MATCH PREVIEW | Spain look to go one step further

The National Team has reached the semi-finals of the Euros, equalling their best ever performance in 1997. Now that this milestone has been matched, it’s time to go one better. To take one more step and try to qualify for the first time for the final of the continental tournament. It’s the only trophy missing from the cabinet of the World Cup and UEFA Women’s Nations League champions, and that European dream depends on getting past Germany tonight at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich.

This Euros campaign has led to a meeting between the Spanish and the Germans just one step away from the final. Germany reached the semi-finals after beating France on penalties, having come from behind in a match they were losing and a player down from the 13th minute. Before that, they had beaten Poland (2–0) and Denmark (2–1), and lost (4–1) to Sweden in the group stage. They finished second in Group C and have scored 6 goals and conceded 3 along the way.

“We need to get close to excellence. I feel good and I have complete confidence in the team,” said Alexia Putellas yesterday in the pre-match interview.

The Spanish side are in fantastic form, and their path to these semi-finals has been flawless: they topped their group with three wins—against Portugal (5–0), Belgium (6–2), and Italy (1–3)—and beat the hosts 2–0 in the quarter-finals. The national team is the top-scoring side with 16 goals, and features the tournament’s two leading scorers: Alexia Putellas (3) and Esther González (4).

Brazilian referee Edina Alves to take charge of Germany v Spain

At this stage of the tournament, Spain also leads in the possession stats, passing accuracy, and total shots. Backed by a strong attacking force, Spain arrive at these Euro 2025 semi-finals in Switzerland with one dream: to surpass their best-ever finish in the competition and reach the long-awaited final. Tonight, from 21:00 (TVE), they face Germany—a team they’ve never beaten in their previous encounters, and against whom they’re looking to avenge the defeat in the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympic Games. In the words of Montse Tomé during the pre-match interview, “We’ve been getting closer and closer to beating them,” and today could be the day. Spain want more—they don’t want to equal what they achieved in ’97; they want to surpass it.