Aitana Bonmati claimed Spain’s penalty shootout loss to England in the Euro 2025 final was “cruel” after La Roja were the better side in the match.

Spain took the lead against England through Mariona Caldentey in the first half, but they were pegged back by Alessia Russo shortly before the hour.

Bonmati was one of three Spanish players not to score from the spot, as she and Caldentey were denied by Hannah Hampton before Salma Paralluelo missed.

Beth Mead and Leah Williamson both had their attempts saved, too, but Chloe Kelly struck the winner to ensure England defended their title.

Spain had dominated possession with 64.9% of the ball, while they had 22 attempts to England’s eight, with four ‘big’ chances.

La Roja also created 2.6 expected goals (xG), but like England, only had five shots on target as they struggled to find a winner, and Bonmati believes they deserved to win after their performance.

"It hurts a lot because we were convinced that we were doing a great tournament and we were with the mentality to come today and win," Bonmati, who was named Player of the Tournament, said.

"But in football, who plays better doesn't always win. I think we were better today on the pitch, but you have to score one more goal than your opponent to win the match, and we didn't do it.

"So, we go to the penalties, and we lose it. It was very cruel, given how the tournament went and how the match went. But sometimes in football, it's not the best team that wins, nor the team that deserves to win on the pitch.

"There's this thing called penalties, and we definitely didn't do well there. I take my share of the responsibility, and it's tough, to be honest."

Of the four Spain midfielders to make a start at Euro 2025, Bonmati registered the highest passing accuracy (88.3%).

Bonmati ranked fifth at the Euros for successful passes in the final third (112). The top five performers in this metric were all Spain players: Alexia Putellas (160), Caldentey (157), Patri Guijarro (145) and One Batlle (133).

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored the winner for Spain in the semi-finals against Germany, said she expected to score her penalty in the shootout, and was surprised she missed.

"Well, honestly, I was really confident, I wasn't afraid of anything," she added. But it's a matter of seconds, it's decisions, it's the strike. I can't explain it.

"I was talking to some of my team-mates; I was so confident. But it didn't work out for me."