It took Spain forty minutes for everything to fall into place. Forty minutes of dominance and missed chances, runs by Salma Paralluelo and failed one-on-ones with the Dutch goalkeeper. Until Jenni Hermoso appeared in the 41st minute, collected a pass from Ona Batlle and faced Van Domselaar to score the first. The goal that put Spain on the road to the final of the Nations League and the Paris Games.
Jenni Hermoso, the woman who changed everything without having to do anything, just being in the right place at the right time with the wrong person in front of her, was the one who took the team into another unexplored territory. Another final, an Olympic Games. A new life.
The work was completed by Aitana Bonmatí, the Ballon d’Or winner, the best player in the world. Aitana was in the area to finish off Mariona Caldentey’s pass from the left. Her at first, as if she had the 9 on her back instead of the 6. In the same place where she had reached so many times in the game without her teammates managing to get the ball to that place.
But this time it was Mariona who put the center, a spectacular player whose spotlight shines less than her football deserves. Mariona did everything well, with the ball and without it. She was always attentive to what the game asked of her. If a race was needed, she was there to accelerate. If it was Salma who was running, Mariona was more attentive than anyone to get the ball to her precisely. Just like she did with Aitana when the game was approaching halftime.
At that time when the legs relax and the heads open, the Netherlands arrived with too heavy a burden. With two goals against and Spain riding a wave from which they could no longer get off. No matter how hard they tried with the presence of Damaris, a Spanish woman who chose to defend the Dutch shield. But when they arrived, Cata Coll was always ready. She with her stops or with her exits to cut off the passes before they did damage.
The path was made to reach the final, but the game had more things to show. Jenni Hermoso gave way to Vicky López, another world champion, although in the under 17 category. She has not yet reached the age of majority, but Montse Tomé made her debut with the national team. A way to show that there is a relay, that there are new world champions behind the world champions.
And there was another goal, that of Ona Batlle, although she didn’t want to. She wanted to give it to Salma Paralluelo, who had chased him throughout the game. But again he crashed into the Dutch wall. And Ona, after a couple of rejections, ended up pushing the ball into the goal. She could have reached the fourth, in a run by Lucía García, but her shot ended up being cleared for a corner by a rival defense.
The important thing was not the data, whether the Netherlands took three or four goals back home. The important thing is the step taken by the selection. A new one that brings her closer to another title and the possibility of getting excited about another one next summer. He has never played in a Nations League final and has never played in the Olympic Games. But this team, which ten years ago had not debuted in a World Cup and is now world champion, continues to break down barriers. And Jenni Hermoso continues to set the times.
2024-02-23 22:43:40
#Netherlands #Spain #times
