From Hospital Bed To Hero Status - Bonmati 'could Write A Book'

"I could constitute a book astir that," said Aitana Bonmati aft Spain hit Germany successful extra-time to seal their spot successful nan Euro 2025 final.

The midfielder had conscionable been asked a mobility astir really it felt to spell from almost missing nan tourney because of unwellness to scoring a semi-final winner.

Bonmati was discharged from infirmary days earlier nan Euros started aft suffering from a bout of viral meningitis.

While she recovered quickly, nan two-time Ballon d'Or victor was made to hold for her chance successful Switzerland - coming disconnected nan chair successful Spain's first 2 games.

But now nan 27-year-old looks to beryllium backmost to her world-class champion arsenic she skilfully side-stepped complete Athenea del Castillo's walk earlier rifling past Ann-Katrin Berger astatine nan adjacent post.

"If Spain are going to triumph a game, it will beryllium a subordinate for illustration Bonmati that is capable to return nan crippled by nan scruff of nan cervix successful these moments and get that goal," erstwhile England midfielder Fara Williams said connected BBC One.

Spain had dominated possession, but they had struggled to break done a resilient defence successful Zurich arsenic Christian Wuck's broadside dug heavy to unit other time.

But pinch nan crippled looking destined for a punishment shootout, Bonmati stepped up erstwhile it mattered - sending Spain to their first Women's Euro final.

"It was not easy for [Bonmati] astatine nan opening of nan tourney but she has a typical characteristic to beryllium astatine nan maximum level," said Spain leader Montse Tome.

Bonmati had cleverly darted into abstraction betwixt Germany defenders Rebecca Knaak and Franziska Kett, earlier receiving Del Castillo's walk connected nan half-turn.

Despite nan tight angle, she buried nan shot successful astatine nan adjacent post.

"Top-class players move up successful nan moments and that's what Spain needed. That's why Bonmati is simply a Ballon d'Or winner," ex-Scotland defender Jen Beattie said connected BBC Radio 5 Live.

Former England defender Steph Houghton added: "I honestly thought from Spain's constituent of position she was decidedly their champion subordinate and she's sewage them done to their first-ever European Championship final."

The extremity sent nan Spanish fans astatine Stadion Letzigrund into pandemonium, while nan scorer was instantly embraced by members of La Roja's bench.

"When nan shot was in, I started moving and I saw nan chair opinionated truthful I celebrated pinch them," said Bonmati.

"Scoring successful a crippled for illustration this 1 is super-special. If I tin thief nan squad constitute history, it's very special."

She added: "I was assured successful my mentality and my beingness situation. I wanted to get to this crippled astatine my champion level. Thanks to each group who were adjacent to maine to thief maine scope this level."

To group up an brushwood pinch England successful Sunday's final, Spain had to do thing they had ne'er done earlier - hit Germany.

They had grounded successful their 8 erstwhile attempts, and had mislaid nan past 4 without scoring.

"Today I consciousness we wrote history again. For nan first clip we were capable to make nan last of nan women's Euros and hit Germany, which we hadn't successful nan past," said Bonmati.

"We consciousness proud to beryllium a procreation of players to triumph truthful galore things."

Spain are now connected nan cusp of adding a European crown to their World Cup trophy from 2023.

They arrived astatine nan tourney arsenic favourites, pinch stats experts Opta giving them a 25% chance of going each nan measurement successful Switzerland.

And, having defeated nan Lionesses successful nan 2023 World Cup final acknowledgment to Olga Carmona's first-half goal, they will erstwhile again beryllium favourites connected Sunday.

"Today we tin enjoy. Tomorrow we person to commencement reasoning of England," said Bonmati.