Mariona Caldentey confident of Euro 2025 triumph against 'dangerous' England after late win over Germany in semi-finals - 'This is the year'

Spain and Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey believes that this will be the year that her country finally lifts the UEFA Women's European Championships. Aitana Bonmati struck deep into extra time to secure a famous 1-0 victory over Germany in the semi-finals to tee up a final on Sunday against England. Caldentey conceded that it would not be easy for her country to defeat a talented England side.

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Spain forward Mariona Caldentey believes "this is the year" for Spain at the UEFA Women's Euros, but admitted England will be "dangerous" opponents.

Her team defeated Germany 1-0 in the semi-finals on Wednesday, with Aitana Bonmati scoring a brilliant goal in extra time to seal the victory.

Germany had been putting up stiff resistance for much of the match, but Spain were able to ramp up the pressure, and it was Bonmati who finally broke the deadlock with the only goal of the game.

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England were already qualified thanks to their 2-1 win over Italy on Tuesday, setting up a mouthwatering final for the 2025 European Championship.

England's win was also decided in extra time. Italy scored a first-half goal through Barbara Bonansea, before Michelle Agyemang scored a 96th-minute equaliser, before Chloe Kelly grabbed a hugely dramatic win with a 119th-minute strike.

Caldentey celebrated the late win, telling the BBC: "We knew it would be a really tight game. We have never beaten Germany before, and we have never been in a Euros final.

"It was against history, and we made it with a lot of effort. We go into the next one and we are so excited to play that final."

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She will now face a host of her Arsenal team-mates, and she acknowledged that it would be a tough test for Spain, though she acknowledged that England have not been at their best in Switzerland so far.

She said of the England team: "I know a lot of them. I know the footballers they are, and I know what they can do. It will be a hard game. It's a final, so they are dangerous even though they can't maybe play the greatest football yet, but they have it inside them. It will be a hard but good game."

While Spain are often widely regarded as the very best side in women’s football, they are yet to land a European Championship, and Caldentey said that would spur them on to go that last step further.

"It's something we have never won," she answered. "It's something we are missing, and we really want it as a team. That was our focus from the first day. We are really close, it's just one step more, one game more, and we are ready for that."

Caldentey sounded cautious given the quality of the opponents coming up in the final, but was tempted enough to say she thought her side would finally win the trophy, adding: "With this team, you feel everything is possible.

"We have a really strong team, we are just ready, and we have the ambition to win. I think this is the year. Why not? We respect England, but we will go for it."

The match will take place on Sunday evening at St Jakob-Park in Basel.

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