ZURICH – Germany bowed out of the Women’s Euro 2025 with pride after a spirited 1-0 semi-final loss to reigning world champions Spain. Despite the valiant display in Switzerland, the former powerhouse must sharpen their attacking edge to keep pace with the global elite.
Spain will face England in Sunday’s final in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final that saw the Spaniards crowned world champions for the first time.
Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati proved to be the difference, conjuring up a superb winner in extra time. Though Christian Wueck’s young side performed well on the night, they lacked a truly world-class attacking talent to turn a game in their favour at such a high level.
“We have to evolve, we have to improve, we had phases of ball possession today that we simply did not exploit well, and those are areas where we need to improve, especially in the youth system, so that we can develop well-trained players for the Bundesliga,” Wueck said.
“Also (we need to) perform better in those phases of ball possession that were not well-executed, especially at that level. That is part of being a top team, and of course we are still lacking in comparison to Spain and England,” Wueck added according to Reuters.
Eight-time champions Germany have not won the tournament since 2013 in Stockholm, and in the meantime, they have been reined in and passed by as other countries pour money into the development of the women’s game.
The 2013 victory was built on the back of the stunning goalkeeping of Nadine Angerer, who saved two penalties in the final against Norway, and the 2025 squad looked to have a similar net-minding talisman in the shape of Ann-Katrin Berger, who pulled off a miraculous save in their quarter-final against France to prevent an own goal.
Berger followed that up with a stellar performance in the penalty shootout win over the French that followed, but she was caught out by Bonmati’s lightning shot from a tight angle to her uncovered near post that ended up as the only goal of the game.
Though Berger took the blame for the defeat, it was not solely hers to bear. Germany had plenty of chances, with Klara Buehl superb down the left, but they lacked the killer instinct in front of goal that Bonmati displayed.
All in all, the Germans displayed plenty of promise as they beat Poland, Denmark and the French in Switzerland, with the only blemish a shock 4-1 defeat by Sweden in which they had a player sent off in the first half.
Though some of his choices have been questioned, Wueck says his focus on young players is paying off.
“I recently read that the (German Football Association) DFB is miles behind the top nations, and three days later I read that we are in the semi-finals.
“So maybe the Germans need to learn a little bit that we do everything together, that we want the best for the German nation,” he said.
Spain captain Irene Paredes struck the foot of a post with a first-half header as her side dominated possession, with the Germans building a solid block and inviting the Spaniards to attack while they attempted to strike on the counter.
Germany winger Klara Buehl was impressive throughout, getting in behind the Spanish defence in the 63rd minute but shooting straight at keeper Cata Coll.
With the Germans defending superbly, Spain struggled to break them down and they were almost caught out in stoppage time when Buehl had a deflected effort that Coll had to claw away, but the game ended scoreless, forcing extra time.
The Germans, who came into the game with a record of nine wins in 10 previous Euro semifinals, looked set to drag the match to penalties, but Bonmati had other ideas.
For Bonmati, who suffered a meningitis-related health scare in the lead-up to the tournament, the goal was a sweet one as the Spaniards defeated Germany for the first time at a major final.
“(I feel) proud. We deserve it. We’ve had a brutal championship. But we’ve also had a great tournament so far until today,” Bonmati said, acknowledging how tough it was to break the Germans down.
“Today we also suffered, of course, against Germany. It’s the first time we’ve beaten Germany too, and for those who win at the end of the European Championship, what more could you ask for, right?”
Berger, who was the hero of Germany’s quarterfinal shootout win over France, took responsibility for the goal that saw her side crash out of the tournament.
“I take the blame for that as well. The near post had to be covered, that’s clear, and that’s why I’m even more disappointed in myself,” she said.
“I can make as many saves as I want, but that goal should have simply been mine, and that’s why I feel incredibly sorry, not even for myself, but for the team, because they really gave everything.”
