We believed for a moment in the surprise, it did not take place. Manhandled by conquering Spaniards, England finally managed to get their ticket to the last four for the 6th time in their history in the European Cup. After a fierce showdown, the English qualified for the rest of their competition, in search of a first European title.
At Brighton Community Stadium, the decision took a long time to make in the first quarter-final of the Women’s Euro on Wednesday evening. The Lionesses suffered, even though they seemed untouchable after a masterful group stage and a record 14 goals scored for none conceded. The Spaniards managed to make the English doubt, who came out of nowhere by snatching the extension in the last 5 minutes of regulation time. A saving extension.
Winning coaching
In the first half, the two teams were neutralized. Well in place, the two blocks left little space for the opponents to give us a thrilling half-time, except for the goal denied to Ellen White (37′) for an offside position in the second time from a free kick.
After the break, the Spaniards took over and made the English defense bend, for the first time in the competition. There was no 15th clean sheet in 18 games for the players of Sarina Wiegman, outclassed in midfield by the volume of Spanish play. Rather, very good coaching from the Madrid technician, launching Del Castillo at the break. It only took the striker 10 minutes to make the difference; she serves Esther Gonzales magnificently after a small bridge in the area. Her teammate finished with an unstoppable pivot shot (1-0, 54′).
If Spain was close to doubling the bet on a cross shot out of the end of the gloves by Earps (65′), the English had not said their last word, pushed by a sold-out stadium. Sarina Wiegman responds to winning coaching from her opposing counterpart. Entering the game, Ella Toone frees up a whole stadium by equalizing (84′, 1-1), to offer hers an extension, synonymous with hope, then qualification.
The English restart the machine, and take over the game, suffocating the opponent. On a high recovery, Stanway delivers England with a superb powerful strike (97′, 2-1).
In a match that increased in intensity over the minutes, the Three Lionesses held against the Spaniards seeking equalization at all costs, but too imprecise and ineffective in the last gestures, orphans of Putellas and Hermoso. Stéphanie Frappart’s final whistle freed England after 120 minutes of tough fighting.
Spain falls once again at the foot of the last four, as in the two previous editions of the European Cup. The English, they will have to wait until Friday and the quarter-final between Sweden and Belgium to know the name of their opponent, taking advantage of two additional days of recovery.