A summit never before reached in Spanish climbing
Spain is rising like foam, in the European Championship in Switzerland and in women's football . It's ascending at a rapid pace. It has long climbed to the highest peaks, where oxygen is scarce and not everyone can breathe. It lives in the heights because today is its fifth consecutive semifinal in major international tournaments. And yet it doesn't stop on its way to the summit. It climbs and climbs. Higher and higher. With effort but with sure steps. But in that great climb to the top, there is still one last step, a great step to overcome. It glimpses the summit, but it still has a ceiling to break in its great ascent to sporting glory, and it must do so tonight in Zurich. La Roja has never been able to defeat Germany in its history.
Eight matches between the two teams, and Spain has only managed three draws. The last meeting is a memorable one for the Spanish team, which lost the bronze medal match at the 2024 Paris Games less than a year ago (0-1) in a match marked by two penalties: Gwinn scored for Germany (65) and Alexia crashed into Berger in added time to try to force extra time .
Tomé feels that 'la roja' has closed the gap with its ogre and Alexia asks to be close to excellence.A thorn in the sidelines, even though there are other ways to approach the challenge. “Each one tries to find a way to write history; I, personally, see it as an opportunity rather than a revenge. We lost to that rival at the Games, and we have another chance to beat them for the first time,” Putellas herself reasoned.
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An eight-time European Championship champion and eight times a thwart of Spain, Germany is that ruthless. However, coach Montse Tomé feels the gap is minimal and her team is ready to climb the mountain and finally achieve victory: “In the seven years I've been with the national team, we've faced them five times and haven't beaten them. But I feel like we're getting closer to achieving it .”
Two ways to get there The four wins in the tournament give the Spanish team a lot of confidence against a more inconsistent Germany, forced to play with one less player against Sweden and France.Alexia Putellas has broken many barriers in football and has another within her grasp: the German curse. The Barça captain, injured before Euro 2022, knows that football offers nothing and that the only path she knows is to play near perfection. “We have to do what we've been doing and even perfect it. We have to get closer to excellence . If we get closer to our best version and minimize our mistakes, we'll be close,” she stated.
Would she take a penalty again? She was asked when Berger was back in the fold after missing another one against Switzerland. “That's what my body decides. What does my body want? My body wants to win,” the two-time Ballon d'Or winner summed up.
Less than a year ago In eight matches, Spain has only managed three draws, and the last one was cruel, as the Germans took the bronze at the Games.Without a doubt, Spain's record in the tournament—four matches played, four won—gives Spain a lot of confidence against a more inconsistent Germany side, forced to play with fewer players against Sweden and France. "I don't see the team as nervous, I see them as strong," stated the coach, who wants her players to be lively and who are missing Laia Aleixandri in the center of defense due to suspension. Therefore, on Sunday, Spain scheduled an "alternate session with those who have played more minutes." "We have to be smart to arrive in good shape. We need the players to have their abilities fresh to compete," revealed Tomé, while Alexia doesn't shy away from the pressure. "My feelings are good. I have full confidence in what we're creating and in the mentality and the play we're displaying," she promised. The top awaits.
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