4 weeks ago
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BASEL, Switzerland:
A title game between defending champions England and World Cup winners Spain is the Women’s European Championship final that many wanted.
How they got to Basel for today’s clash is a whole other story.
Spain have mostly cruised through their five games, except for a late scare in a tense semi-final against Germany. England have trailed for long periods of three games and survived being on the brink of elimination in both knockout games.
Spain are supremely technical, with a dream midfield pairing two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. England have an incredible will to win and have called a pair of dramatic game-changers off the bench, Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly.
“We always have the confidence that in terms of positioning and having possession, we tend to be very precise and it’s difficult to take the ball off us,” Putellas said. “So we’re ready for anything.″
England captain Leah Williamson praised Spain yesterday as “the best at what they do, we are well aware of that. We think we are pretty good in some areas.”
It looks like an ideal final of contrasting styles. One made possible only because England’s humbling opening 2-1 loss to France ultimately kept the titleholders out of Spain’s side of the knockout bracket.
TRADING WINS
Spain and England each beat the other when winning their recent titles, and they traded wins in a UEFA Nations League group this year.
England eliminated Spain 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals of their home Euro 2022. Does this sound familiar? England trailed into the 84th that day before two substitutes – Alessia Russo and Toone – assisted and scored to force extra time.
Spain got a deserved 1-0 win in the 2023 World Cup final played in Sydney, Australia.
Spain are now on a run of 13 wins in 14 games and the blip was a 1-0 loss to England at Wembley in February. Spain won the return game 2-1 on June 3, rallying with two Clàudia Pina goals in the second half.
LEADERS AND TRAILERS
Four vs. 219. That’s the number of minutes Spain have trailed at Euro 2025 games compared to England.
Spain fell behind between the 10th and 14th minutes of a group-stage game against Italy when some starters were rested because the team was likely to finish top.
England gave up two first-half goals against France in their group, again to Sweden in the quarter-finals and one more to Italy in the semi-finals. England’s equalising goals by Agyemang in the knockout games came in, respectively, the 81st and then the sixth minute of stoppage time.
“I think we’ve nearly killed her twice this tournament!” England’s Ella Toone said of coach Sarina Wiegman. “She says we’ve definitely aged her.”
Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro said of England’s resolve: ″There’s no fragility. And I think that above all, their competitiveness, is what has got them this far. But what they’re doing is not easy.″
-AP
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