Rubiales forced kiss could drive Spain on, says Toone

ENGLAND’S Ella Toone admits Spain may have extra motivation going into today’s final of the Women’s Euro 2025 after their World Cup triumph two years ago was overshadowed by events at the end of the game in Sydney.

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Spain beat England 1-0 in 2023 to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with Olga Carmona scoring the only goal of the game.

However, the headlines later were dominated by the forced kiss by former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales was eventually fined €10,800 (about R224 000) for sexual assault in February this year.

“Tt was a difficult period for the Spanish players and I think for what they did in the World Cup, for that to then be the main talking point, was really tough and something they shouldn’t have had to go through,” Toone told reporters in Zurich on Friday.