Being essentially the most skillful and technically finest crew on the UEFA Girls’s Euros wasn’t sufficient to get Spain the title on Sunday.
The 2023 World Cup winner and 2024 UEFA Nations League title holder nonetheless doesn’t have a European title for its stellar era after a penalty shootout loss to England within the remaining after a 1-1 draw after further time.
Spain trailed for simply 4 minutes’ play throughout six video games in all the match. England led for barely 5 minutes’ play in its three knockout rounds video games – and none towards Spain.
“We have been the perfect crew of the match, however typically that’s not sufficient,” Spain star Aitana Bonmatí mentioned.
Bonmatí lower a tragic determine strolling to the trophy ceremony platform to gather her trophy as the perfect participant of the match, which she started days after being hospitalized with a bout of viral meningitis.
Bonmatí’s spot kick within the shootout was certainly one of two saved by England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Mariona Caldentey, whose Twenty fifth-minute headed objective appeared to set Spain on observe for victory, additionally had her penalty saved.
Caldentey additionally went near scoring a second time within the first half, by which match high scorer Esther Gonzalez had three possibilities to attain.
Early within the second half, Caldentey’s Arsenal teammates Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo mixed to degree the rating on Russo’s header.
“I’m a bit in shock,” Bonmatí mentioned. “It was merciless. We performed higher, created extra scoring possibilities, however in soccer typically that’s not sufficient. All of it got here right down to the penalties.”
“I’m sorry for my miss,” mentioned two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí, whose teammates Caldentey and Alexia Putellas additionally failed from the spot in a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.
“I believe this crew deserved extra. Not less than not dwelling with this bitter feeling,” Spain coach Montse Tomé mentioned in translated feedback.
Spain captain Irene Paredes mentioned it was “arduous to search for the positives so quickly. Proper now, it’s a really powerful second.”
“England have been blissful simply to achieve penalties however, within the shootout, we didn’t carry out effectively,” mentioned Paredes, whose Barcelona crew additionally misplaced the Girls’s Champions League remaining in Could to an English opponent, Arsenal. “To be a champion you want some luck, and I consider that they had it.”
Spain nonetheless is a world champion and can quickly put together to start out qualifying for the protection of its title. The 2027 World Cup is being performed in Brazil.
“We will likely be again,” Bonmatí mentioned. “There will likely be a World Cup in a few years, and that’s our objective now. It is a golden era, with loads of younger gamers.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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