ZURICH -- Keira Walsh said England's run to the Euro 2025 final is not based on luck, and said she hopes Spain get the respect they deserve after their 2023 World Cup triumph was overshadowed by controversy.
England play Spain on Sunday in Basel as they look to defend their European Championship title. It has been a rollercoaster ride in Switzerland, with Sarina Wiegman saying their tournament has resembled a "movie."
The Lionesses scored twice late against Sweden to force the match to penalties, where in a chaotic shootout, England just edged them. Wiegman said at the time she thought four or five times England were going to be eliminated from the tournament.
Against Italy in the semifinal, England needed a 96th minute equaliser from Michelle Agyemang and then a 119th minute winner to book their spot in Sunday's final.
"I think when you're playing maybe it looks like chaos but for us it doesn't feel like that," Walsh said. "I've also heard that people have been saying that it was luck, but I think for us you kind of create those moments yourself, through belief, determination, confidence. I think it's not luck that Michelle's in the box and scoring. It is not luck that people are putting crosses in the box.
"I think it's thought out, it's purposeful and yeah, I think it's the absolute belief that no matter what minute of the game it is -- we're gonna win or we're gonna get a result that we need to take us to extra time. I think that's kind of the resilience of this team as well."
Spain booked their place in the final thanks to a late winner from Aitana Bonmatí in their 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday. Sunday's game will be a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, a game Spain won 1-0.
But their triumph was overshadowed by the actions of then Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales who kissed Jenni Hermoso without consent when he handed her her medal. Rubiales was since charged with sexual assault.
"Just for the girls this time, as a friend and a fellow footballer, for them to just go and enjoy this final -- they play incredible football and they deserve to be there," Walsh said.
"As a human being I just want them to go out and just enjoy the game of football."
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- Spain had intel on Germany's Berger for winning goal - Bonmatí
Walsh believes the Spanish class of 2023 should have had more recognition for their remarkable World Cup win.
"I think they probably could have had more [respect]. I think, the way our league jumped after we won the Euros and everything in and around it, if you compare it to Spain it probably wasn't the same and they won the World Cup," Walsh said.
"They probably could have had more support.
"After the game there was a lot of controversy and I don't think, for them, there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were, it was all about the other stuff that had gone on. As a professional, that was disappointing to see. I have a lot of friends in that team and I think they probably deserved a little bit more than what they got."