Spain exited the European Championship after a brutal 2-1 defeat, delivering their best effort on a day when the gap in the backline and the hosts’ physical edge decided the result. Alexia scored a moment of beauty, yet the goalscoring deficit stayed visible as the team battled a tough English side that seized control and booked a semi-final spot.
Spain showed unprecedented poise and swagger in this European Championship, pressing high, reclaiming the ball quickly, and staying vertical when gaps appeared. They tested the English goalkeeper with a long-range effort, and Mariona Caldentey along with Esther Gonzalez pushed hard to enter dangerous positions, risking their physical limits to create chances.
Jorge Vilda fielded eleven with fresh legs and new faces. Cardona and Olga appeared on the flanks, Martha Cardona operated higher up, Tere Abelleira sat in the midfield, and Esther Gonzalez led the line. The team rewarded this novelty with a display of personalities that kept the English defense honest, even if they could not convert early pressure into goals.
If Spain controlled possession previously in February, now they shifted the balance of play to about 55 percent and kept the ball moving at key moments. The English coach, Sarina Wiegman, directed from the touchline but could not flip the balance, as Spain dictated tempo for long spells. In the 36th minute, England took the lead through a flagging offside decision that unsettled the crowd. The British side, more emotional than technical, sought to exploit set plays, but Spain steadied the ship and let Bonmati anchor the middle, guiding the defense and building play from the back.
YES, ESTHER, YOU EVEN HITTED IT WITH YOUR HEART.
— Spanish Women’s Football Team (SEFutbolFem) tweet, confirming the dramatic tempo of the match. [Source: SEFutbolFem]
Esther’s moment and the return to the dressing room
Spain returned to the tunnel with a clear plan: Athenea, fresh up front, partnered with Cardona to stretch England and create vertical options. Esther Gonzalez found herself in a position to score and then assisted in the 53rd minute, drawing England level in a tense Brighton arena. The equaliser sparked a brief hush from the home crowd before the match intensified again as England attempted to regain the advantage.
Wiegmann responded by reshaping his attack, bringing on Mead to address the pace at the flanks, while Spain looked to press high and pin England back. Vilda sought to channel pressure with a forward who could understand and anticipate the British approach. Bonmati, in midfield, and Athenea formed a compact unit that stifled England’s rhythm and prevented decisive breakthroughs as the clock crept toward the late stages. The ball frequently landed in dangerous zones around the box, with Athenea creating moments of anxiety in the English defense through incisive runs and tight turns.
The crowd held its breath as every attempt tested the goal, but the decisive breakthrough remained elusive for Spain. The half chances and built-up pressure raised the tension inside the Amex Stadium, with England relying on quick transitions and set-piece opportunities to keep the scoreboard moving.
Extra time and the final sting
The extra period opened with a rainy delivery finding its way through defences, and England capitalised with a volley that deflated the Spanish celebrations. Spain, who had just believed they had control of the tie, found themselves pushed back and forced to chase the result. The hosts’ energy carried them forward, and they landed a late strike that sealed the 2-1 scoreline and left Spain staring at a heartbreak that would sting long after the whistle.
The reaction from the camp highlighted a mix of effort and exhaustion, as players who had been left out earlier in the competition spoke out about their belief and national pride. The match left Spain with a bitter sense of what might have been, while England celebrated a moment of triumph and a place in the semi-finals.
Data sheet:
Lineups and substitutions for Spain: Closa, Batlle, Paredes, Mapi León, Carmona; Bonmati, Pebble, Abelleira (Aleixandri, 70); Cardona (Athenea, 46), Esther (S. García, 77), Caldentey (Sarriegi, 100).
Goals: Esther 54, 1-1; Toone 84; Stanway 96.
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France); assistants Greenwood (119) and Mapi León (45) for Spain; Misa (88) for Spain as listed during the match.
Attendance: 28,994 at AmEx Stadium, Brighton, in a Euro 2022 quarter-final that combined tense football with dramatic twists. [Source: UEFA records]