As Spain added a second consecutive Nations League title to its 2023 World Cup win, Germany were left reflecting on a trophy drought that will soon stretch beyond a decade.
But Christian Wück’s team’s presence in the final, and performance across the two legs, was enough to suggest that a major tournament win is not beyond the current generation.
“We can be very, very proud,” said Wück after two second half goals from Claudia Pina either side of one from Vicky Lopez were enough for Spain.
“It was even in the first half but we couldn’t maintain that level of play. We have to be honest about that.”
Profligacy proves costly again
Germany’s best chance fell shortly before half time but, one on one with the keeper, Nicole Anyomi pulled her shot wide. It was a familiar tale for the 2016 Olympic champions, who failed to take advantage of numerous chances in the first leg in Kaiserslautern on Friday.
“That has to go in, and she had another one in the box in the second half,” Wuck said of Anyomi’s chance.
“That’s the difference between us and the technically gifted Spanish players.”
Spain’s cohesive style at both club and national level is the blueprint for Wück, who has gradually rebuilt Germany after their shock group stage exit at the 2023 World Cup. Gone are veterans like Alex Popp and Svenja Huth, and new leaders, such as Klara Bühl, Giulia Gwinn and Sjoeke Nüsken are beginning to assert their authority.
“You saw over the two games we can live with Spain. We can take a lot of positives out of the first game. But today the Spanish were just more efficient to break the deadlock,” Nüsken, who plays her club football for Chelsea, told German broadcaster ARD after the game.
“If we had taken our chances (in the first game) it could have been different.”
Beaten but not bowed
That is was not enough against Spain is no disgrace. “It’s extremely painful, but I think we can be very, very proud,” said Bühl, echoing the words of her coach.
Wins against the Netherlands and France in this competition will undoubtedly boost the morale of a relatively inexperienced German team who will now look to the World Cup in Brazil in 2027. Beyond that is a possible home Euro 2029, with European football governors UEFA set to announce the tournament hosts on Wednesday. Germany are the favorites over Poland and a joint bid from Denmark and Sweden.
Alexandra Popp – 40 goals* – Popp has 40 European goals so far. In her debut season at FCR 2001 Duisburg, she won both the German Cup and the UEFA Women’s Cup (the forerunner to the Champions League). After moving to Wolfsburg, she would lift back-to-back Champions League trophies along with seven domestic titles. She has been named Germany’s Women’s Footballer of the Year three times. *as of November 11, 2025.David Catry/Sportpix/IMAGO
Lotta Schelin – 42 goals – Schelin spent seven years at her hometown club Goteborg F.C. (known then as Landvetter FC) before making her debut in European competition with French giants Lyon. The Stockholm native would go on to score 143 goals in 138 games for Lyon, winning three Champions Leagues and eight domestic titles. She retired in 2018 after a short stint with FC Rosengard.Gladys Chai von der Laage/picture alliance
Pernille Harder – 43 goals* – Despite not yet winning the Champions League, her goal-scoring prowess earned Harder individual recognition multiple times. She was twice awarded UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and once Forward of the Season. Her eight goals in 2018-2019 made her top goal scorer of that season’s tournament. She has won league titles at Wolfsburg, Chelsea, and most recently Bayern Munich. *as of November 14, 2025.Daniela Porcelli/Spp/ZUMAPRESS.com/picture alliance
Kim Little – 43 goals* – Kim Little won the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish Women’s Cup, and Scottish Premier League Cup in her debut season with Hibernian in 2006–2007. After moving to Arsenal, she scored a hat trick against FC Zurich on her European debut. She continues to play for the Gunners where she captained the team to the 2025 Champions League trophy. *as of November 11, 2025.Andrea Amato/NurPhoto/picture alliance
Camille Abily – 43 goals – Camille Abily helped Lyon earn their first Champions League title in 2010 and four more before her retirement in 2018. That year, she scored in the 116th minute of the final against Wolfsburg, in a 4-1 victory. It would be both the final goal and match of her career.Nick Potts/empics/picture alliance
Marta – 46 goals – The Brazilian legend’s European goals came mostly from her early days with Swedish side Umea IK. She scored three goals in an 8-0 aggregate thrashing of 1. FFC Frankfurt to secure her first and only European trophy, the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2003-2004. Since 2017, Marta played for Orlando Pride in the NWSL. At 39, she signed a new two-year deal with the club.Sydney Low/Zuma/picture alliance
Conny Pohlers – 48 goals – Conny Pohlers scored 48 goals in just 45 matches in European competition, winning the UEFA Women’s Cup twice and the Women’s Champions League twice over a career spent with three different clubs: Turbine Potsdam, 1. FFC Frankfurt, and Wolfsburg.Thomas Eisenhuth/dpa/picture alliance
Eugenie Le Sommer – 50 goals* – The prolific French goalscorer has bagged more goals for her country than any other player, male or female. With Lyon, she won an unprecedented eight Champions League trophies and 13 league titles. After 18 years in Europe, she transferred to Mexican side Toluca in 2025. *as of November 11, 2025Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Anja Mittag – 51 goals – One World Cup and three European Championships solidified Mittag’s role in the German national team. But in 2017 she became the first player to score 50 goals in the Champions League while playing for Norwegian club FC Rosengard. She also played at German sides Turbine Potsdam and RB Leipzig. Mittag retired from professional football in 2020 and has since led a successful coaching career.Michael Hanschke/dpa/picture alliance
Ada Hegerberg – 69 goals* – The Norwegian striker is not only the all-time Champions League top scorer, but also holds the record for most goals scored in a single season (15). In 2018, she was awarded the first women’s Ballon d’Or and in 2019 became the first to score a hat trick in the final. The four-time Champions League winner has played for French heavyweights Lyon since 2014. *as of November 11, 2025Balazs Czagany/MTI/AP/picture alliance
A crowd of 40,000 in the first leg in Germany would have done the bid no harm. Even more packed in to the Metropolitano in Madrid on Tuesday, including the King of Spain, yet more evidence of the sustained growth of the women’s game, at international level at least.
Hermoso back in Spain fold
Among those to enjoy that was Jenni Hermoso, recalled to the Spain squad for the Nations League semifinals by new coach Sonia Bermudez and substituted on with 10 minutes remaining. Hermoso was forcibly kissed on the lips after the 2023 World Cup win by then Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales, creating worldwide outrage and eventually leading to a FIFA ban and a sexual assault conviction for Rubiales.
“My happy face says it all, to come back, to win in my city, with my people, with the whole family, that we put on a show, it’s great,” Hermoso told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
“Today I am very proud to wear this shirt, to win a title, and still be enjoying football.”
After the shock of 2023 and a Euros where they fought hard without inspiration, Germany appears to be starting to enjoy its football again, even if this team still lacks the cutting edge once provided by Popp. A World Cup qualifying group featuring Slovenia, Norway and Austria awaits next year.