Two years after conquering the world, Spain reached a European Championship final for the first time. It was in Switzerland, in the summer of 2025, and although the title slipped away at the very last gasp, the tournament confirmed that the world-champion generation had not been a flash in the pan, but the beginning of something.
The road there also had a story of personal resilience at its heart. Two days before travelling to Switzerland, Aitana Bonmatí was admitted to hospital with viral meningitis. Her participation hung in the balance, but she was discharged in time, rejoined the squad, and ended up being, once again, the best player of the championship.
In the quarter-finals, Spain finally broke their curse at that stage with a clear victory: 2-0 against the hosts, Switzerland, with goals from Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina. In the semi-finals a tough opponent awaited, Germany, and the match went to extra time. There, Bonmatí appeared to score the 1-0 that put Spain into the continental final for the first time in their history.
The final, against England, was the kind that hurts. Spain played the better football, went ahead with a header from Mariona Caldentey in the 25th minute and held the initiative for almost the entire match. But Alessia Russo equalised in the 57th, the 1-1 held until the end of extra time, and everything was decided on penalties. There, England were the more clinical and won the shoot-out 3-1. Spain, runners-up in Europe.
It was a bitter defeat — players of the calibre of Paralluelo, Bonmatí and Mariona herself missed their kicks — but the tournament left more certainties than doubts. Spain had dominated the best teams on the continent and had shown once again that their model of play, built on the ball and on composure, is among the finest in the world. England won the title; Spain won respect.
Seen as a whole, Euro 2025 fits as the second great chapter of an era that began at the 2023 World Cup. A final lost, yes, but proof that Spain no longer aspire merely to compete: they aspire to win everything. The next big date, the 2027 World Cup, will arrive with that score to settle.
