9 hours ago
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The 20th infinitesimal successful Bern belonged to Diogo Jota after 29,520 fans packed into the Stadion Wankdorf for the Women's 2025 Euro radical signifier matchup betwixt Spain and Portugal. Chants of "Diogo Jota, ole" echoed crossed the arena successful a motion honoring the Portuguese international who died Thursday greeting successful a car crash.
The opus was a tribute to Jota's No. 20 shirt, which helium has worn since the 2020 play with Liverpool. Jota besides wore the garment for Portugal during the 2018-19 play earlier being called up to the elder level, wherever helium would deterioration 8 antithetic numbers earlier settling connected No. 21 for his state since 2022.
The crowd, careless of nationalist colors, roseate successful unison to observe the beingness of the precocious winger. Jota passed distant alongside his member Andre Silva pursuing a car wreck successful Zamora, Spain. Just hours later, Portugal's women's nationalist squad faced Spain the aforesaid time successful a lucifer that kicked disconnected astatine 3 p.m. ET.
The lucifer opened with a infinitesimal of soundlessness for the brothers. From there, the crippled rapidly turned into one-sided dominance.
Spain struck aboriginal aft Esther Gonzalez recovered the backmost of the nett successful conscionable the 2nd infinitesimal and again earlier halftime. Vicky Lopez added a seventh-minute goal, followed by 1 from Aitana Bonmati successful the 41st, and Cristina Martin-Prieto finished disconnected the 5-0 triumph successful stoppage time.
Portugal managed conscionable 1 changeable connected target. Spain unleashed 22 attempts and dominated possession astatine 71.4 percent. But the last people faded down the value of the moment, and chants for Jota besides flooded societal media, with tons of tributes pouring successful online. Cristiano Ronaldo, Jurgen Klopp, LeBron James, Sadio Mane, and respective members of the Portuguese nationalist squad paid their respects to Jota. Former teammate Mohamed Salah adjacent ended his abrogation early to wage his respects.
Goalkeeper Diogo Costa, defender Diogo Dalot, and Liverpool prima center-back Virgil Van Dijk were devastated and shocked by the news. Tottenham Hotspur released a nine connection mourning Jota's death, the Reds added a tribute of their own, and truthful did manager Arne Slot.
"The nine person been informed the 28-year-old has passed distant pursuing a roadworthy postulation mishap successful Spain on with his brother, Andre. Liverpool FC volition beryllium making nary further remark astatine this clip and petition the privateness of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates, and nine unit is respected arsenic they effort to travel to presumption with an unimaginable loss," work the statement. "We volition proceed to supply them with our afloat support."
Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal's elder team, scoring 14 goals and helping usher them to 2 UEFA Nations League titles. The 2nd triumph came conscionable past month, defeating Spain 5-3 connected penalties successful other clip aft ending regularisation 2-2. A ceremony for Jota and Andre Silva is scheduled for Friday successful Sao Cosme, Gondomar, Portugal.
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