Spain thump grieving Portugal to make Euro 2025 statement

BERN, SWITZERLAND
Spain showed why they are favourites to win Women’s Euro 2025 by hammering Portugal 5-0 in their Group B opener on Thursday as both teams paid tribute to Portuguese men’s international Diogo Jota who was killed in a car crash.
The world champions were two ahead inside seven minutes in Bern thanks to goals from Esther Gonzalez and Vicky Lopez and never looked back from there, rattling in three more thanks to Alexia Putellas, another for Gonzalez and a late header from Cristina Martin-Prieto.
“What I enjoyed the most was starting quickly, starting like this allows you to be more patient and wait for Portugal who were forced to attack,” said Spain coach Montse Tome.”I think the team did brilliantly and I’m very happy.” La Roja lead Italy, 1-0 winners against Belgium, on goal difference after showing no mercy to Portugal who were grieving compatriot Jota after his death alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in northern Spain.
Portuguese fans marched to the ground ahead of the match with banners and chants honouring Jota and the tributes continued once supporters were in the Wankdorf Stadium.The capacity crowd stood for a moment’s silence while a group of Portugal fans held up cards which read “Rest in Peace”, while a banner said “thanks for everything”. “I would like to take a moment to pay respects to Diogo and his brother and say that we’re thinking of his family,” said Portugal coach Francisco Neto.
“I was assistant coach for the under-19s when he played there and we met there. We kept contact. He always knows the result (of the women’s team), he followed the team and the players. This is the culture in Portugal. Today is a really, really sad day.”