Spain show their class to leapfrog Germany

Spain secured their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship in hugely impressive fashion with a 4-0 victory over Germany.

Andrea Sánchez and Aitana Bonmati each scored twice for Jorge Vilda's side, who flexed their muscles in Hinckley after last Friday's goalless draw with Scotland. In the process they overtook Germany at the top of Group B and will now face hosts England in the semi-finals on Thursday, when Germany take on Group A winners Italy.

While Germany had already booked their progress to the last four and were able to make three changes from the 4-0 win over France, this was not the case for Spain, and not surprisingly they began with greater urgency. They soon began creating openings, notably when Mireya García Boa got her head to a centre by Núria Garrote, but Vivien Brandt made the save. The breakthrough their bright start was promising arrived in the 13th minute as Bonmati picked up a half-cleared corner and centred to the far post where the unmarked Sánchez turned the ball in.

Nahikari García and Pilar Garrote both went close to adding to Spain's lead, and Germany's hopes were not helped by an injury to captain Jasmin Sehan on the stroke of half-time. Sehan collided with Elena De Toro as the Spain goalkeeper came out to block her shot and could not continue, with Nina Ehegötz coming on in her place.

The traffic towards Germany's goal did not relent in the second half. García put a free header wide at the near post after 54 minutes and six minutes later Spain had their second goal. Núria Garrote swung a cross over from the right and Sánchez showed real desire to outjump Michaela Brandenburg and head inside the far post.

In the last ten minutes, Spain underlined their superiority with two goals from Bonmati. For the first she sent a precise lob over Brandt before icing the cake with a fine half-volley into the far corner after being teed up by Sánchez’s headed flick. The only downside for Spain was a booking for Silvia Mérida which rules her out of the semi-final.