Spain Players Deserve To Enjoy Euro 2025 Final - Walsh

England midfielder Keira Walsh hopes opponents Spain tin "enjoy" playing successful nan Euro 2025 last without nan "controversy" that surrounded nan World Cup.

Spain hit England 1-0 successful nan 2023 last but their triumph was overshadowed by erstwhile shot federation leader Luis Rubiales' intersexual battle lawsuit involving striker Jenni Hermoso.

As players received their medals successful Sydney, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by nan caput and kissed her connected nan lips. He was recovered blameworthy of intersexual assault successful February.

England booked their spot successful Sunday's Euro 2025 last (17:00 BST) pinch an extra-time triumph complete Italy, while Spain besides needed 120 minutes to spot disconnected Germany.

"There's a batch of respect betwixt some nan teams and, I deliberation nan astir important point for them arsenic a footballer, is that they tin bask this last – that there's not nan contention surrounding it," said Walsh, who made 100 appearances for Barcelona complete two-and-a-half seasons.

"The girls merit to beryllium location to play unthinkable football. The measurement our convention jumped aft we won nan Euros [in 2022] - if you comparison it to Spain it astir apt wasn't nan aforesaid and they won nan World Cup.

"After nan last location was a batch of contention and I don't think, for them, location was capable spotlight connected really unthinkable they played. It was each astir nan different stuff.

"As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I person a batch of friends successful that squad and I deliberation they astir apt deserved a small spot much than what they got."

In September, Arsenal guardant Mariona Caldentey said much Spanish players were moving to nan Women's Super League because "we won nan World Cup and it changed nothing".

Following nan tribunal ruling successful February, Spain's Ballon d'Or victor Aitana Bonmati said nan players had "battled hard" during nan Rubiales lawsuit and it "had not been successful vain".

"I dream that this lawsuit makes changes successful our country, successful our football, to respect america amended arsenic footballers," she added.

England's way to nan last has not been an easy 1 arsenic they were playing catch-up from nan commencement with conclusion by France.

They bounced backmost pinch victories complete nan Netherlands and Wales but needed to travel backmost from 2-0 down and spell done a melodramatic punishment shootout against Sweden successful nan quarter-finals.

They were trailing 1-0 to Italy connected Tuesday earlier teen Michelle Agyemang scored a 96th-minute equaliser and substitute Chloe Kelly netted nan victor successful nan 119th infinitesimal of extra-time.

Asked if their comeback was by creation aliases chaos, Walsh said: "I deliberation erstwhile you're [not] playing possibly it looks for illustration chaos but for america it doesn't consciousness for illustration that.

"I've besides heard that group person been saying that it was luck, but you benignant of create those moments yourself, done belief, determination, confidence.

"It's not by [luck] that Michelle's successful nan container and scoring. It is not by [luck] that group are putting crosses successful nan box.

"It's thought out, it's purposeful and I deliberation it's nan absolute belief that nary matter what infinitesimal of nan crippled it is, we're going to win."