Key events
David Wall has emailed and said:
I don’t know about player or team of the tournament so far but the standout broadcaster has got to be Vicki Sparks. I think she has done the radio commentary for almost every game and by the end of the last few matches has sounded like Marge Simpson after running a marathon. Her throat lozenge budget must be through the roof. It’s fantastic!
She is amazing isn’t she, I believe she is on 5 Live again today.
Something for you to listen to before this clash gets underway:
Montse Tomé, Spain coach, added:
The team has made history. These players are destined for greatness. Our [quarter-final] performance was very good against a [Switzerland] team playing at home, which we knew would be a challenge. We managed to keep a clean sheet, which was one of our goals. We’re in the semi-finals – objective accomplished.
Christian Wück, Germany coach, said:
I can already promise that we will give Spain a tough battle, just as they will fight us with everything they have. Then we’ll see who comes out on top in the end. I think [the win against France] will give us another huge mental boost. The girls really wanted to prove what they’re made of and that we can overcome such setbacks and come back.
The team news is in. Germany have made two changes and they come as enforced onces. Sjoeke Nusken and Kathrin Hendrich are out for Carlotta Wamser and Sara Dabritz.
Germany: Berger; Wamser, Kleinherne, Minge, Knaak, Kett; Brand, Senß, Dabritz, Buhl; Hoffman
Subs: Johannes, Mahmutovic, Linder, Gwinn, Lohmann, Freigang, Schüller, Zicai, Cerci, Dallmann
Spain, meanwhile, make one change which is also forced as Aleixandri drops out as she is suspended following a yellow card accumulation, Maria Mendez comes in.
Spain: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Mendez, Carmona; Bonmati, Patri, Putellas; Caldentey, Gonzalez, Pina
Subs: Sullastres, Nanclares, Fernàndez, Athenea, Ouahabi, Martin-Prieto, L. García, Paralluelo, Vicky, Redondo M. Zubieta
A bit of team news to remind you of for Germany before the starting XIs drop, Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nusken are both unavailable for Germany. Hendrich is banned for her red card last time out and Nusken is suspended for too many yellow cards. Carlotta Wamser can return from her red card suspension though.
Will we see more heroics from Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger this evening? The team and their fans will be hoping so. Here’s more on her and other goalkeepers from Euro 2025:
Germany or Spain will face defending champions England in the final on Sunday after the Lionesses pulled off another comeback against Italy. You can read how the players got on here:
Seller has emailed:
To tonight, and the two strongest teams in the tournament, the Germans having shown extraordinary strength, if slightly inferior skill, to get this far: it would have been a worthy final. Mind you, disqualification for the hairpull would also have been a reasonable outcome! It’s an intriguing prospect: Spain are undoubtedly and by some distance the team with the highest skill levels individually (2023 World Cup final showcased this perfectly, leaving most of the England squad looking like comparative donkeys) and if they combine this with a good team and tactical performance then they should win. However this has been the tournament in which the stubborn donkeys of Germany and England have seen off some superior beasts, and it’s not been unentertaining! I’d be happy with a Spanish showcase, or a 99th minute winner from a Germany side reduced to 8 women by three first half red cards …
It does feel that unpredictable doesn’t it. We’ll soon find out who can outlast the other.
The Germany coach, Christian Wück, has said his players must “do a lot of chasing” and “suffer” in order to beat Spain in Zurich on Wednesday and reach the Euro 2025 final.
Spain, the world champions, are the clear favourites after winning all of their four games in Switzerland, scoring 16 goals. Germany lost 4-1 against Sweden in the group stage and had to go the distance against France in the quarter-final, winning on penalties despite having had Kathrin Hendrich sent off after 13 minutes.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Euro 2025 semi-final between Germany and Spain which will determine who joins England in the final.
Spain’s campaign has so far been unblemished. Their only slip up was conceding first to Italy in the group stage but they responded by beating them 3-1. In the quarter-finals they faced hosts Switzerland, who held the off valiantly until the second half where Spain comfortably won 2-0.
Germany, meanwhile, have had a more bumpy tournament. They lost 4-1 to Sweden which meant they finished as runners-up in their group. In the last eight match against France they went down to 10 players after just 13 minutes but the team managed to push the game all the way to penalties where they came through the shootout as victors.
Spain will be favourites to take the win but Germany are a resilient side who should be favourites Spain’s toughest opponent yet. Before the team news drops around 6.45pm BST we will take a look at news from around the tournament and what has been said in the build-up.