Spain wants a happy ending for its story

Spain wants a happy ending for its story

The women's team meets again with England a year later in search of proclaiming itself queen of world women's football

MADRID, 19 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish women's soccer team has an appointment with history this Sunday (12:00 p.m./La 1) at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, the setting in which they will try to win the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, their first major title at a national level. absolute, and for which he will have to overcome England, a rival in great shape and with whom he meets again a year later.

Spain seeks a happy ending to its story in Oceania. After writing the best pages in New Zealand, now he wants to put the finishing touch in Australia and confirm with great success the growth experienced by national football in recent years, already reflected in the lower categories and at club level with FC Barcelona , but who still needed to achieve it with the Absolute.

The team led by Jorge Vilda has been breaking down doors during this World Cup. He had never won a knockout match, had never gone past the quarterfinals in a major tournament, and had never played in a final. All of this is already past with a view to the dream of embroidering the star on his shirt, the ultimate challenge and for which he must beat the current European champion, the rival who crossed his path last summer and who will surely be in a moment of confidence that makes him seem almost unbeatable.

England was one of the great favorites for the title and will fight for it without having lost any game and with a defensive solidity over football perhaps less brilliant than the one offered in 'his' Euro Cup. At home, they won their first title, an experience that could give them a slight advantage over a Spanish team that, in any case, has players who already know what it's like to win the Champions League or titles in lower categories. In fact, in the event of victory, she will become the current Absolute, Under-20 and Under-17 world champion, something unprecedented in the world of women's football.

The 'Red' has managed to recover from the hard setback (4-0) against Japan and, after beating Switzerland with authority in the round of 16 (5-1), he knew how to have nerves of steel both in the quarterfinals against the Netherlands (2-1 in the extra time) and in the semifinals against Sweden (2-1) to arrive with a renewed spirit to face the team masterfully directed by Sarina Wiegmann, who is facing her fourth consecutive final and who, since she took over the reins of the 'Lionesses', has only lost one of their 38 games, a friendly against Australia a few months ago.

In this World Cup, despite having important casualties such as Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Frank Kirby, the Dutchwoman has once again put together a good block, which has only conceded two goals and whose worst moment was the tense round of 16 penalty shootout against Nigeria. In the quarterfinals, her experience allowed her to overcome Colombia (2-1), the only match in which she has come behind, and in the semifinals host Australia (3-1).

Wiegmann already knows the problems that the Spanish team can create for him, who had him on the ropes in the quarterfinals of last EURO before getting rid of him after extra time. Now, Jorge Vilda's team will want a sporting revenge that would reward a great generation and that should change the present and future of national women's football, just as the English have experienced, plunged into a real 'boom' since last summer.

The coach has all his players at his disposal to try to disarm an England that in this World Cup has opted for a strong line of three central defenders made up of Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter. The coach varied his eleven again for the semifinals, playing without '9', and ahead of Jenni Hermoso to place Alexia Putellas, one of the doubts that he will have to resolve for this final because Tere Abelleira and Aitana Bonmatí are fixed for the 'battle ' in midfield against two proven and quality midfielders in Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway.

Upstairs, Vilda must also decide how her team will work. Mariona Caldentey has given a very good level on the left side, while Alba Redondo has been fixed in the crosses on the right, but could make way for a vital Salma Paralluelo with two goals in the last two games. If Jenni Hermoso plays in the middle, a place would open up that could be for Esther González or the Aragonese herself, while behind, Oihane Hernández, sanctioned against Sweden, and Olga Carmona, heroine last Tuesday, are fighting for a position in a side.

For her part, Sarina Wiegmann has the good news about the return of striker Lauren James, after serving a two-match ban for stepping on a Nigerian player in the round of 16. The Chelsea player was being key in attack and should return to the eleven to the detriment of Ella Toone, who scored in the semifinals, to form a dangerous attack along with Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, who will demand a 'perfect' game from the Spanish defense.

SPAIN: Tasting Coll; Oihane Hernández, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Ona Batlle; Jenni Hermoso, Tere Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí; Alba Redondo, Salma Paralluelo and Mariona Caldentey.

INGLATERRA: Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly; Hemp, James y Russo.

--REFEREE: Tori Acho (USA).

--STADIUM: Sydney Olympic.

--TIME: 12.00/1.