Bonmati shoulders blame for Spain's Euro 2025 defeat after penalty heartache

Aitana Bonmati shouldered the blame for Spain's defeat in the Euro 2025 final defeat to England after seeing her spot-kick saved by Hannah Hampton. 

Bonmati, who was named the Player of the Tournament, was one of three Spain players who failed to convert their penalties, along with Mariona Caldentey and Salma Paralluelo. 

Spain took the lead in the 25th minute through Caldentey before Alessia Russo's second-half header levelled the scores, with neither side finding a winner in extra time. 

Goalkeeper Hampton proved to be one of England's heroes in the shoot-out, making crucial saves before Chloe Kelly thumped home the winner as England retained their European crown. 

In what was just the second Women's Euro final to go to penalties, Bonmati felt Spain did enough to win the match. 

"I don't have much emotion left to be honest. I have emptied myself of emotion. We are all exhausted. We have spent many days here," Bonmati said. 

"I have to say sorry because it was my fault in the end. But I was not able to score it. Congratulations to our rivals.

"In my opinion, we were superior in the match. On some occasions, it is not enough in football."

Spain ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.35 from their 22 shots to England's 1.04 from their eight attempts.

Spain boss Montse Tome echoed the thoughts of Bonmati, believing her side deserved to win the match given their dominance, with La Roja having also boasted 64.9% possession. 

"I think this team deserved more. We have worked for a long time to get to this moment," Tome told reporters in her post-match press conference. 

"In what happened in the match, I think the team deserved to have more or at least not have this feeling. This is a sport, and you have to know how to lose."

England became just the second team to retain the Women's Euros, after Germany (1989, 1991, and six in a row between 1995 and 2013).

But they did so the hard way, having come through extra time in the knockout stages to defeat Sweden and Italy. They also lost their first game of the competition, going down to France. 

Indeed, Sarina Wiegman's side led for just four minutes and 52 seconds in the knockout stage of the tournament (including stoppage time). 

And Tome believes that the Lionesses' experiences on their way to Sunday's clash helped them navigate the final. 

"England have been playing to the limit for quite a few games. It seems that they have delicate moments, but they are always able to overcome," Tome added. 

"They have experienced, competitive players and that gives them performance.

"In extra time, we regained the midfield and generated attacks, but in the chances we had we did not manage to materialise them well, and they were better."

Tome did not want to speculate about her future with the national team, with her current contract due to expire at the end of August. 

The 43-year-old has been in charge of Spain since 2023, leading La Roja to the Women's Nations League title in that time.

"It's not something I think about. It is something that my external working group carries. In my head, it is what we had prepared," Tome added.