Spain wants a good end to its historic 2023
The women's team closes the year with a new duel against Sweden with nothing at stake in the Nations League and wanting to make up for it
MADRID, 4 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women's soccer team will put an end to a year to remember this Tuesday (7:00 p.m./La 1) with its last duel of the group stage of the 2023-2024 Nations League against Sweden, already with nothing in game after qualifying for the 'Final Four' and wanting to return to the path of victory after their unexpected setback against Italy.
Spain fulfilled its last obligation of 2023, an unforgettable year for national women's football thanks to the conquest of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Champions League by FC Barcelona and the dominance of Aitana Bonmatí in the individual awards. with special mention for his Ballon d'Or. He still had to secure his ticket for the final fight to be in the Olympic Games and he also achieved it, although not in the expected way.
Next February, the current world champion will be among the three who will fight for the two Olympic tickets distributed by this new UEFA competition. Only the team coached by Montse Tomé and France, host of the Games and which already has its classification, have achieved it before the last day and are already waiting more calmly for the rest that will emerge from a last tense Tuesday, with the Netherlands , England and Belgium with options in one group, and with Germany and Denmark tied on points in the other.
The 'Roja' arrives in Malaga with its homework done, but not with the best feelings after seeing its great streak of results end with the 2-3 defeat against Italy in Pontevedra, in a weak match for the national team and new turbulence for the controversy with the change of Aitana Bonmatí after the break and which caused the team to go out with one less player on the field, with no one wanting to take responsibility for what happened and, again, the focus somewhat displaced from sports before a game.
Fortunately, Sweden fell during their visit to Switzerland and was left with no options to fight the classification against the Spanish, who will be able to face a rival that is always very tough and eager for revenge with a little more peace of mind and above all in search of improving their game. and close with the joy that 2023 deserves, which seems to also bring a new attendance record at La Rosaleda due to ticket sales. The mark to be surpassed is the 14,194 spectators who witnessed the defeat of the Swiss team in September at the Nuevo Arcángel in Córdoba.
AITANA TRAINED AND COULD ENTER A ELEVEN WITH POSSIBLE NEWS
At the moment, Montse Tomé has all her players available for this match against the number one in the ranking, including Aitana Bonmatí who trained with the group in the preview after missing Sunday's session due to feeling unwell and now it remains to be seen if she enters. in an eleven where the doubt is whether there will be many changes compared to Friday or there will be new developments in all lines to distribute efforts at a time with a very busy calendar and where the only casualty is Lucía García due to suspension.
Thus, players like Misa Rodríguez, in goal, Oihane Hernández, Ivana Andrés, María Méndez, María Pérez, Maite Oroz or Esther González could have their opportunity to face an important rival like Sweden that, after another notable World Cup, has not given a similar performance in this Nations League and has been left out of the Olympic Games, an event in which it had always been and in which it had been runner-up in 2016 and 2021.
In any case, the Swedish team has more at stake than the local team since it must add more points than Italy to maintain second place in the group and avoid having to play a play-off to continue in League A of this League. Nations. In addition, he will have the motivation that always gives the spirit of sporting revenge after Spain won the semifinals of the last World Cup (2-1) and in the Gothenburg duel of the first round (2-3), both with two late goals. Captain Magdalena Eriksson will return after missing the last game due to suspension, while Lina Hurtig will be out due to injury.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
SPAIN: Misa Rodríguez; Oihane Hernández, Irene Paredes, Laia Aleixandri, Ona Batlle; Aitana Bonmatí, Tere Abelleira, Maite Oroz; Athenea del Castillo, Esther González and Salma Paralluelo.
SUECIA: Falcon; Bjorn, Eriksson, Ilestedt, Andersson; Rybrink, Sandberg, Asllani, Angeldal; Riding Kaneryd y Blackstenius.
–REFEREE: Kateryna Monzul (UCR).
–STADIUM: La Rosaleda de Málaga.
–TIME: 19.00/11.