Spain chokes on Wembley

Spain ended its second visit to Wembley with a narrow defeat (1-0) against Englandidentical result to the one signed by the European and world champions last year. The selection he leads Sarina Wiegmansignatory of Spain’s last two setbacks, takes advantage in the race for a direct ticket to the 2027 World Cup.

Sonia Bermúdez opted for her gala team for the occasion with three new faces (Mapi, Vicky, Pina) compared to the eleven that played – and lost on penalties – in the Euro Cup final last summer. Spain had, however, to swim against the current practically from the initial whistle, since England opened the scoring when barely 157 seconds of play had been consumed. He did it in a corner that Greenwood kicked and that the visiting defense failed to clear, being Russo the smartest in the class to assist from the ground so that Hemp scored with a semi-volley.

The locals came out on top and were close to extending distances in a James’ individual play which ended up being resolved with a high shot. Then it was again Hemp who, making a wall with a backheel from Bronze, who sent the ball to the wood. Minutes of anxiety of a Spain slow, imprecise and inoperative before the intensity, order and voracity of the English team.

England felt comfortable in retreat and Spain, which had warned with shots from the front of Guijarro, Batlle and Vicky, was little by little looking for loopholes in that spider web. found it Ona, after a filtered pass from Alexia, but her shot went high. The Lionesses They closed the first act with two new scoring chances—Walsh from the front and Russo after losing Olga at the start—and Spain signing its first shot on goal in the 45th minute.

The resumption was marked by a shot to Olga’s crossbarafter touching Bronze; and another to Vicky’s woodafter a good wall with Batlle inside the area. The English, for their part, knocked on the door of the second goal on the counterattack with Russo and Jameswhose shots were sung as goals by the stands, deceived by the optical effect.

The clock was running out and the rush was pressing for a Spain that, despite improving its image, did not find the right. Hampton saved a left-footed shot from Vicky and Paredes headed a corner kicked by Pina into the roof. Sonia’s ‘Plan B’ was to put Salma as a leading reference, a movement that once again failedand later brought in Corrales and Imade to try to change the situation. The Bayern forward had two very clear goals, but the lack of power first and the great intervention of the English goal later prevented the tie.

The slope became steeper when Guijarro had to leave the field due to injury. The last minutes of the clash were a ‘I want to and I can’t’ for Spain, which leaves Wembley again with the feeling of deserving more…and who will now have to come back to take first place in the group.