On Wednesday night in Seville, Spain further solidified their position as a top team in international football by defeating France in the first ever Women’s Nations League final. Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey scored goals to lead the team to a 2-0 victory in front of over 32,000 spectators at La Cartuja. This win adds to the team’s previous success at the World Cup last summer, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
Tomé was thrilled with her team’s performance as they easily beat an opponent who is highly regarded in Europe. She mentioned, “My team consists of both seasoned and up-and-coming players. They have a strong desire to win and it’s evident that they have the ability to reach their full potential.”
“Our present and future prospects are very promising. These players have not only recently won the World Cup, but have also achieved this victory. This was a team we have never defeated before.”
Spain’s triumph over France was almost inevitable, despite their struggles against them in the past. Despite the challenges faced by the team, such as changes in leadership and lack of support, the players showed unwavering determination on the field. They aimed to showcase their immense talents, unbreakable determination to win, and resilience in paving the way for future generations.
Spain’s team is filled with talented players, and Tomé has chosen to trust those who were part of their successful run last year. She stuck with the same starting lineup that had dominated the Netherlands 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Hervé Renard, the manager of France, chose to keep the same starting 11 that led them to victory against Germany on Friday. The team entered this match as the only unbeaten side in League A this season, but were aware that it would be a tough game. Amandine Henry, a prominent member of the midfield, reached a milestone of 100 international caps, an achievement that seemed improbable after her past issues with the previous management.
At the start of the game with a loud home crowd, Spain controlled the game and prevented France from getting into their attacking rhythm.
Bonmatí was naturally at the centre of everything. For Barcelona or Spain, the focus is drawn immediately to the diminutive figure at the heart of the midfield, and once again she was a puppet master pulling strings. Her commanding presence coupled with the strong running of Olga Carmona and Paralluelo enabled the hosts to control possession and push Renard’s team back.
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Their control ultimately resulted in opportunities, with Spain creating five chances in the first half compared to France’s zero. Paralluelo played a key role, with her strong attempt narrowly missing the goal before forcing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to make her first save. Spain’s accurate set pieces also caused problems for the defense. France struggled to handle them in the air, and Paredes’ powerful header hit the crossbar.
Spain scored from the left side, as expected. Carmona, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup, set up the play and found Bonmati in open space. Bonmati, known for her frequent goal-scoring, was able to put the shot in the net as she celebrated with the ecstatic Spanish supporters.
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France had to do something differently in the second half to disrupt the rhythm that Spain were enjoying. They started to press higher upfield with Kadidiatou Diani trying her best to test Carmona with her pace. It led to their first attempt of the evening, a drive from Élisa De Almeida that flew wide.
After Renard’s team seemed to gain an advantage, Spain scored another goal in the 53rd minute. On this occasion, the play came from the right side as Ona Batlle passed to Caldentey in the center of the box, who expertly scored.
France was occasionally threatening, but their final execution was lacking when the game ended. Renard looked disappointed, aware that his team must improve in order to achieve success at Paris 2024. He commented, “We did not play a strong game against a team that holds the title of world champions and is performing well.”
They will be the top competitors at the Olympics, but it will not be a simple task. We must continue to make progress, take note of our mistakes, and strive to move ahead.
When the referee blew the whistle, the Spanish team quickly ran onto the field while the stadium erupted with loud cheers. La Roja has added another achievement to their record, proving to be a strong and unbeatable team as they aim for the Olympic gold.
Source: theguardian.com
