2023-08-14 15:22:16
The first clash of the semi-finals of the Women’s Cup will take place on Tuesday in Auckland between Sweden and Spain. Two teams with very different paths and game, between the fiery youth of the Spaniards and the quiet strength of the Swedes. Between La Roja’s attacking game and Blagult’s iron defense. Between a coach far from unanimous in Spain and a Swedish group betting on cohesion.
For the first time in its history, Spain is playing a semi-final of a Women’s World Cup against Sweden on Tuesday in Auckland (12 p.m.).
The Scandinavians have achieved the feat of having eliminated the last two world champion selections – the United States, double defending champions in the eighth (0-0 ap, 5-4 pens), then Japan (2-1 ), crowned in 2011.
As against Japan, the teammates of goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and defender scorer Amanda Ilestedt rely on their defense to counter the movements and passing game of the Spaniards, who are more focused on attack.
Emerging nation of women’s football, La Roja, one of the youngest selections in the competition, was able to rely on the young nugget Salma Paralluelo to offer themselves the last four in extra time against the Netherlands, finalists in 2019 .
While the reigning double Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas still seems physically weak after her knee injury, the Iberians are fully armed to counter the Swedish power.
The revenge of Spain coach Vilda
Disavowed a year ago by some of the players, coach Jorge Vilda clung to his methods deemed divisive to lead Spain, for the first time, to the semi-finals of a Women’s World Cup.
The 6th world nation continues to manage the aftershocks of the earthquake of September 2022, when 15 internationals announced that they no longer wanted to wear the jersey of their selection due to disagreements with the management of Vilda.
This crisis, unprecedented at this level, threatened the emergence of Spain as a power in women’s football, driven in particular by recent investments by FC Barcelona, winner of the last Champions League, or Real Madrid.
But in Oceania, the coach defended his legitimacy through exceptional results for a team which is only in its third participation in a World Cup.
“We have a president who reacted with courage, who supported me and the staff (…). There is a lot of unity in the group, a good atmosphere, a desire for competition, professionalism and ambition,” Jorge Vilda, 42, in office since 2015, said on Monday.
Spain eliminated Switzerland (5-1) in the round of 16, then the Netherlands finalists in 2019 (2-1 ap) to reach the semis for the first time in its history.
This course bears the mark of the tactical risks of Vilda, a fan of turnover around her 4-3-3 focused on ball retention and counter-pressing: “We have 23 holders. These are not just words, these are facts,” he explained.
Le pari Cata Coll
He, for example, ousted the titular goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, who played the three group matches, after the defeat against Japan (4-0), to launch the young lining Cata Coll during the knockout phase.
The choice is all the more daring since Coll, 22, is also a substitute at Barça, behind N.1 Sandra Paños, one of the “rebellious” who asked for her reinstatement, in vain.
Spain coach Jorge Vilda, during training for his team, before facing Sweden in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup on August 13 in Auckland. © Saeed KHAN / AFP
Against Switzerland and the Netherlands, Vilda also decided not to start the reigning double Ballon d’Or winner, Alexia Putellas, one of the stars of the competition who returned just in time for the tournament after a long injury. on one knee.
These changes have given way to some new faces such as midfielder Teresa Abelleira (23) or striker Salma Parellelo (19), who scored the qualifying goal against the Netherlands.
They are surrounded by the experience of some “rebels” who have backtracked – only three of them have been summoned: Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle.
Sweden, the anti-Roja?
The “sling of 15” was a “very hard” moment, but it is “something that belongs to the past”, assured player Irene Guerrero on Sunday.
“We are very focused on what unites us, on what awaits us, on the spirit of this team (…). I see myself with all my teammates lifting the cup. It’s a dream, and for it to become reality, you have to dream about it,” added the Atlético Madrid midfielder.
The Spaniard Salma Paralluelo celebrates the qualifying goal against the Netherlands, in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup, on August 11, 2023 in Wellington. © Marty MELVILLE / AFP/Archives
The Swedes, they are advancing quietly behind their coach Peter Gerhardsson, who has made cohesion one of the cardinal values of his team.
“The understanding within the group is crucial for us. If you are happy off the pitch, it shows on the pitch,” said captain Kosovare Asllani.
The Scandinavians, third in the FIFA world rankings, are regulars in the last four in major international competitions, but they have still not won a single major trophy since Euro-1984, the first in history.
In recent years, they have lost in the final of the Games in 2016 and 2021, as well as in the semi-finals of Euro-2022 and the World Cup-2019.
“We have the benefit of experience,” says Kosovare Asllani. “We have gone far in our last tournaments, and I am satisfied with the way we have used this time,” said the midfielder with 174 caps (44 goals).
With AFP
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