Spain falls but wins the respect of Europe

Spain falls but wins the respect of Europe

Vilda's were better and gave in at the gates of the semi-finals in extra time against England

MADRID, 20 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish women's soccer team cruelly woke up from the dream of Euro 2022 when they fell (2-1) to England in extra time, after being better than the host and because of a controversial goal in the 84th minute, which forced extra time where Spain was left out of the tournament at the gates of the semifinals.

Jorge Vilda's men gave it their all and showed that expectations were well justified. Spanish women's football is constantly growing and its team has been showing it. The EURO could well have been the definitive showcase, the first big page in a story to be made, but football is football.

The best or the favorite does not always win. The best was Spain, which with a physical wear, concentration and quality, annulled England, who arrived with a 14-0 from the group stage and had the encouragement of 30,000 fans in Brighton. The favorites were the English and they took the prize with a Stanway missile despite not deserving it this Wednesday, asking for the time in extra time.

Spain, who had never won a match in a major tournament, had it in their hands with Esther González's goal in the 54th minute. The Andalusian striker killed herself running and pressing like the rest of her teammates, and the first she had sent it online. After a group stage that left doubts, Vilda's women brought out the best version of themselves, winning possession and not giving away the rival.

The center of the field belonged to Aitana and Patri Guijarro, and those of Sarina Wiegman, present after her positive for COVID, had to suffer as they had not yet tasted. Cardona had the first, with Spain safe in the combination looking to finish off the job in the rival area. In the stopped ball, the headers that had been adding up so much, there was also the Spanish trick, although Paredes suffered a strong marking.

Aitana, unsatisfied MVP against Denmark, fulfilled her promise to perform even better, and her entries from the second row confirmed the leading role in the rival field of Vilda's. On the way to the locker room, England hit a couple of runs and middling shots from White, including a goal disallowed for offside, but the hosts went back to chasing red shirts on the Brighton turf.

The local team wanted to change the script, but Spain did not let them. Vilda's midfield continued to command and in a great play by Athenea del Castillo, her tremendous self-confidence down the right wing, Esther made it 0-1. A more than fair prize, with Athenea hovering around second below. The perfect game was cut short in the 84th minute, with a ball to the pot and a foul not called.

Russo prevented Irene Paredes from defending the header that came to Toone for 1-1 with an elbow. It was difficult for Vilda's women to remember their spirit of overcoming, of having grown in the face of adversity, injuries --especially to the best player in the world Alexia Putellas--, and in extra time, a shot by Stanway from outside the area put 2-1 in the 96th minute.

There the Vilda team already sought the epic and again deserved more than its rival. Aitana Bonmatí had it very clear at the penalty spot, Amaiur Sarriegi also made her debut, bordering on the goal and until the last minute, with Sandra Paños bordering on the winning header from a corner kick, Spain enclosed England in her goal. Those of Vilda leave without the result they wanted but with the respect of European football and the guarantee that they are on the right track.

--RESULT: ENGLAND, 2 - SPAIN, 1. (0-0, at halftime).

INGLATERRA: Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly (Greenwood, min.82); Walsh (Jill Scott, min.116), Stanway; Kirby (Ella Toone, min.64); Hemp, White (Alessia Russo, min.59) y Mead (Chloe Kelly, min.58).

SPAIN: Sandra Paños; Ona Batlle, Paredes, Mapi León, Olga; Guijarro, Teresa Abelleira (Laia Alexandri, min.71), Aitana Bonmatí; Cardona (Athenea, break), Mariona (Amaiur, min.100) and Esther González (Sheila, min.77).

0 - 1, min.54, Esther.

1 - 1, min.84, Toone.

2 - 1, min.96, Stanway.

--REFEREE: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA). She booked Greenwood (min.120) for England. And to Mapi León (min.45), Misa (min.88) in Spain.

--STADIUM: Brighton