They are the masters: Spain defeats Sweden with a penalty in added time

A football match, much more than that but only that. Spain, the players who had to stop being one to be the flag of something much more important, are the masters of this game, of the result and of the discourse. Led by Alexia Putellas, they were able, against all odds, to once again demonstrate that on the grass they are the best in the world.. They disarmed Sweden by cornering them, overcoming their blows and pushing them to the limit to win the most difficult match of their lives in added time and a penalty.. [Narrative and statistics]

For a few minutes at the Gamla Ullevi in Göteborg, nothing mattered other than 22 footballers sending a message to the world: #It'sOver. A cry that the world champions have been singing for a month, which has empowered women, has been applauded by men and has provoked deep reflections that go beyond what happens in the 90 minutes that the ball rolls. That's why at the beginning it didn't matter that the packed stands were dyed yellow, that a title was at stake, the Paris Games and even the European Championship in Switzerland.. Not even that Spain had only been able to beat Sweden in 13 years on the day when, before everything imploded, they were left out of the World Cup final.. The star was worn on the chest by the team that was deprived of its right to euphoria. Now they claim it.

Montse Tomé's first decision in her debut was already a wink: return the captaincy to the sovereignty of the locker room. Although UEFA announced that Alexia Putellas would wear the armband that was taken from her, Irene Paredes did so, a natural leadership that she will exercise alongside Alexia herself, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey, conscious of leaving a legacy that paves the way for generations.

Spain slows down the pace

In Göteborg, for the first time in a long time, they once again felt like only athletes. Spain was not bothered by the grotesque week and started the game with personality, initiative and wanting to intimidate the number 1 team in the world ranking, a tough nut.. This Nations League leaves no room for error: you have to be first in the group to go to Paris. They imposed a high pace that even Putellas called for lowering so as not to pay dearly after barely having trained. He needed a little break to meet Bonmatí, hold the ball and prevent the Swedes from running. The recoveries of an incombustible Mariona gave him, testing Musovic with the blows of Ona Batlle and Bonmatí herself. But then, the locals were activated and each mistake planted them in the Cata Coll area. Angeldal missed the first shot, but from a set piece, the Swedish team's infallible weapon, the goal came.. Eriksson left the defense to rise and finish a corner alone. Spain paid for the imbalance of a change of coaching staff and a week of more conclaves than grass. The blow could have made Asllani more painful.

Spain did not sink. I didn't have to. The Swedes had found a way to get ahead, but Peter Gerhardsson was not calm on his bench. The Spanish football flowed brilliantly, kneading the ball, with Alexia setting the tempo, dodging with class the impetus of the Swedes, with the relief of Bonmatí and the strength of Mariona to attract rivals. The tie was born from their escape. He looked into the area to find Athenea, who hit him to surprise Musovic, who lost the ball. The heartfelt hug with Alexia at the celebration was another message that the game left. The result was equal again. Not the game. There the Spanish were the dominators.

Nothing changed after the break. Athenea scampered into the area but crossed her shot too far. Lucía tried it, with her hand sore from a stomp, and even Aitana. Musovic had to work hard, saving another shot from Athenea and the rebound from Mariona. What he couldn't stop was Eva Navarro's left-footed shot into the squad, who had just entered the field. The match was leaning towards Spain, although in a counter-attack Hurtig balanced it again. In the last minute, Eva Navarro missed the Vaseline that touched the crossbar and in added time, Ilestedt caught Amaiur in the area. Penalty and expulsion. Mariona, from the penalty spot, did not waste a goal for history. Another one.