Spain's Bonmati says her brilliant winner went exactly as planned

Bonmati showed her class with a brilliant strike in the 113th minute to earn a 1-0 extra-time semifinal win on Wednesday that sent Spain into their first European Championship final and ended their winless run against the Germans.

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Spain's Aitana Bonmati appeared to be lining up a cross when she unleashed a shot from a seemingly impossible angle that squeezed between the post and Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger -- it was exactly how the twice-reigning Ballon d’Or winner pictured it.

Bonmati showed her class with a brilliant strike in the 113th minute to earn a 1-0 extra-time semifinal win on Wednesday that sent Spain into their first European Championship final and ended their winless run against the Germans.

Asked if the goal was planned, Bonmati, who was in hospital with viral meningitis days before Euro 2025 kicked off, said: "Yes, the truth is that we had studied it.

"Well, Marisa, the goalkeeper coach, had told me that she (Berger) made certain movements and that sometimes she left the near post clear and that's how it was.

"I didn’t think about (taking that shot) twice because I didn't want it to reach penalties."

Spain will meet holders England in Sunday's decider in a rematch of their 2023 World Cup final, won by the Spaniards.

Wednesday's victory was Spain's 10th in a row and 13th in 14 games, their only loss was a 1-0 defeat to England in the Nations League in February.