Spain entered the football Olympus. He successfully beat England, current European champions, and will embroider his first star on the shirt. A high-voltage duel that was decided with a single goal from Olga Carmona half an hour into the game. The Andalusian soccer player, author of the goal against Sweden that sent Spain to the final, put on her heroin cape again to sign the most important goal of her career. Deserved MVP of the match for the Madrid side.
A title that is already historic in itself, becomes even more important when remembering the difficult path that these soccer players have had to travel to get here. A year ago, Spain was eliminated from the Eurocup at the hands, ironically, of the English. A defeat that would cause an unprecedented crisis. Fifteen of the best Spanish players resigned from the national team and confronted the Federation to ask for improvements. Of these, only three –Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle– have ended up playing in the World Cup.
The revolt forced the Federation to step forward. For the first time, the team had the figure of a nutritionist, the staff was increased and thanks to a reconciliation plan, the soccer players have been able to travel to Australia and New Zealand accompanied by their children and family. But these improvements were not enough for some like Mapi León or Patri Guijarro, who have remained out of the national team. Absences of weight that tarnish a historic day for Spanish women’s football.
Spain has known how to navigate troubled waters, settle the crisis and focus on a common goal. He started the tournament with two comfortable victories over Costa Rica and Zambia, but when he came across his first major rival, Japan, he crashed. If there is something to be recognized in this team, it is their ability to react.
The shipwreck against Japan served as an incentive for a Jorge Vilda who dared to revolutionize the eleven. He even sat down his starting goalkeeper, Misa, in favor of a Cata Coll that has since become strong under the sticks. Since then, the team has grown, fueled by the confidence injected in each tie they beat. They reached the final up on a cloud from which it was impossible to get them down. They deployed all their resources against a fighting England. The duel between the reds and the lionesses was a battle of incredible intensity in which Spanish football would end up prevailing.
Lauren Hemp ended up deranged before the impenetrable wall formed by the Spanish defense, especially by some insurmountable Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle. Aitana Bonmatí won the World Cup Golden Ball with every ball that passed through her feet and Tere Abelleira closed the tournament of her life with another stellar performance. Her change of orientation for Mariona Caldentey in Olga Carmona’s goal was one of the geniuses of the match. England fought it to the end, Jenni Hermoso even missed a penalty due to some clear hands from the Blaugrana Keira Walsh to spice up the final, but the victory would not change hands.
Special mention deserves Salma Paralluelo, named revelation player of the tournament. At the age of 19, she added her third World Cup after having also proclaimed herself world champion in the sub-17 and sub-20 category.
From never having overcome the barrier of the round of 16, to lifting the trophy. From debuting in a World Cup in 2015 to winning it eight years later. There are only three people who have lived all the way on the front lines: Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes and Jenni Hermoso. Three captains in the shadows, because to return to the national team they had to pay the toll for the bracelet. Yesterday, none of them could hold back their tears and words barely came out. Too many emotions. A feat within the reach of very few. Spain becomes the fifth nation to write its name on the trophy after the United States (4), Germany (2), Japan and Norway. It had been twenty years since a European team had not won a World Cup and Spain is the second country capable of doing so with its men’s and women’s teams.
Now all that remains is for this triumph not to stop here and for it to serve as an impetus to continue growing. “This title will mean the definitive explosion of women’s football in our country”, assured Jorge Vilda. This is the challenge now, to double the Federation’s bet so that this title is the first of many, and transfer the successes of the selection to the clubs in general, providing them with more resources and better infrastructures.
