When Celia Segura scores her second goal of the final, she runs to the bench to pick up a cuddly toy, which she puts on her head and smiles as the team rejoices around her. It’s for her teammate Silvia Cristóbal, who got injured in the semi-final of the tournament. To cheer her up Segura promised to celebrate her goal with the octopus, Cristóbal’s favourite animal.
Eight nations arrived in a sunny Malmö and Lund in Sweden to play the European Women’s Under-17 Championship, with three spots at the Under-17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic up for grabs. The tournament, featuring a group stage, semi-finals and final, plays a crucial role in providing international experience. Star players such as Aitana Bonmatí and Leah Williamson honed their skills in this competition, and young talent like Lena Oberdorf and Vicky López, individually recognised with the player of the tournament award, have gone on to excel at the senior level.
