Spain illustrates its unique genius to build the final showdown Euro 2025 with England

If it were someone else in the world, maybe ask yourself if she really meant it. However, if someone in the world had been in the world, Spain would probably not even have been in this position to score. The way it is, the world champions are thanks to the genius of Aitana Bonmati in the first women European Championship final for women.

It was not just about the ingenuity, but about intelligence. Aitana later said Spain studied Ann-Katrin Berger’s movements and how the goalkeeper had resigned from her almost post. The playmaker used it exactly where she needed a 1-0 win against determination Germany, exactly when it was needed minutes from the end of the extension.

So England is becoming a moment when no other player could hope to repeat himself. Or maybe even imagine. Before Aitana drilled the ball in Bergers near the post, there was the mercury quality of the curve.

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One could actually say that Germany had an appropriate warning, even if it is almost impossible to predict what a player is so good. Aitana had nevertheless prepared it with the support for the decisive goal against Switzerland in the quarter -finals. She had let the ball roll through her legs to roll it in for Athenea del Castillo. Here Aitana turned and continued and helped.

England has to make sure that they never know when it comes. That is the joy of such a player.

Take a look at Berger and the symbolism of beating the tournament’s best goalkeeper so far. The German had stopped everything until then, a number of shots on their destination. She couldn’t even see it for this match winner.

Berger even pointed to the right, just before Aitana shot left.

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Perhaps the largest giveaway before Aitana’s own words was that she has never been looking for a runner. She knew what to do. She also did it when it was most important.

How Spain needed it.

Berger’s commanding performance had played a growing Spanish frustration in which a visible fear had interrupted her game. They did not press with the same intensity or almost high on the field. They didn’t even pass the ball with the same strength.

Fixed by Berger, the Germans looked so insured in the defense. All Carlota Wamser, Janina Minge and Rebecca Knaak got up, among other things, so well.

It looked and felt like a slow descent in punishments, which had literally played in Berger’s hands.

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Only the potential psychological fear of deepening it was the fact that Spain had never hit Germany. Always.

You could feel that a factor in the course of the game, not to mention Spain’s comparatively poor knockout record. It remains a remarkable thing to say about world champions, but this was only her sixth victory ever outside of a group phase.

They started making some strange decisions in these stretched last phases of the 90 and then in extra time. This extended to the substitutions and in particular the removal of Claudia Pina or the choice of Salma Paralluelo via Vicky Lopez.

In addition to it in a way, such controversial defects only emphasize the strength of Spain. Even if you don’t have the right mix or the formation does not work entirely, you only have so many different players that you can hurt.

And the focus is always on Aitana, who can produce something like this.

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It will be an immense challenge for England, but Sarina Wiegman may point out some elements of encouragement from the game.

Germany gave the best blueprint to date (an admittedly common topic) for the way in which Spain is faced. They stopped them like no one else. They also won it at the end of the 90 and forced Cata Coll for a double rescue that probably offered the same thing Berger offered.

It looked as if Klara Buhl’s rejected shot was falling like a falling sheet on the net just so that the goalkeeper would scratch him away before showing incredible reflexes and strength to get up immediately and block Carlotta Wamser’s efforts.

It was such an important moment as Aitana’s goal, even if it is of course overtaken in the collective memories of this semi -finals.

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There was a lot to tell, which was another element. Spain had to take the distance and the end of the extension, and less than England with one day.

Except in all of this and a performance, which understandably has been the least convincing tournament so far, she still created a number of opportunities. They still showed a determination to correspond to England. They still showed their genius and the special quality of their Star player.

Regardless of whether the goal was meant, there is no dispute of its meaning.

The world champions are in the first European Championship final for a big showdown with England.

Such a moment only makes it a match more to enjoy.