Spain ended Switzerland’s dreamy midsummer run through its home Women’s European Championship in a 2-0 win in the quarter-finals on Friday 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 Bonmati’s flicked assist in the 66th, just four minutes after coming off the bench, and Claudia Pina curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 71st.
Photo: AFP
Spain are to play France or Germany in the semi-finals in Zurich on Wednesday. The winner would face defending champion England or Italy in the final at St Jakob-Park, Basel, next Sunday.
“These players are making history,” Spain coach Montse Tome said.
Her team sang on the field in their celebratory team photo after reaching the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years.
Spain has 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,” Tome 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 semi-finals after a second yellow card of the tournament for a first-half foul on Iman Beney.
The quality of penalty-kicks taken in these quarter-finals 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, but 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,” Tome said, adding that “we practiced penalties.”
Aitana Bonmati won the player of the game award three weeks after she was hospitalized in Madrid with viral meningitis.
“I was far from family and many people helped me. I’m grateful for that,” Bonmati said.
In the Ballon d’Or holder’s second start at the Euro 2025, she unlocked the Swiss defense with the clever backheel pass to create the chance for Athenea Del Castillo to open the scoring.
She also ended Switzerland midfielder Geraldine Reuteler’s run of being named best player in three straight games.
Switzerland’s veteran coach delivered on a promise to surprise with her starting lineup.
Iman Beney, an 18-year-old wing back, played as a lone striker with pace, often supported in attack by Sydney Schertenleib, also 18. Sundhage brought back her third 18-year-old, Noemi Ivelj, for a start in midfield.
All-time Switzerland record goal-scorer Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic was moved to right back to use her experience against the strong Spain left flank threat.
It worked in as much as Spain was shut out in the first half for the first time at the tournament.
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