No Bonmati, no problem – Spain put down major Euros marker

Spain started their Euro 2025 campaign as heavy favorites despite the recent hospitalization of the Ballon d’Or winner and the first-choice keeper’s health issues.

Their chances for winning their first game against Portugal dropped to 87 seconds. By half-way, who in Switzerland could possibly stop them was the only conversational point.

The world champions defeated Portugal 5-0, with Cristina Martin-Prieto scoring the final goal in the fifth minute.

However, the first half of the tournament was a true test for the world champions after six teams faced off against them in the opening games with obvious flaws and some poor quality.

And it occurred in the midst of a malfunctioning construction. After recently being released from a hospital after a bout of viral meningitis, Aitana Bonmati, the current Ballon d’Or winner, was standing. She was introduced as a tard substitute four days later.

After suffering tonsillitis, first-choice keeper Cata Coll was replaced with 23-year-old Adriana Nanclares. Because of suspension, Irene Paredes was not present in front of her.

So, was Spain available to take? The first meaningful attack provided the answer.

Although she wears the number nine, Esther Gonzalez is not a household name in Spain. The 32-year-old New York/New Jersey Gotham striker, who converts chances created by magic to opportunities created by magic, is the spearhead of the Spanish attack.

She excellently executed a pinpoint pass with her shoulder before slotting home the opener.

Bonmati, no? No . This Spain-side constellation is a star, while Bonmati is a star.

Another creative midfielder steps up to replace the former champion from Spain. Vicky Lopez was slipped in by WSL player of the year Mariona Caldentey after seven minutes to put the game to 2-0.

Lopez, age 18, has already won three Liga F titles with Barcelona, making her the youngest female debut in history.

The third place finish and controlled control was achieved by Alexia Putellas, Bonmati’s previous winner of the Ballons d’Or competition. She has a serious knee injury that prevented her from competing in 2022.

Left-back Claudia Pina, another Barcelona star who has outsmarted 2023 World Cup heroine Salma Paralluelo out of the XI, created the fourth sensationally by twisting a chipped cross from the byline off the far post. Gonzalez, who had the first word, added the final word of a first half that should frighten the other 15 nations.

Spain is the team to beat at Euro 2025 because of this. Their depth is astounding from front to back.

In her first competitive international, who won? Your ninth clean sheet is kept by her.

Former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon described the performance as “a five-star performance” on BBC Radio 5 Live. Five objectives. clean sheet a wide range of objectives as well. You want to start the tournament exactly that way.

We’ve discussed whether or not Spain is the winner, and it is, to be fair. They haven’t yet won this competition, so the pressure is on them to put on a show. And boy, did they do, especially in the first half.

However, Spain have occasionally demonstrated that they can win the World Cup after defeating England in Sydney.

In addition to their shock defeat against England in the Nations League, they also suffered a shock defeat to the Czech Republic in qualifying.

Spain lost medals to Brazil and Germany at the most recent major event, the 2024 Olympics, in which case it lost.

There are still some doubts about Montse Tome, their first female manager, playing her first senior role.

And the tests will be much more difficult. This Portugal side was outclassed by Zamora on Thursday morning, left them devastated by recent heavy defeats to Spain and the dreadful news from the country.

Vicky Losada, a former Spain international, told ITV, “I personally believe Portugal made it easy for Spain.” You must compete in order to compete in the Euros.

There is no mention of a Spanish procession in history. They have never won the Euros; in fact, they last advanced past the quarter-finals in 1997. In each of the previous three continental tournaments, they have lost.

However, if Spain wins Euro 2025, they will only be the second women’s team in history to win five World Cups and European competitions consecutively, following Germany’s five straight victories between 2001 and 2009.

Similar dominance should not be ruled out given this Spanish side’s depth and youth. And that is a possibility with this incredibly impressive first half.