The Spanish women's team has made history. For the first time he has qualified for the quarterfinals of a World Cup. Jorge Vilda was right that there was some pessimism around the match against Switzerland this Saturday (1-5). Few bet on the radical change that Spain was going to experience.
The revolution began from the starting eleven. The coach made five changes compared to the previous match against Japan. You could tell that on this occasion there was no margin for error and that you had to go all out. Oihane Hernández, Esther and Alba Redondo entered and Laia Codina and Cata Coll debuted.
With the match already started, it was noticeable that Spain was different, there was no longer a trace of the defeat against Japan, which had hit the team so much. Vilda's team went out looking for victory from the first minute, and as usual, when the national team is in good shape, the scoring opens quickly. He already demonstrated it in the group stage against Costa Rica and Zambia, because this Saturday was no different. After five minutes Aitana Bonmatí scored from the front after Alba Redondo smashed the ball into the post.
a dangerous mistake
Switzerland was looking to go on the counter and surprise, but Spain, who had already learned from their mistakes after the previous match, was very attentive in defense to cut off any danger.. However, despite being superior, a mistake by Laia Codina put the tie on the scoreboard in the 11th minute. The center back had not seen where Cata was positioned and by giving her the ball ended up scoring her own goal.
But if the Spanish team was clear about one thing, it was that they were not going to let themselves be beaten and, six minutes later, Alba Redondo's header returned the advantage on the scoreboard to the team.
They liked Spain, who had possession of the ball, they also had it against Japan, but this time it was serving them. It complicated the game for Switzerland, which did not reach Cata's goal until minute 24.
New win for Spain
It might seem that with 1-2 on the scoreboard it was enough, but it is that when Vilda's team is good, they go for the win, and said and done. In minute 35 came the third goal. And if coming back from 1-3 was already going to be complicated, taking into account the level that the team was showing, the 1-4 practically sentenced the game. Laia Codina would score the fourth at the edge of the first half. Something that helped him make up for the mistake he had made minutes before and which had led to the only Swiss goal.
About to start the second half, Switzerland moved the bench with a triple substitution, but it was of no use, there was no way for them to get into the game. Time was running out and each time the chances of the Swiss to come back were diminishing. And in 69 came the sentence. Jenni Hermoso scored the fifth after stealing the ball and sealed what was already a reality; Spain was in the quarterfinals for the first time in its history. We will have to wait until this Sunday to find out if they will face the Netherlands or South Africa.