Women’s European Championships, Spain folds Germany in extra time and joins England in final

Reigning world champion Spain had never before reached a European championship final. It succeeded today by bending Germany 1-0 in overtime at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium. The Iberians will now face defending champion England.

After the first quarter of an hour with territorial preponderance of Germany, in the 19th minute on a blunder of the German defense Esther unloads her left footer but Berger with a crazy reflex lifts it to a corner.

Shortly after the half-hour mark Irene Paredes’ header from a corner kick ended up on the post to Berger’s left, then Esther’s reverse put wide. In the recovery Berger says no first again to Esther and then to Claudia Pina.

In the second half, the Germans were most dangerous with Bühl, who in the 63rd minute with a close-range left forced Coll into a field hockey goalie save. In the 85th minute again Bühl on a free kick puts it wide by a whisker.

A few seconds after the 90th minute Paralluelo’s backheel shot but Berger is not surprised, and the same Paralluelo shortly after fails to arrive on a low cross from the right by del Castillo. In the 94th minute Coll takes a deflected shot from Bühl off the crossbar and then deflects Wamser’s tap-in for a corner.

The match was decided in the 113th minute: forward touch by del Castillo, feint by Aitana Bonmatí misleading the German defense, and right-footer by the two-time Ballon d’Or almost from the goal line that went into the box with Berger this time clearly surprised at the first post. On Sunday in Basel with England there will be a rematch of the World Cup final two years ago won by Spain 1-0.