Spain Loses Women's Euro Championship on Penalties, Tomé Sacked

Spain Loses Women's Euro Final and Sacks Montse Tomé

Spain arrived in Switzerland as world champions, second in the FIFA rankings, and the top power in the UEFA zone, and leaves with a silver medal around their necks and no coach. The team broke a drought that had lasted since 1997 – they hadn't reached the European semi-finals – in one fell swoop, made it to the final, and lost it in a penalty shootout. Days after finishing as runners-up, the RFEF Board announced that Montse Tomé's contract will not be renewed. Two facts and the same outcome: a tournament that was taken for granted and a federation that was quick to act.

Spain Ends Semi-Final Drought Since 1997 in Switzerland

The starting point was uncomfortable. A World Cup title, a Nations League, second place in the FIFA rankings, and many of the world's best players in the squad... and no European semi-finals since 1997. The label of clear favorite wasn't a prediction, it was an obligation. The Euro was presumed to be an unfinished conquest for almost three decades.

In Switzerland, that changed. Spain pogre through the rounds, reached the final, and lost on penalties, with the image of the players receiving silver medals and their serious expressions as the final scene of the tournament. A play in the shootout – a possible double touch on the kick – served to debate whether the penalty should be retaken. Some saw it clearly, others saw nothing at all. This is also not new: when the result decides a final, even the rules end up in the mud.

RFEF Does Not Renew Montse Tomé; Sonia Bermúdez Rumored

The decision was announced shortly after the match. The RFEF Board will not renew the coach's contract, and as a replacement, Sonia Bermúdez, the U23 coach, has emerged as a proposed candidate, though not yet confirmed. The dismissal can be interpreted in two ways. For some, it's the logical consequence of not winning with the best generation Spanish football has ever had; for others, it's another sign that the women's coaching staff is the first thing to be moved when the first bill arrives.

Eleven Barcelona Players in the Squad: Breakdown by Club

The squad list revealed a very specific map: eleven players from FC Barcelona, three from Real Madrid, and two from Athletic Club, plus a small group spread across Sevilla, PSG, Manchester City, Arsenal, Gotham FC, and Monterrey. Based on this distribution, one of the most frequent criticisms arose: that the national team is assembled by quotas and that some clubs with real weight are left out. The counter-argument is simple and difficult to refute at the same time: the best players are called up, and the best players play where they play.

Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, with the last four Ballon d'Or awards between them, summarize the two sides of the issue: concentration of talent in one locker room and dependence on it. The complete detail of which club contributes each player, name by name, is what turns a squad list into an argument.

No Bonus: 100,000 Euros Left on the Table

Losing a final doesn't just cost a title. The squad missed out on a 100,000 euro bonus for being runners-up. For players with high salaries, it's not a decisive amount; for a young player just breaking into the national team, it's money from another league. The amount better measures the real gap between being champions and being finalists than any speech.

Germany, the Calendar, and a Euro Championship Held Every Two Years

Germany's continental record is imposing, but it's worth looking at the calendar: until 1997, the tournament was held every two years, not four. Winning with that frequency, in a sport with a handful of truly competitive teams, inflates the history books faster than it seems. In this edition, Germany once again showed its usual trait: winning their second consecutive match playing with ten players and scoring with their only chance.

The Other Match: Public Funds and Comments Beyond Football

Not all the attention was sporting. Part of the conversation devolved into personal attacks against the players and questioning the public funds allocated to women's football after the runner-up finish, with electricity bills as a recurring theme. It's the same discussion that has accompanied the team since they started winning: the subsidy is scrutinized more than the game itself.

Spain is the European runner-up, maintains its status as world champion, has an empty coaching bench, and a federation that must decide who will occupy it. With this material, the question is no longer whether the national team can win a Euro; it's how long it will take to try again, and with whom.