Host Switzerland, Spain's obstacle in the quarter-finals of the Women's Euro Cup

Almost three decades have passed since the Spanish women 's national team last played in the semi-finals of a European Championship. Back then, La Roja reached the threshold of the grand final without making it past the quarterfinals , their challenge this Wednesday in the continental tournament in Switzerland, precisely against the host nation. That, a Euro quarterfinal, is the last hurdle yet to be overcome by this Spain , world champions two years ago in Sydney, knocking down the door of the knockout stages, all of which until then had ended in defeat.

That outcome hasn't been repeated since Spain achieved glory in that World Cup final, where Olga Carmona showered La Roja with gold with a stunning goal against England, their tormentor at the European Championship three years ago, which left a thorn in this group's side . Because the national team came within just six minutes —Toone equalized in the 84th minute and Stanway scored the decisive 2-1 in the 96th minute of extra time— of reaching the semi-finals .

Her chance to redeem herself is this Friday, with a very similar scenario to the one she experienced that summer , facing the hosts, but with a very different confidence than she had back then : with Alexia Putellas injured just before the tournament debut, without having ever won a major trophy and with that mental barrier of the qualifiers, she came into that match; now, the two-time Ballon d'Or winner is at her best, and she has been joined by Aitana Bonmatí, the current best player in the world, with a World Cup and a Nations League under her belt, and knows how to suffer in matches like the one she will play against Switzerland at the Wankdorf.

The Swiss team will be playing their first Euro quarter-final and, a priori, they are not the favourites against Spain . This is not only due to their record in this tournament – just one win , one draw and one defeat in the group stage, with four goals scored and three conceded – but also because they have been heavily defeated in their last matches against La Roja : the world champions beat them 1-7 and 5-0 in the Nations League in October and September 2023, and eliminated them in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 1-5 victory.

In contrast, La Roja has emerged as the best team in the competition so far: the highest-scoring team (14), with the most possession (69%), most effective passing (89.7%) and most chances (78). What's more, they have the two top scorers in their ranks: Esther González (4) and Alexia Putellas (3), who is also the top assist provider, with four.

Even so, Spain, which with all its international players available—despite Esther González's discomfort at the beginning of the week and the threat of suspension for Aleixandri and Batlle—will start with its star eleven, should not get complacent . The team managed by the legendary Pia Sundhage relies on speed and counterattacks as its main assets: "We have to seize the moment. It will be difficult, but I promise you that we will play our best game ever; we will try together," she warned this Thursday in the preview.

"We're having a great tournament and now the best is yet to come (...). The match alone motivates you. Wanting to be in the semi-finals and play the three remaining matches," said Aitana Bonmatí, who made clear what her objective is after 28 years without reaching the semi-finals: "We want to continue making history."