2024-02-28 22:20:09
The Spanish women’s soccer team, current world champion, achieved glory again by beating France 2-0 on February 28 the final of the first edition of the Nations Leagueat the La Cartuja stadium, in Seville, and continue making history with their second title six months after winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
La Roja had never beaten the French team (10 defeats and 3 draws in 13 games), but he demonstrated his power and broke the ‘jinx’ against the galas at the most decisive moment, in a new final in which he was far superior to his rival and, after taking the lead with a Barcelona player’s goal Aitana Bonmatí (min.32) and expand her income in the second with another one from her teammate Marion Caldentey (min.53), he knew how to control at all times. Thus, they confirmed their role as champions.
Two powerful teams faced each other in this final of the first Women’s Nations League: Spain, world champion six months ago and considered the current best selection on the globe; and France, with the unfinished business that they were looking for their first absolute title, despite their successes in the lower categories and the great potential of their league.
The Spanish coach, Montse Tomé, fully trusted the starters who beat the Netherlands in the semifinals last Friday and also in La Cartuja (3-0) to certify the ticket to Paris 2024, which will be their first Olympic Gameswhile the experienced France coach, Hervé Renard, also repeated the eleven that eliminated Germany (2-1).
Thus, the cards were ‘marked’ by both sides. Spain started with determination and took the initiative from the beginning, with more drive and more arrival to the opposing area, but without precision, in a first half in which both teams, perhaps overcome by the desire and the importance of fighting for a European title , they made many inaccuracies.
Even so, La Roja prevailed in the midfield, dominated by the quality and tactical rigor of the closing midfielder Aleixandri and the magic of Aitana Bonmatí and Jenni Hermososo the French team, very wary of Spain’s much more dynamic game, dedicated itself more to controlling and stopping the locals’ attempts and was unable to mount any attack.
Jennifer Hermoso, leader of the Spanish women’s team, celebrates her team’s victory. (Free Press Photo: AFP)
After warning with a high shot from Salma Paralluelo that deflected a French defender and with a header from Irene Paredes that narrowly missed, Montse Tomé’s team looked for the goal with incursions along the wings, especially through the sinister depth from Carmona and Mariona, centers into the area and transitions through the interior, especially from Bonmatí.
In one of these attempts, with Spain’s complete mastery of the pace of the game and the situation through vertical and offensive football, without fear of anything, the prize came for the world champions, when, as soon as they overcame half an hour, a great cross from Seville’s Olga Carmona from the left was finished off in the small area by Aitana Bonmatí to make it 1-0 and her fourth goal in this Nations League.
And two more prizes for your collection…????
Aitana Bonmatí, named Player of the Match and Player of the Final Phase ????????????#UWNL pic.twitter.com/CTpXZe3YPa
— UEFA.com in Spanish (@UEFAcom_es) February 28, 2024
France, hurt by this blow, wanted to react, but without any success, since the Reds continued to have control, and they were even able to extend their advantage in added time of this first half with a header off Aleixandri in a corner kick. .
At the restart, the ‘Blues’ came out to try to change the situation. They had no other choice, but, despite their greater drive and vigor, now with one more gear, they stayed in the attempt because they did not overcome the great collective work, both in defense and when going on the attack, of a team Spaniard unleashed, very concentrated and who did not concede anything to his rival.
Furthermore, Spain was not at all conformist, it continued doing its thing, trying to play its possession and depth game. although France balanced the forces and the Hispanics were no longer superior, the Red had the faith and success to increase their advantage with the 2-0 achieved by Mariona Caldentey at 53 minutesafter an intelligent opening to the right by Bonmatí towards Ona Batlle, whose center was finished off perfectly by Barcelona’s Mallorcan winger.
This increased the tranquility of the Spanish team, which did not give up in maintaining a good defense, in not giving the French team any options, often powerless because it cost them a world to get dangerously close to the opponent’s area, and in keeping the ball, although perhaps this was more difficult due to Spain’s philosophy of vertical football and direct attack, to do damage.
Shortly after the second, Salma Paralluelo did not arrive in time inside the area on a counterattack and goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin thwarted the chance, as happened to her in another very similar action in the final stretch, but La Roja looked like a winner, completely controlling a France that tried and insisted, but without any clarity regarding the solidity of its rival.
It was certainly not the day for the ‘Blue’ team, which, among the very few they had, had a more or less dangerous opportunity 12 minutes from the end through the full-back Elisa De Almeida, but shot wide after picking up a loose ball in the goal area of Cata Coll, who, thanks to the help and great play of his defense and his entire team, hardly had any problems.
Spain continued to impose its superiority, knowing how to preserve and perfectly manage its advantage. He defended without a single crack, achieving excellence, and, furthermore, he continued to look up, attacking, something that this team carries in its DNA, causing a France to fall into impotence that gave up and wrote a new golden page in their history with their second title, that of champions of the League of Nations.
Few footballers – and people – deserve to win a title with Spain more than Irene Paredes.
— Sandra S. Riquelme (@SandraRiquelme_) February 28, 2024
#Spanish #womens #soccer #team #queen #Nations #League