SEVILLE, Feb. 24 (from the Special Envoy of EUROPA PRESS, Ramón Chamorro) –
The national women’s soccer coach, Montse Tomé, made it clear that they deserved to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, not only because of the level they are offering but “for all the previous ones who struggled and could not be there,” and praised a team that “he is humble and ambitious” and that he “looks forward” to playing in the final of the Nations League against France on Wednesday.
“This was a match in which the objective of the Games was, that we deserved it. We had prepared it very well and we are happy with the work done. We are a team that deserved to be in the Games, for all the previous ones that fought and did not could be there, and those who lived those moments of mud,” Tomé celebrated at a press conference.
The Asturian stressed the good “mix” that her team has between veterans and young people, who have earned “the opportunity to enjoy” an Olympic event, a new joy after having accepted the position in “a difficult time.” “No one elected him, but we took a step forward. The first day I sat here I was proud of my staff and today I can say even more,” she warned.
“We have evolved as a team, as a staff, and we have achieved the goal, we have worked hard to achieve it. This is a humble and very ambitious group, we are looking forward to the final,” added the national team coach.
For Tomé, they entered the game “strong.” “From the beginning we were very focused. We had developed a very specific game plan of what the Netherlands could do and we had a strong first half. We know this team’s ability with the ball and we had to be serious with the transitions with Beerensteyn and From the beginning we executed the plan,” he explained.
“It’s a shame we didn’t score more goals in the first half and in the second we didn’t start well at all, but the changes gave us that punch so we could have the last goal again,” he added. “We managed to play a good game. It is true that in the qualifying phase the best games were against Sweden, we know that this team grows against the greats,” he noted.
The coach was also “very happy” about the new record of spectators with 21,856 watching the clash in La Cartuja, which means that they are “taking steps.” “If we have overcome it again it means that we are evolving. We have to continue progressing in this, we thank the fans who have been with the team, we hope they have been able to enjoy themselves,” she confessed.
Tomé praised the great game of Mariona Caldentey, “an intelligent space player of a high level and very influential” in the world champion’s game. “She is having a great season, the numbers support her and she has had a great performance,” he remarked, while he believes that the debut of the young Vicky López is “a reinforcement” for the quarry in the national team and the “natural talent” that exists. “She has earned entry into the field because she has done great training,” she admitted.