The Spanish team signed a new feat by qualifying for the World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand after beating Sweden 2 goals to 1. A historic victory after an agonizing final in which goals accumulated. Salma Paralluelo opened the scoring at 81 minutes, but Blomqvist equalized soon after. When everything seemed to indicate that the game would be decided in extra time, Olga Carmona scored the final 2-1.
After two games without appearing in the starting team, Alexia returned to the eleven as an inside left. Also Mariona Caldentey, who developed the task of false extreme also on the left. Two movements that returned Jenni Hermoso to the position of nine. Lastly, Vilda covered the loss of Oihane Hernández with Ona Batlle on the right and the entry of Olga Carmona on the opposite side. The purpose of the coach was for the team to have a lot of control and to break very little to avoid transitions. And he achieved both: total dominance of the game (67% possession in the first half) and stability at the back (the Swedes only disturbed set pieces). Of course, little punch up.
In the second half, the game opened up and Spain changed a structure based on the close complicity of Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey and Jeni Hermoso for the depth of Alba Redondo and Salma Paralluelo (who came on for Alexia). And from there, the selection did have the depth that it had not found in the first half. That led to more direct gameplay, more long commutes, and more counters. Spain arrived but they also arrived. In reality, the Spanish team was not interested in a crazy scenario so soon, but the exchange of blows paid off.
Undoubtedly, one of Sweden’s strengths was physical power in individual duels and, of course, set pieces. But Spain survived very well the three corners and six free kicks from the Swedish side. Partly due to the good aerial tone of the Laia Codina-Irene Paredes duo and, above all, the courage of Cata Coll to go out and tackle high balls. But the team not only minimized this aspect of the game, but also took advantage of it at the most key moment of the semifinal, taking the third of the favorable corner kicks short so that Olga Carmona, coming from behind to the front of the area, will take a sensational shot to put Spain in the final.
