“We are where we wanted to be” says Irene Paredes ahead of Euro 2025 final | OneFootball

Spain captain Irene Paredes has said that her side are optimistic ahead of the final of Euro 2025 against England on Sunday 27 July at 18:00 CET in Basel, and that they have begun to move on since the controversy that surrounded the final of the 2023 World Cup.

The two sides faced one another in the showpiece in Australia two years ago, where Spain took the victory. However, this was shrouded in scandal after president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso during the trophy celebrations, ultimately resulting in his resignation.

According to Paredes, Spain have taken the necessary steps to move on from that incident.

“Since then (2023), steps forward have been taken, firm steps. I think that way of thinking is disappearing from society. I still think we have to keep opening doors, normalising situations that are becoming more and more normal and that have to be normal. At that time, after that press conference, with the victory, a lot of walls came down. We are role models for more and more children, for everyone in society. Everything helps, but we are on the right track,” she said.

With regards to this year’s tournament, Paredes said that, while Spain have done well to make it this far, it means nothing unless they go one step further.

“I think we are becoming a more mature team, with more resources. I think we have already demonstrated this, but we know what we have done so far does not man anything. The saves, the shots off the post, the good and bad passes from the other day, are worthless tomorrow. [The final] is a new match against a great team that we respect a lot, just like all the others. We’re ready, and we’ll try to give our best and get things done.”

As for their fans back in Spain, Paredes spoke on the squad’s appreciation for the support.

“I don’t think we are aware of everything that is going on back in Spain, everything that is happening, all the people that are following us. We only get bits and pieces of information. What I can say is that we feel the love, that we are totally grateful and excited about everything that is happening. Obviously, this was unthinkable just a short time ago. I think more and more places are getting excited about putting up a giant screen so they can follow us and send us all their support as much as possible, and we are very grateful for that.”

Spain will face an England side who have made the final often in spite of lacklustre performances, and as a result of late goals and turnarounds. Despite this, Paredes still views them as a side capable of taking Spain all the way.

“It’s true that England have won a couple of games in the last few minutes, but I think they’re a team capable of playing very well, a team that likes to have possession of the ball. We have a particular way of playing, of training, we have a lot of confidence in it and we’ve continued to do so. Despite winning the games, there are always things to correct, which we see on video, which we train for on the pitch, and that’s been the approach. As I said before, they are one of the best teams in the world. They have earned their place in the final, just like us. We are facing players with whom we have even shared a dressing room, we know each other very well, we have played against them many times, they have made us suffer, and we have made them suffer. Therefore, I believe it will be a very competitive match, but as I said earlier, we have the utmost respect for them.”

Paredes has been a regular for Spain since making her debut in 2011. Even then, this tournament has been one she’s particularly relished.

“I have enjoyed all of [the tournaments], but I am really enjoying this one. As I said before, I think the team has come to the tournament in a good place in terms of maturity, with a good combination of players, with a lot of quality, with a lot of resources, with different ways of playing, with a lot of experience in important matches and tournaments, which helps when it comes to facing important matches like this one. I’m enjoying it, I don’t know if it’s the most I have enjoyed a tournament, but as it’s the most recent, I’ll say yes. We’ve come into these finals in a good place where we can enjoy football and that’s what we’re doing.

“We have a team that has played important matches and big tournaments. So, each one of us knows how to manage that tension a little bit, those emotions that sometimes perhaps come to the surface a little more. We see it as an opportunity to continue making history, to do something great, an opportunity to show what we are, to continue enjoying ourselves and making people enjoy themselves,” she said.

They’ve made it this far, but there are still 90 minutes of football between the world champions and the European crown – and Paredes believes Spain are facing the best of the best.

“From day one, I said that the favourites were England, and they still are. There are also other teams that have fallen by the wayside that had already been European champions. I do believe that both teams deserve to be in the final. We are where we wanted to be. At the start of the tournament, we set ourselves the goal of playing six matches. And we’re working on it, tomorrow is the sixth. As for the rest, just enjoy it. The favourite stuff doesn’t come inside the camp. We are very clear about what it takes, what it has cost us to get here, how we have to suffer in every match, what we have to focus on. Everything else, I think, is something that doesn’t add to our cause.

“As I said earlier, England has a very complete team, they have different options. It’s true that Russo usually plays up front. She’s only scored one maybe, but I don’t know how many goals she’s scored this season. I think she’s a player who creates a lot of opportunities and also scores a lot of goals. But as you say, there are other players, not just those who play up front, who also have opportunities when they come on, and I think they also cross very well. We’re going to focus on ourselves, on defending well, on attacking well.”

Spain’s final against England will kick off at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT) on Sunday 27th July at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.