Spain meets history

Spain is now quoted along with history. In the view of Sweden (10:00, Spanish time), the women’s team is playing for a place in the final of world from Australia and New Zealand. The unseen. And until recently, it was unimaginable.

But Spanish women’s football has grown rapidly in recent years and made possible what seemed, not so long ago, a utopia: to talk to the best in the world and fight to be the number 1 in the world. The champions.

Before, the one in Jorge Vilda they have to beat Sweden, who they haven’t beaten yet, despite the fact that in today’s game there will be twelve clashes between them. For the most recent memory, the draw between the two in the last match, a friendly played in October without some of the stars that, today, illuminate this team that has already made history in the antipodes: Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso and Irene Paredes They were in the game then. And they are in the field now.

You also have to destroy Jorge Vilda’s team stigma which underlines its weakness when measured in official competition against teams that rank higher than it in FIFA. His service sheet reflects victories against eleven powers of United States, England, Canada, Japan, but in friendly matches. The quarterfinal match against Netherlands, a power, strengthening the optimism of the Spanish in this matter.

Swedenrunner-up in the world in the United States in 2003, now the number 3 of this rank. A position that strengthens them in their fight to reach the final: so far, in addition to the aforementioned runner-up, they have been decorated with three other bronzes for a total of four podiums in nine appearances at a World Cup.

Spain, which does not have much weight in the history of women’s football, at least in terms of results, clings to the golden generation that, under the leadership of Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, It brought women’s football to the streets, where men and women sought its autograph and made it their idols. Entry to the final of the World Cup today will be sealed ‘firing‘ (lucky burst) that will remain pending the final burst, either against Australia or against England, the other two semifinalists. But that will be another story.

Right now dream, be happy and cross your fingers. Credit to themselves goes to Aitana and Laia, who after spending the last two days somewhat apart from the work of the other players, were at their best in the final session. Today, they all have an appointment in history. They are 90 minutes from the World Cup final. Although it seems incredible to many.