Women's Euros: Spain Stutter into Semis

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1:24Hello and welcome to the Football Daily Podcast with me, Ailey Barber, as we reflect on world champion Spain making it through to the semifinals of Euro 2025 after beating hosts Switzerland 2-0 in Bern. Alongside me are former England internationals Izzy Christensen and Gilly Flaherty. Both of you have enjoyed that game. Izzy alongside me in commentary, but Gilly as well watching on. What did you make of it, Gilly? The Spanish side not at their best. No, I think Switzerland sat really well against them. I think when you could obviously hear the crowd, I think they were really pushing Switzerland on.

2:04But I felt, especially in the first half, I felt a bit nervous for Spain because obviously they had the missed penalty and it just seemed to be, is it going to be one of those nights? And then Switzerland done obviously incredibly well to hold on for as long as they did. but then I just felt Spain's quality just shone later on. Yeah, they have so much quality, Izzy, in that side and albeit it perhaps wasn't their best performance here in Switzerland or the best performance that we will see from them as a group. They did enough. They used their bench. They used their bench well. Athene del Castillo on for four minutes gets the opening goal and it sort of seemed to just give them a little bit of confidence.

2:47That's right, yeah. and they really weren't at the races at all. Watching the highlights throughout the game and the replays, they did hit the woodwork three times or four times, in fact. They had the one off the inside of the post from Paredes and then the second phase, Patrick Guajaro off the post and then Gonzalez on the follow-up. But the goal, oh my gosh, Bonmati, little backheel into the path of the substitute, Del Castillo, who she had an instant impact, really clean, composed finish, which obviously got Spain off the mark and then it set the precedent for then the second goal that they then got, which was a wonderful strike from Claudio Pina.

3:23Spain, two penalties in this game, missed both of them. What is going on with penalty kicks, Gilly? What is going on? Oh, honestly, it's not the greatest spectacle, is it really, of penalties in this tournament. But I felt with the Caldense, when I played, I mean, I used to be the last person if I needed to take a penalty because I let all the other better players take penalties first. But I'm just not really a fan of the stop halfway through. And I just felt like when she'd done it, obviously we've seen Caldente score so many penalties, especially in the WSL. And I just don't know. I just felt like she dragged it obviously far too wide.

4:11and then obviously then when Boutella steps up it seems to be the keeper I think went early as well on that but I mean it was a good save from her but I do think it was at a good height for the goalkeeper too but yeah obviously then obviously last night's penalty it's not been it's been a great show No it certainly hasn't but in terms of the goals that Spain did score the little bit of ingenuity and quality from Bon Mati to set up Del Castillo and then for Claudia Pina at such a young age, just that beautiful caressing shot into the top corner, curling in and nestling into the side netting. They were the two moments of quality and they split the teams.

4:51Yeah, they were. They were the one that made the difference in the end. And Switzerland didn't really create anything, although we can speak about how resolute and compact their defending was. But the two times they were cut open on the first goal in particular, with Bon Matty providing a little piece of elegance, and then just the second goal that Spain scored, It was Valti being pickpocketed in the middle of midfield. She's complaining to the referee and in the process, Claudia Pina, she picks up the loose ball and she just grabs the game, cuts inside on her right foot. The trajectory of the ball is beautiful.

5:23The way the ball dips into the far post. Wonderful finish. I don't think many goalkeepers are saving that. And that was Spain's quality in the end that is exactly what they needed. Julie, are you looking for a free kick in that position that Leo Valti is in? And she was certainly asking the referee for a free kick, thought she was fouled in that build up to Pina's goal. It's a position that you're probably more likely to be in than Izzy, that defensive line. Would you be looking for a free kick there? I think if that was given as a free kick, I think it'd be pretty soft, to be honest. Just watching it, obviously I'm watching it on the telly and there was obviously comments saying that some people thought it was a foul.

6:04But from the angles that I saw, I thought it was pretty soft. but I do think a player like Vulte with the experience that she's got should know that even if you do think it is a foul, you don't stop. I mean, she just completely switches off and just allows, obviously, then Pina to, we've seen her how many times do that for Barcelona and obviously then do it in this tournament as well. Like, you can't switch off like that. Even if you do feel that you've been fouled, you carry on until obviously the referee says otherwise. Yeah, Spain with the quality tonight that's shone through in the vital moments, But Izzy, in terms of Switzerland, it's been wonderful to see their journey, to make history in front of the home fans by getting to a first ever knockout stage at a Euros and the support that they've had all over the country.

6:50And there was a lovely moment at the end of the match where they held up a big red and white sign saying merci fans and waved to all three sides of the stadium. Really, there was Swiss fans everywhere. what will they take from this tournament in the way that they move forward now as a nation? Well, the journey has been wonderful to watch. You know, I think everybody will admit that they want the host nation to do well in major tournaments. And I think a team like Switzerland and the way that they played and captured, you know, the imagination of not just their own fans, but people, you know, around the world and around Europe in particular, I've certainly loved watching them play.

7:31I think they've been truly inspiring. They've shown so many positive characteristics of what a great team looks like, the resilience and the never give up, never say die attitude. And also he's sprinkling in the young talent within their squad, Reuteler, who's still in mid-20s. Reeson, I think has been brilliant at left wing back. Schürtenleib. And obviously the players of great experience in Valti, Sinja Gorcevic. I think it's been a wonderful blend in the way that Pia Suntaga has got her team set up and you can't help but want them to do well. And I think justice was done. I think they got as far as they probably should have actually gone in the tournament.

8:12It would have been a massive shock if they'd have beaten Spain, but they haven't. But they can hold their heads high and use this to sort of capture the imagination of many young people in Switzerland who want to go on and play football. And I'll be brutally honest. Before the tournament started, I had Switzerland to near enough finish bottom of their group with the quality that obviously they had in the group and the way that they'd obviously had their qualifying and things like that. So I thought that they was going to be, I didn't see them as progressing from the group. So I think they can hold their heads up high, the way that they've played, the fight that they've shown.

8:47You're talking as well, they probably lost one of their most key players in Ramona Backman not long before the tournament starts with their ACL. And, you know, that could really ultimately affect the team in more ways than one. But you see, you've seen the crowds at all the games, you know what I mean? Not just Switzerland's games, but other games as well. And I think especially with the home, with it being a home nation, I think you're looking at, obviously, when we hosted it in England, and obviously England did win it, but the effect it had on grassroots football and women's football, young girls football afterwards was huge.

9:22And I think you're looking at Australia in the World Cup, it was the same impact after that. And I just think it's great in regards to the team and the football and obviously what the actual Switzerland women's team are doing. But for me, I think when the tournament's finished and then we're looking at who's hosting the next one and stuff like that, it's what happens next in Switzerland. and what those girls and the young girls who have gone to games now and their eyes have been opened to a career that probably me and Izzy when we were youngsters never see that. Do you know what I mean? Never see the chance of being professional footballers.

10:01Now they're going to have the opportunity and it's about then Switzerland delivering that and putting money into the grassroots side of the game to improve the quality of Switzerland players so that then these youngsters coming through, the experience that they've got, how they can then carry the Switzerland national team for many years to come.

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11:06We're two greats of Lions rugby, Matt Dawson and Jamie Robertson. We've been ranking everything from... Icons. To... Controversies. We've got moments. Tours Tries Tries You're in the controversies Matt Right at the top Jamie you're in the controversies too Indirectly Indirectly not your fault It is all there Two men who have been there Done it And won it on a Lions tour Get it now Lions top tens On Rugby Uni Weekly On BBC Sounds The Football Daily Podcast At UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Records just keep being broken At this Women's Euros The highest combined attendance across Euro's quarter final stage.

11:45And we've still got one to go. 78 ,407 so far. That one to go is between France and Germany, two absolute powerhouses of the women's game. They play in Basel on Saturday, but Germany go into this one off the back of that 4-1 defeat to Sweden in their final group game. There's been some pretty damning headlines in the German media. Welt called it a historically lousy Germany. Der Spiegel, one big defeat and many small ones. This is a nation who have won this championship on eight occasions. It seems a little bit like the optimism and confidence that there might have been in Germany coming into this tournament is beginning to fade off the back of that heavy defeat.

12:33Yeah, I mean, obviously, listen, it's not ideal to be coming in Chelsea, the quarters coming off of the back of that defeat. And I know the thing is, when I saw, when I was watching Germany in the Olympics, I was so impressed by them. I felt like they, I felt like they've lost their way a little bit over the years. We obviously knew how dominant they were for many, many years. And I felt then it's a bit like similar in the sense of in the domestic game of Barcelona, you know, and Lyon, how they've dominated. And now other teams are coming through. And it's a bit similar with Germany in the national side.

13:07Germany were the team to beat. They were the team that everyone feared. And I think they sort of lost their way a little bit with other nations getting stronger and pushing them and challenging them. And I feel the Olympics, I thought they'd done really well. I didn't think they deserved to lose to the USA at all. So then you was hoping coming into the Euros, you know, it's a sort of a bounce back. Can they push it further? But obviously coming off the back of the defeat like that to Sweden, you know, and people are saying a little bit lousy and frustrating performances. it's going to be a very, very tough game against France who had a little bit of a nervy game against the Netherlands but will be coming into the quarterfinal full of confidence.

13:47I think going into that game for the Germans is precariously perched because I think France are starting to gather momentum and I think this French team look good and I think if France can get over Germany and get themselves into that semi-final against Spain I think for the French, that would be a huge hurdle that they jump over. Gilly, you played with Anka Trimberger, didn't you? Yeah. What would it mean to her? Give us a bit of insight about her. Oh, it'd be huge. I think, you know, listen, everyone was very vocal. I think everyone was very vocal when she never even, like before she come to Chelsea about how good her qualities were.

14:27And I felt it was always that, how is she not, how is she not number one for the national team? and how is she not really involved? And then I think you're talking about the Olympics, really, the way that she stepped up. You know, she had a difficult final season at Chelsea as well, but she went to the Olympics. And for me, it was that I deserve to be number one for Germany. You know, I'm going to step up. She made some incredible saves. And yeah, I think for her, it's that sort of, she's a big game player. We see it when she was at Chelsea. You know, we've seen it for Germany too. She's a big game player.

15:03She just needs to, in my opinion, needs to do things right early on. I feel like sometimes when she's made a mistake, sometimes it can affect her as the game goes on. So I feel like for her, she needs to have a big save. She needs to have an important moment, get on the ball early. But Berger will be crucial if Germany then want to progress to the next round. Yeah, she plays on the edge, should we say, a little bit. She likes to take risks at times. And when you look at that French forward line, you look at the likes of Catoto up there, Cascarino, some of the incredible players they've got in those forward areas.

15:46Deani can come off the bench. Matteo's had a big say in things. Baltimore, who's been fantastic. There's going to be a lot of pressure on that back line and on Berger. And when you look at that French forward line, And is that where the difference perhaps could be in this quarterfinal? Yeah, I think it could be because we saw damage the French did to England. And they, like I said, I feel like they're gathering momentum. And it's almost like it might be quite a very, well, it might be a really open game tomorrow night. You've got also the Germany front line who can cause damage as well. But I don't think they're quite as clinical as they could be.

16:27And I think the same could be said at times against the French front line. But having said that, the damage that Cascarino and Baltimore can do as two wide players, they can destroy any back four by themselves. And then you've got the likes of Cototo down the middle, who is such a quality, strong target player up top. And then you've got pace and aggression in midfield in Greyoro and Taleti if she comes into the side. Jean-Francois, the new signing at Chelsea. I thought she was brilliant against England. They've got quality all over the pitch. And I think Bonadé, the French manager, is proving to get his decisions right.

17:03Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that quarterfinal. There's the final quarterfinal. One semifinal has been locked in Italy against England. Spain lie in wait for the winner of France against Germany. But England know who they will face in the final four. It will be Italy. I don't even know how you look back on last night, Jilly, on their victory on penalties over Sweden. It was a very poor first 75, an incredible last 15, and then chaos in the penalty shootout. I mean, how do you reflect on it all? Oh, I mean, I was obviously watching a game, and when we went 1-0 down, I thought, this is not going to be our night at all.

17:53And then it was 2-0. And in my opinion, it could have been 3 or 4-0. I did feel at half-time, I mean, I was FaceTiming my mum and I was like, it was 2-0. And I said, England are going to come back into this. A million percent, they'll come back. And when Ajiman come on, I said, she's going to score. She's going to get involved. I felt like she was a danger when she come on against France. And obviously, Chloe Kelly coming on. And when it then went to 2-2, I fancied England. I did think it was going to be done in extra time, if I'm being completely honest. But it just seemed like it then swung into England's favour.

18:35But for me, the start of it, I mean, England was poor. Defensively, we spoke about England's defensive issues for, this isn't just nuke happening in this tournament. We spoke about it in the qualifiers, the defensive mistakes that cost England time and time again. And yeah, I think if it had been another day, potentially, like I said, they could have been looking at being three or four nil down, but for them to change it how they did and to get back into the game and obviously then win on the chaos of the penalties. I know everyone's been talking about Lucy Brown's penalty where you need that real leader, which is what she is, the strapping of her leg.

19:15Do you know what I mean? She's an incredible athlete and just the mindset and the resilience that she's got. But yeah, for me, it was chaos. But would it be chaos if it wasn't England? Do you know what I mean? Listen, the pulse rate was certainly incredibly high watching those penalties last night. But when you look at the players that made the difference and Julie touches on there, Adjiman coming on and she made a big difference as well when she's come off the bench in other games this tournament. Chloe Kelly barely on the pitch and she'd assisted for Lucy Bronze to get England back into it. These players that have had an impact from the bench, what does Serena Vigman do?

19:56Does she change anything? Does she give an opportunity to these players going into a semi-final? Or do you stick, if everybody's fit and able to start, do you stick with really the tried and tested XI that she's had so far? I would be really surprised if there aren't any enforced changes into the starting XI. I think there's going to be a massive question mark over Leah Williamson and there could be a question mark over Lauren James based on those two tackles we saw at the end of extra time against Sweden. So there might be enforced changes, but I do think England are in great shape in terms of I could potentially see Niamh Charles coming into the side in replace of Jess Carter, who we know, you know, she had a really poor game against Sweden.

20:45And Niamh Charles has proven she's ready. She's up to it. I mean, she's not a conventional left-sided centre-back or left-back, but we know that Alex Greenwood's versatility allows, you know, there to be moving parts there. Yeah, I think we look at the same. We do look at the same. I think Chloe Kelly's put in an excellent stake to start, but I think her impact yesterday was, it was outrageous, you know, to make, to be made, we even made the three changes, the triple change, and then eight minutes later, she put Chloe Kelly on. And it was almost like that eight minutes was kind of like Chloe Kelly's moment to be absolutely fuming, that she hadn't entered the pitch eight minutes earlier.

21:26And then the anger was all bottled up and used to provide those two crosses, which led to us obviously taking it to extra time. So there are tools in the box. Just put it that way for Wegman. She certainly has depth. She has strength. But in that defensive area, Jilly, if Leah Williamson is not fit and able to start and you've got that question mark over Jess Carter, whether she plays, whether you change things, how much does that weaken England defensively if the captain's not able to start? You know, it's difficult because, of course, you're talking about Leah Williamson, that she's the captain.

22:02You know, I think if you're talking about the England team, they've got to want their captain on the pitch. But I do think it's difficult, in my opinion, if you lose Leah Williamson, I think it's difficult. As much as Jess Carter had a poor game yesterday, and I think she struggled against France as well. You're then looking at if we take Jess Carter and we've lost Leah, that's potentially two changes that have to come into that back line. whereas sometimes when you're going into a semi-final the least disruption that you can cause probably the better but for example if Leah's able to come back and be fit then I think Niamh Charles has got every right to be knocking on the door and saying am I going to have a chance to start it's just whether if she's going to lose Leah does she then potentially want to take out Jess and that's two changes then to the back line Yeah, big decisions to make, but they will all certainly be hoping that Leah Williamson and Lauren James are both fit to start.

23:04In terms of England's opponents, Italy, they avoided extra time with a last minute winner from their talisman up front, Cristiana Giarelli. She's a real handful, a goal scoring machine up front. Did you see anything? You have to put your impartiality glasses on now, Izzy. Did you see anything in Italy over the course of this tournament the first half against Spain where they were very dominant they were very dominant in the first half against Norway in that quarterfinal but let them back into it is there anything that troubles you at all about Italy and what England are going to face next? I think the thing about Italy is they've firstly grown into the tournament naturally and I think that they do have an element of unpredictability about them which the players you mentioned there Giurelli and then Cantore Severini in the midfield Bonasiat I think they have got players that can hurt you.

23:57Naturally, you'd expect that from a team that was in the semifinals of a European championship. They've got quality players. What I see in terms of weaknesses in the Italian side is I think they lack physicality. I think they lack athleticism. We all know historically the Italians, they're up to every trick in the book in terms of game management. So that is something England are going to be frustrated by. I would imagine they will play a big part in game managing the way the flow of the game is going. the Italians, but I just think that England will prove to be too strong for them. I'll be very surprised if there's an upset.

24:33That's going to be a really interesting semi-final. That one, the current holders, England up against two-time finalists, Italy, a place in the final in Switzerland on the line. We have three of our semi-finalists locked in. Italy, England, Spain. one space to come in France and Germany. From what you've seen, Gilly, so far, who is the favourite, do you think, to progress to that final and potentially go all the way to winning this championship? Oh, I think in the two games, I think for me, I think France will beat Germany. England will beat Italy. So I think England will get to the final. For me, I think it'll be a really close game if France progress between France and Spain.

25:28I'm going to call it that I'm going to call Spain to win that semi and then it'll be England, Spain final and I'm going to call Spain to win it. oh is he do you concur spicy um i i'm gonna say just for fun and also because i backed france at the start of the tournament france are going to get to the final so they're going to beat germany and then they're going to beat spain and in the final in the final we're gonna have a rematch of the first group game and but england to win i don't know the result it's too much to ask but France to win. I can't say anything because if I don't pick England, people will say it's because I'm Scottish.

26:13And I've got a problem with it. But listen, I think whatever happens, we're going to have two cracking semifinals, one cracking quarterfinal still to come. And you can listen to live commentary of France against Germany with full reaction to it on the Football Daily as ever. and my thanks to Izzy Christensen and Jilly Flaherty for joining me on this episode of the Football Daily. We will be back tomorrow with Maisie Adams' Euros Fan Diary. What to look out for?

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