 World Cup final, promising few surprises between these two familiar rivals. "I know what they can do," said midfielder Mariona Caldentey of England’s qualities as rain continued to pour. "It will be a hard game. They’re in the final even if they haven’t played the greatest football yet. It’s something we have never won and and we are missing. We respect England, but we will go for it."

For extended periods of the match, it seemed that, defying the pre-match odds, Germany's inherent footballing prowess and "muscle memory" might prevail. They have dominated the continent eight times, and it feels almost surreal that their European title drought will now stretch to 16 years, until at least Euro 2029. Even if it's a stretch to cast them as plucky underdogs, they could certainly make that case here, weakened by injuries and suspensions, and coming off a remarkable victory over France where they battled for 113 minutes with only 10 players. This was a side that, similarly short on numbers for an hour, had lost 4-1 to Sweden just 11 days prior.

The frustration for Christian Wück’s German players will stem from the fact that they executed their game plan perfectly. The balance between defensive resolve and attacking thrust was finely poised; they understood that Berger would be heavily relied upon at crucial moments, but it would have been no injustice had the outcome favored them. The irrepressible Klara Bühl, an almost unplayable force on the left flank, had numerous attempts to swing the match in Germany's favor, including a clear early chance. She tested Coll in the second half and sent a free-kick just wide. However, it was a deflected shot from Elisa Senss, almost the final action before extra time, that nearly broke the deadlock. A backpedaling Coll scrambled the ball from under her bar, and when Carlotta Wamser followed up, Coll reacted heroically to block on the line. It was a defining moment that rivaled Bonmatí’s later brilliance.

Earlier, Berger, the hero of their epic clash against France, produced several key interventions, including a spectacular tip-over from Esther González. She was beaten once when Irene Paredes headed against her left post, but beyond a flurry just before halftime, Spain was largely kept at arm’s length. They rarely displayed their customary fluency, at least by their peerless standards, against opponents who had expected to run hard and executed that plan flawlessly.

Now, this modern rivalry between Spain and England shifts from Sydney to Basel, with two years and, for those who witnessed both Euro 2025 semi-finals, what felt like several lifetimes of drama in between. "We had the correct mindset at the right moments,” Bonmatí wisely stated. And truly, no one exemplifies that winning mindset more than she does.