Aitana Bonmati Laments Cruel Penalty Shootout Loss For Deserving Spain In Euro 2025 Final

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Spain's Aitana Bonmati described the penalty shootout defeat to England in the Euro 2025 final as harsh, believing her team was superior during the match. Spain initially led with Mariona Caldentey's goal, but Alessia Russo equalised for England. Bonmati, along with Caldentey and Salma Paralluelo, missed penalties, while Chloe Kelly secured England's victory.

Throughout the match, Spain controlled possession with 64.9% of the ball and attempted 22 shots compared to England's eight. Despite creating four significant chances and achieving an expected goals (xG) value of 2.6, both teams managed only five shots on target. Bonmati felt their performance warranted a win, stating, "We were convinced that we were doing a great tournament."

Bonmati expressed her disappointment by saying, "It hurts a lot because we were convinced that we were doing a great tournament and we were with the mentality to come today and win." She added that playing better doesn't always guarantee victory in football.

Reflecting on the penalty shootout, Bonmati admitted it was a bitter end given their overall performance. "So, we go to the penalties, and we lose it. It was very cruel," she said. Despite her confidence in scoring during the shootout, she was surprised by her miss.

Bonmati acknowledged her role in the outcome: "There's this thing called penalties, and we definitely didn't do well there. I take my share of the responsibility." Her passing accuracy stood at 88.3%, making her one of Spain's standout midfielders.

Midfield Excellence

Bonmati excelled in passing during Euro 2025, ranking fifth for successful passes in the final third with 112. Other top performers included Alexia Putellas (160), Caldentey (157), Patri Guijarro (145), and One Batlle (133). These statistics highlight Spain's strong midfield presence throughout the tournament.

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner had previously scored against Germany in the semi-finals. Despite her confidence going into penalties, she remarked on how quickly things can change: "It's a matter of seconds, it's decisions."

Spain's journey ended in disappointment despite their impressive play throughout Euro 2025. Their inability to convert opportunities into goals proved costly against England's resilient defence.