2023-09-22 21:40:18
For their first outing since the Rubiales affair and with the world champion star on their jersey, the Spanish players dominated Sweden 3-2 in the Nations League. The two teams started the game by showing their solidarity in the fight against gender-based violence and for equality between men and women. Spain now has a meeting with Switzerland on Tuesday to confirm this rebound and try to end the crisis.
With a converted penalty at the end of added time, FC Barcelona winger Mariona Caldentey offered much more than three points to Spain, which is trying to get its head above water after weeks of controversy. La Roja is taking the lead in its Nations League group, qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games, but the main thing was elsewhere.
Returning headlong to the selection because they feared being sanctioned if they refused, the world champions left the pitch in Gothenburg all smiles, jumping into each other’s arms, like on August 20, in Sydney, when Spain had installed on the roof of the world. Before plunging into crisis.
“It’s over”
Before kick-off, the 22 players posed behind a common banner bearing the slogan “Se Acabo” (“it’s over”) and proclaiming that the fight of the Spanish internationals is “a global fight” for equality between men and women, in sport and in society. Just before this strong gesture, the Spanish women had raised their fists in their official photo to reveal bandages on their wrists.
Most had written the same message “Se Acabo” in felt pen, while others had simply marked “Jenni” or the number 10 of Jennifer Hermoso, not called by the new coach Montse Tomé for this meeting in order, -she said, “protect her”.
Nine of the 23 world champions who refused to return to the selection, demanding profound changes within the Spanish Football Federation, were finally starting at kick-off.
Led by double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, back in the starting lineup, and by the best UEFA player of the year Aitana Bonmati, still as comfortable with the ball at her feet, the Spanish largely dominated the match. However, they got off to a bad start, conceding Eriksson’s opener with a cross header from a corner in the 23rd minute (1-0).
afp/bao
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