Euro 2025: Spain end Switzerland’s spirited run in quarterfinals

BERN, Switzerland (AP):

Spain ended Switzerland’s dreamy midsummer run through their home Women’s European Championship in a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals yesterday despite missing two penalty kicks.

Swiss resistance was broken by the world champion’s two goals in a five-minute spell midway through the second half.

Athenea Del Castillo slotted in a shot from Aitana Bonmatí’s flicked assist in the 66th, just four minutes after coming off the bench, and Clàudia Pina curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 71st.

Spain will play France or Germany in the semifinals next Wednesday in Zurich. The winners will face defending champions England or Italy in the July 27 final at St Jakob-Park, Basel.

“These players are making history,” Spain coach Montse Tomé said.

Her team sang on the field in their celebratory team photo after reaching the semifinals for the first time in 28 years.

Spain have a tournament-leading 16 goals yet could not score from the spot.

Mariona Caldentey skewed her penalty badly wide in the ninth minute and Alexia Putellas’ shot was saved by Livia Peng in the 88th.

Switzerland’s spirited young team gave its noisy home fans hope of a stunning upset, even more so after Caldentey’s bad miss was greeted by a grateful roar in the sold-out Wankdorf Stadium.

“We had some luck but the world champions Spain were too good for us today,” Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage said.

Spain also struck the posts of Switzerland’s goal three times including in back-to-back chances in a frantic scramble at a corner in the 60th.

“It was a very hard-fought victory,” Tomé said. “We expected a game like the one we had, we had to be patient.”

Switzerland defender Noelle Maritz was sent off in stoppage time for a foul as the last defender.

Spain defender Laia Aleixandri is suspended for the semifinals after her second yellow card of the tournament, for a first-half foul on Iman Beney.

POOR PENALTIES

The quality of penalty kicks taken in these quarterfinals has been shockingly bad.

Spain’s Caldentey joined Norway captain Ada Hegerberg in placing her spot kick low and wide. Hegerberg’s miss came when Norway trailed 1-0 in a 2-1 loss to Italy on Wednesday.

With Caldentey off the field, Putellas struck Spain’s second penalty hard though at a good height for Swiss goalkeeper Livia Peng to dive to the left and push away.

Just five of 14 penalties were scored on Thursday in the shootout between England and Sweden.

England won the shootout despite four saves by Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk. Sweden struck a post and sent two over the crossbar, including Falk’s kick that would have won the game.

“I don’t know what happens in other teams” Tomé said, adding “we practised penalties”.