Bonmatí: Why Spain can now match England, U.S.

Aitana Bonmatí has told ESPN that Spain learned to vie amended physically aft losing to England successful the quarterfinal of Euro 2022 arsenic the 2 teams hole to conflict for a spot successful the UEFA Women's Nations League last 4 connected Tuesday.

Holders Spain pb England astatine the apical of League A Group 3 by 2 points heading into the last decisive radical crippled this week, which volition instrumentality spot astatine RCDE Stadium successful Barcelona.

The 2 teams person met doubly since that quarterfinal 3 years ago, which England won, with Spain gaining revenge successful the World Cup last a twelvemonth aboriginal and England winning erstwhile the teams met astatine Wembley successful February.

"We had a decision against England successful the quarterfinal astatine the past Euros," Spain midfielder Bonmatí told ESPN. "I deliberation we deserved amended successful that match. We did a large match, but astatine the extremity they bushed us.

"And we grew up a batch arsenic a squad since this match. After that we won the World Cup, we won the Nations League and we grew up a batch arsenic a team, specifically physically.

"I deliberation Spain has ever had the endowment and the technique. But years agone we couldn't vie with teams similar England oregon USA, connected a carnal level. We tin vie now."

Spain volition scope the last four, which won't instrumentality spot until October, by avoiding decision against England, portion the Lionesses indispensable triumph if they privation to apical the radical and progress.

However, portion some teams volition privation to win, they besides person 1 oculus connected this summer's Euros, which instrumentality spot successful Switzerland.

World champions Spain and European champions England volition erstwhile again fertile among the favourites, with Bonmatí crystal wide connected what the apical people is.

"[Winning the Euros] is our main nonsubjective this twelvemonth arsenic a nationalist team, due to the fact that it's 1 of the trophies we don't person with the elder team," she added.

"Because I tin accidental that I won it astatine younker level, but not with the elder team. So it volition beryllium bully for maine and for the squad to triumph the Euros due to the fact that it's 1 of the champion competitions successful presumption of nationalist teams.

"I anticipation this twelvemonth tin beryllium the twelvemonth and we volition enactment everything for bash it."

Guiding Spain to the Euros would nary uncertainty propel Bonmatí into the moving to triumph the Ballon d'Or for a 3rd consecucitive year.

Prior to Bonmatí winning it twice, it was besides won 2 times by her teammate Alexia Putellas, with Barcelona holding a existent monopoly implicit the coveted prize.

"Yeah, it volition beryllium truthful bully and a unsocial achievement," she said erstwhile asked astir the anticipation of winning it again.

"I deliberation we are doing large things arsenic a squad this twelvemonth again and again and again. So it volition beryllium bully that the Ballon d'Or stays successful the nine due to the fact that I deliberation we person the champion players successful the world."

At nine level, Bonmatí's play has been somewhat tainted by Barça's decision to Arsenal successful the Champions League final, but the Blaugrana won Liga F and the Spanish Supercopa, portion they person the Copa de la Reina last to travel against Atlético Madrid adjacent weekend.