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Montse Tomé: "This team deserves everything for their hard work, their fight and their effort"

The Spain coach spoke ahead of the final in the packed press room at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
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Sat, 26/07/2025 - 19:15

With 24 hours to go until the final, the standout match of this Euros, Montse Tomé sat down, for the sixth time in a pre-match press conference, in front of journalists to answer their questions and analyse the mood of the squad, their opponents, and the historic nature of playing in this final.

Montse has built the team she envisioned, and now she has got them ready for the grand final: "We see the team we want, the team we’ve been working on for a long time. Over the past year and a bit we’ve been tinkering with the pieces to be in the position we are now — with the players we want, those who represent what we feel — and we’re in a European Championships final, so I´m very happy."

Ahead of them lies a chance to make history: "The team is in good shape, we’ve been adjusting our workload to be well prepared for tomorrow’s match, doing different sessions and managing the load. They’re eager for the match to begin, they also now have more experience in how to handle the hours leading up to these occasions. Right now we’re thinking about today’s training and feeling good on the pitch where the final is being played."

Tomorrow’s encounter, the third against England this year, is seen by Montse as one that will be a very evenly matched battle: "It will be a very closely fought match against a great team. We know the demands of the match, and we will go toe to toe with them. We have 23 players who, depending on how the match unfolds, can come on at any moment. All of them are ready if we need them tomorrow. I expect a very even match against a side that likes to attack. They also have a top-level midfield."

She will be able to count on all 23 players, both physically and emotionally: "The players understand that being part of the national team squad is a privilege. Just making the 23-player squad was already difficult, and when we’ve spoken with them all, they’ve been very receptive in accepting their role and understanding the game plan. We’ve trusted María Méndez, and Athenea has performed well in different roles. We know what she brings whether she starts or comes off the bench. They’re showing a team mentality, and that makes management much easier."

And the dream that this entire team has been fighting for from the beginning now has just one final step before it becomes reality: "We’ve been making history — reaching the semi-finals and the final for the first time, beating Germany for the first time... I feel like we’ve been ticking off goals that brought us to where we are today. When we arrived, we had the dream of playing six matches — and we’re going to play them."

For the head coach, her team deserves everything they achieve: "If we’re talking about what they deserve, then everything — because I believe we are a team, a national side, with players who have been fighting, working hard, giving so much effort and energy, and now they have the biggest chance— in what really matters to them: football. Now, all of us professionals who support them get to enjoy the pure side of the profession, and the fact that all the questions are now about football is a big deal and shows the change we are achieving. For all their efforts, the team deserves this — although at the elite level, merit doesn’t always mean results — but all the necessary work has been done for things to go well tomorrow."

Montse closed by thanking the support they’ve received in Switzerland and from back home: "We’ve had a lovely welcome in Lausanne from day one — at the hotel, the training facilities — they’ve helped us feel at home, and our touching farewell was a result of all the warmth we’ve been shown. Every time we returned after matches, people have been waiting with flags, no matter the time of day. They’ve treated us brilliantly. Everything we receive from Spain is love, support, encouragement — we feel it all. We’re hearing from all the regions where people will be watching the final. I’m not sure if responsibility is the right word for what we feel. It’s motivation, it’s excitement." So much so that Vicky López asked for "15 minutes of shooting practice" as a birthday present for her 19th — "We’ve got to hold them back," Montse joked.

 

Watch Montse Tomé’s press conference ahead of the Euros final.

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