Bonmati leads Spain to victory against brave Germans

The German defense withstood the Spanish attack for 113 minutes. Then, as in the quarter-final against Switzerland, it was Aitana Bonmati who saved La Roja with a stroke of genius. The two-time world player allowed a pass from Athenea to pass through her own legs, taking her opponent out of the game. Instead of playing into the middle as the German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger had expected, Bonmati looked to finish from an acute angle and caught Berger in the near corner.

The world champions from Spain played the finer game, but Germany countered with fight, team spirit and good organization. Time and again, the favorites from the Iberian peninsula got caught in the many-legged German defense.

The Spaniards were overwhelmingly superior in the first half. However, they were unable to convert 80 percent possession at times into anything tangible. Even the magic feet of Bonmati and Alexia Putellas were unable to find a gap in the German defense. Somewhat uncharacteristically, Montse Tomé's team were mainly dangerous after long passes or from set-pieces. Top scorer Esther Gonzalez was denied several times by Berger, while captain Irene Paredes hit the post with her header from a corner.

In the second half, Germany provided more relief in the form of counter-attacks. The goal threat had a name: Klara Bühl. The Bayern Munich winger had her feet in every dangerous move. After just eight minutes, she missed completely free in front of Spanish keeper Cata Coll.

In the final phase of normal time, when the Germans, spurred on by the fans, got more and more into the game, Bühl had the winning goal on her feet several times. Her free kick from a central position fizzed just wide of the right-hand post five minutes before the end. And in stoppage time, Coll had to show all her skills to keep out Bühl's deflected shot and Carlotta Wamser's follow-up.

A stroke of genius from Bonmati was enough for Spain to qualify for a European Championship final for the first time. The Iberians will take on the English team on Sunday in Basel in a rematch of the World Cup final as they seek revenge for their 1-0 defeat in Sydney. Germany, on the other hand, still have to wait for their ninth European Championship title after losing the final to hosts England three years ago.

Telegram:

Germany - Spain 0:1 n.V.

Zurich. - 22'432 spectators (sold out). - Referee Batista (BRA). - Goal: 113th Bonmati 0:1.

Germany: Berger; Wamser, Kleinherne (97. Lohmann), Knaak, Kett; Brand, Senss (115. Schuller), Minge, Däbritz (64. Dallmann), Bühl; Hoffmann (86. Cerci).

Spain: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Mendez, Olga; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Caldentey (103. Martin-Prieto Gutierrez), Gonzalez (67. Paralluelo), Pina (77. Del Castillo).

Comments: Germany without Gwinn and Linder (both injured) as well as Hendrich and Nüsken (suspended). Spain without Aleixandri (suspended). Cautions: 17. Däbritz. 20. Gonzalez. 107th Guijarro. 111th Paralluolo.