After two very different semi-final matches, both spain And Germany will play for uefa women’s nations league title, where the defending world champions will look to defend their title which they won last year.
La Rosa could do easy disposal Of sweden Winning both games within two legs by a 5–0 aggregate score, while Germany had to sweat a lot to barely finish ahead of last year’s runners-up. Francefollowing a 1-0 win in Düsseldorf In the first phase and a 2-2 draw in Caen Seeing them qualify for the finals.
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Sweden and France will both play to decide third place on the same day in a two-legged final. Our ESPN correspondents, Samuel Marsden and Julian Lawrence, provide their analysis of the two matches.
Spain got the job done against Sweden before the big test in the final
There were positive signs on and off the pitch as new Spain coach Sonia Bermudez recorded an impressive 5-0 aggregate win against Sweden in her first game.
The loss came in the first leg, when Spain had given an excellent performance in Málaga. alexia putellas And claudia pina Both helped solidify themselves and the Bermúdez era got off to a great start with a four-goal win. The 1-0 win in Gothenburg on Tuesday with a Putellas goal, his 40th win for Spain, was not as pleasant, but it was never going to be easy away from home against a team ranked third in the world rankings.
Some of the biggest talking points came before a ball was even kicked under Bermudez, however, with recalls for barcelona guard mappy leon And Tiger Ahead jenny hermosoLyon’s return felt particularly significant, given that he was one of the last players to threaten to resign from international duty in 2022 in order to return.
Before starting both games against Sweden, she had not played for her country. euro Defeat in 2022 quarter finals EnglandTheir return is proof that the Spain team – which has competed very impressively during a period in which they have been fighting with their federation for better conditions – is continuing to improve.
Bermudez provides a fresh break from the old regime after finally replacing Montse Tomé, who was promoted to the top job after previously assisting Jorge Vilda. The early signs are good, with players valuing his international experience – 61 Spain caps, the last in 2017 – and his trajectory in the game.
“The communication with Sonia has been important so far,” Barça said. lia alexandri Said this week.
“This is the beginning of a new era. She understands us very well. You can tell she knows what it’s like to be on the other side, which is important. We have a great rapport with her.”
However, given his talent, Bermudez will ultimately be judged on results. At some point, she may also have to deal with generational change, she said. Putellas, Leon, Hermoso, and irene paredes All are 30 or older, and while no one is slowing down much just yet, the youngsters are vying for playing time a little bit.
Bermudez gives 17-year-old midfielder full start clara serajordi On Tuesday, while the 19-year-old Vicki Lopez And lucia corrales Played last Friday.
But these are issues for another day. Reigning world champions and Nations League holders Spain will be favorites in the final against Germany, whom they defeated in last summer’s Euro semi-finals before losing to England at the last hurdle.
With the second leg at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, they will also have the chance to win another trophy on home soil in front of a potentially record crowd for the national team. , Samuel Marsden
Germany confirms itself as France’s bogey team
Like in the quarter-finals of the Euros in Switzerland last summer and like so many times at every major tournament in recent years, Germany broke France’s hearts in the Nations League semi-final in front of 18,000 fans in Caen on Tuesday.
The Germans confirmed their status as France’s bogey team. just like 2011 and 2015 world cupAlso for 2022 and 2025 euros, they were again very strong les blues Over both legs.
In the absence of the injured Marie-Antoinette CatottoFrance head coach Laurent Bonadie started melvin mallardThe Manchester United forward, instead of Clara Mateo Or Kadidiyatou Diani As a number 9, in an attempt to surprise the opposition.
It was a rare start for him, and it worked for three minutes, which was the time it took for the Mallards to start the scoring.
After that, despite more possession (60% to 40%), more shots on goal (six to two), and more big chances (three to zero), Mallard and his teammates could not break down the German defense and Stina Johannes In target. The French will probably have some regrets about missing a crucial opportunity with Mallard and Diani.
Instead their opponents were very clinical in front of goal, scoring two goals with two shots on target Nicole Anyomi And Clara BuhlHis 30th goal in 74 caps. France’s 2–1 win against Germany in the Nations League in February 2024 – their first win against Germany apart from friendly matches – changed nothing.
the advantage is still there frontteamThey clearly have a psychological advantage, and they value it whenever they face the French in a competition. After the Euros, Bonaidi again failed to lead France to a major final in his second tournament.
He and his players will now watch Germany take on Spain in the Nations League final. , julian lawrence
