Wednesday, March 27

Spain, to burst the English lock


Sandra Paños, goalkeeper of Spain. / Reuters

Women’s European Championship

La Roja is measured in the quarterfinals against the host England, the most lethal team in the tournament, who still do not know what it is to receive a goal

After overcoming the group stage with some suspense, the Spanish women’s soccer team faces this Wednesday in Brighton (9:00 p.m.), in the quarterfinals, the most lethal team of the current European Championship, the host England. A team that has been planted in the tie with a full number of victories and the best numbers in the history of the championship: 14 goals for and not one against.

A feat that reaffirms the ‘Lionesses’ as one of the great favorites to lift the title. A team with a physical block and a lot of talent, which, driven by their fans in the stands, has drawn a comfortable path so far, dominating all their games from the start, being the team that has generated the most scoring chances in the current event continental. Interestingly, the next block to appear on that list is the Spanish, but unlike those led by Sarina Wiegman, who converted 13 goals in just two games (they scored eight against Norway, in the biggest win in the history of the tournament, and five to Northern Ireland), The Red is much less effective.

For one thing, a vibrant duel is expected in which the main objective of Spain, which has suffered in its three previous commitments, is none other than to burst the bolt that England has behind, with Mary Earps under sticks, a goalkeeper who keeps his team unbeaten. We will have to see what attack Jorge Vilda brings out for the occasion, a line in which he has introduced changes in each of the group stage matches. The only one who has repeated ownership in all of them has been Lucía García, a former Athletic player who has gone from being on the wing against Finland to being the top reference against Germany and Denmark.

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In this last match, she was substituted after the break, and two of the revulsive players who came out on the green, Olga Carmona and Marta Cardona, were the ones who revolutionized the game, with a cross from the former and a goal from the latter. A scorer who has left Real Madrid this summer and was about to hang up her boots in January due to injuries.

The La Roja bench has already assured that it faces this game “with respect, but without fear”, against the team it has faced the most times. Of the 15 duels that Spain has measured against England, only three have ended in victory of those who will play today as visitors, adding six draws and as many defeats.

The last time they met was in February, at the Arnold Clark Cup, also in England, a match that ended goalless. That same scoreboard, and an outcome in the penalty shootout, is a scenario that no one counts on this time, especially given the offensive potential shown by the British team, with players like Beth Mead, the greatest scorer of the phase of groups with five targets.

Coronavirus

It should also be noted that England does not know what it is like to lose under the orders of Sarina Wiegman, a coach who already won the European Championship with the Netherlands in the last edition, in 2017. The Dutch coach could not sit on the bench tonight against Spain due to to the coronavirus, which keeps him isolated in his concentration hotel. A duel between two of the favorites to take the title, who share his love of touching the ball, and who will surely offer a great show.

Likely lineups

  • England:
    Champion of group A, after adding three victories (1-0 against Austria, 8-0 against Norway and 0-5 against Northern Ireland). She has gone to the quarterfinals undefeated and with a clean sheet.

  • Spain:
    Second in group B. They began by beating Finland (4-1), before falling to Germany (2-0). Against Denmark (0-1), and at the buzzer, he got the ticket to the quarterfinals

  • Time and place:
    Wednesday, 9:00 p.m. (TVE 1), at the Brighton & Hove Community Stadium.


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