{"id":513460,"date":"2025-10-20T03:54:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/513460\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T03:54:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:54:23","slug":"spain-rallies-to-defeat-great-britain-and-stay-in-the-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/513460\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain rallies to defeat Great Britain and stay in the hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Defending champion Spain<\/strong> came from behind to defeat Great Britain<\/strong> 26-22 in a thrilling clash in the 2025\/26 IFAF Women\u2019s European Championships.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The home victory means that when the tournament resumes in May of next year, Finland (2-0), Germany (1-1) and Spain (1-1) will all be fighting for a place in August\u2019s gold medal decider, while Great Britain will contest bronze.<\/p>\n

Spain recovered from a 13-point first quarter deficit and trailed by four points at halftime and again late in the game before scoring a 65-yard touchdown for the victory.<\/p>\n

GB running back Siobhan Walker rushed down the left sideline avoiding tackles and outpacing all pursuers to open the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown and Eilidh Curry tagged on the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n

A second score from Walker, this time a scoring rush over right end, opened a two-score lead after a dominant opening quarter.<\/p>\n

Spain put two points on the board with a safety which switched the momentum as Natasha Ramirez took a handoff and produced a long run from midfield down to the visitors\u2019 two-yard mark. From there Elena Munoz went in untouched for a touchdown and the extra point closed the gap to four points.<\/p>\n

Inside the final two minutes of the first half, Spain produced a big 45-yard pass over the middle from Noa Cortes to Paula Terol but turned the ball over on downs before the interval.<\/p>\n

Spain capitalized on Nuria Ortega recovering a fumbled punt return at the Great Britain 35-yard mark as Cortes hit Natalia Porras for a 20-yard touchdown catch to take a 16-13 lead as the hosts led for the first time.<\/p>\n

Spain turned the ball over almost on their own goal line as GB\u2019s Christi-Rose Pretorius blocked a punt from the end zone and quarterback Curry took the ball into the end zone to tie the game at 19-19 but a bad snap prevented an extra point from taking the lead.<\/p>\n

In the fourth quarter, Great Britain receiver Truva Strom took a reverse to within touching distance of the end zone. Spain\u2019s Lidia Sanchez came up with a timely sack of Curry, whose pass on the next play went through the hands of Kathryn Stanley in the end zone, and GB had to settle for a Curry field goal and a 22-19 lead.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s response was spectacular as a 65-yard touchdown pass to Terol reclaimed the lead at 26-22 and the home defense held at the end to preserve victory.<\/p>\n

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IFAF Women\u2019s European Championships 2025\/26 <\/strong><\/p>\n\nDate<\/strong><\/td>\nHome Team<\/strong><\/td>\nAway Team<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMay 25, 2025<\/td>\nFinland 21<\/td>\nGermany 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAugust 24, 2025<\/td>\nGreat Britain 3<\/td>\nFinland 6 (OT)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAugust 31, 2025<\/td>\nGermany 22<\/td>\nSpain 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nOctober 18, 2025<\/td>\nSpain 26<\/td>\nGreat Britain 22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMay 30\/31, 2026<\/td>\nGreat Britain<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMay 30\/31, 2026<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\nFinland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAugust 2026<\/td>\nGold Medal Game<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAugust 2026<\/td>\nBronze Medal Game<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Standings:
<\/strong>Finland 2-0
Germany 1-1
Spain 1-1
Great Britain 0-2<\/p>\n

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