Spain fight back against Czechs in Euro 2025 qualifiers, France edge win
Second-half goals from Maria Mendez, Jenni Hermoso and Mariona Caldentey propelled Spain to victory after Eliska Sonntagova's surprise opener for the visitors. "This match prepares us for everything to come," said Spain coach Montse Tome. "How we play the game matters a lot to us, these games prepare us for the Olympics."
It looked like a shock may be on the cards with 56 minutes on the clock when Sonntagova broke the deadlock. But just four minutes later, and despite missing Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati, the 2023 World Cup winners had already come from behind to take the lead.
Mendez rose highest from Alexia Putellas' corner to nod the Spanish level on 58 minutes and two minutes later, Hermoso finished from an acute angle following a superb Caldentey slide-rule pass to put Spain in front. With 20 minutes on the clock, Spain finished off the encounter when Hermoso turned provider for Caldentey.
Hermoso played her Barcelona team-mate in down the left, before Caldentey cut inside a defender and slotted a cool finish into the bottom corner from 15 yards. The victory for the Spanish national team again came on a difficult day for the country's football federation (RFEF), with disgraced ex-boss Luis Rubiales receiving summons Tuesday to testify as part of the investigation into over an alleged graft scandal at the federation when he was president.
Last week, the 46-year-old returned to Spain from the Dominican Republic and was briefly detained at the airport as part of a probe into federation contracts signed since 2018. Rubiales was forced to step down as RFEF boss last September after forcibly kissing Women's World Cup star Hermoso following Spain's triumph in the Sydney final in August.
Spain now sit top of Group 2 with
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