AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) – Humiliated following a blowout loss to Japan within the group stage finale, Spain shortly recovered to point out that La Roja ought to nonetheless be thought of a contender to win the Women’s World Cup.
Aitana Bonmati scored twice on Saturday as Spain routed Switzerland 5-1 and have become the primary staff to advance to the quarterfinals. La Roja had by no means earlier than received a sport within the knockout stage in any main event, and at last superior in its third World Cup look.
Spain rolled by its first two video games of the event – wins in opposition to Costa Rica and Zambia – however Japan dealt La Roja a humbling setback in a 4-0 defeat that compelled the staff to regroup.
“Sometimes when you lose like the other day, it is a very hard blow,” Bonmati stated. “I think we should be proud of the work we have done. Right now what you see is a team, and you can see the personality of these players, and I hope we have many more days here.”
Spain coach Jorge Vilda made 5 adjustments to the the lineup that was embarrassed by Japan.
The largest choice calls have been leaving t wo-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on the bench, giving goalkeeper Cata Coll her first look with the nationwide staff, and giving centerback Laia Codina her first World Cup begin.
“After the Japan game, that made us a wound. The wound healed but the scar will last and we will have it on us even going to the semifinals. That scar will not disappear,” Vilda stated by a translator. “But we analyzed what we could do. We analyze the rival and see how we can attack them as we have to defend, and we chose the 11 players we think are in the best disposition to face the game.”
Alba Redondo, Codina and Jennifer Hermoso all scored within the win at Eden Park, and Codina rebounded after her personal objective within the first half gave Switzerland its solely rating.
“We have finally arrived. We have pressed well, we have made history, we have shown that we are a team of 23 players,” Vilda stated. “I know that they are not words, they are facts.”
Switzerland received Group A regardless of two scoreless attracts and entered the knockout sport as considered one of solely three groups that didn’t concede a objective within the group stage. But the Swiss have been down 4-1 down by halftime in opposition to Spain, which because the decrease seed wore blue jerseys as an alternative of its acquainted purple uniforms.
“We wanted to stay in the game for as long as we could and disrupt the energy,” Switzerland coach Inka Grings stated. “But unfortunately we weren’t able to get in our game. Spain was able to take all their opportunities and use them.”
Grings was additionally stunned by Spain’s overhauled lineup, and stated La Roja are a contender to win the World Cup.
“I think there are a lot of good teams that are among the favorites and Spain itself is one of them,” Grings stated. “They made that clear when they play like they did today. If you are aggressive, if you have the determination, and of course bring the quality with you on the journey, all the best and good luck.”
Bonmati scored within the fifth minute after Switzerland goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann had pushed Redondo’s effort in opposition to the submit. The Swiss couldn’t clear the ball and Bonmati collected it, turned sharply within the field and fired low into the nook.
Switzerland was gifted an equalizer within the eleventh on Codina’s personal objective. The defender picked up the ball simply inside her personal half, however with out trying, turned and swept the ball past Coll, who had superior too far out of her objective.
The sport was briefly tied 1-1, however Spain was again in entrance within the seventeenth as Redondo headed a bouncing ball low into the nook. It was her third objective of the event.
Spain continued to search for extra objectives and Bonmati scored her second within the thirty sixth.
It was 4-1 within the forty fifth as Codina bundled the ball over the road from a nook. Hermoso swept in a fifth for Spain within the seventieth to attain her third of the event.
“Believe in us. We made history,” Bonmati stated. “It’s the first time we’re going to the quarterfinals at the World Cup. This team has a lot to say. Let’s Go.”
Meriame Terchoun, considered one of three halftime substitutes for Switzerland, compelled a save from Coll from shut vary after the break. It was her staff’s solely effort heading in the right direction all match.
Swiss midfielder Sandrine Mauron stated the sport have to be raised to a different degree in her residence nation for La Nati to grow to be a real contender. Switzerland have by no means superior to the quarterfinals of a significant event, didn’t qualify for six of the earlier eight World Cups, and didn’t enter in 1995.
The Swiss reached the spherical of 16 in 2015, their solely earlier look within the World Cup.
“I think that the next step in Switzerland has to be that we get a semi-professional league or something to give more opportunities to improve the game,” Mauron stated.
WHAT’S NEXT
Spain will play both 2019 runner-up Netherlands or South Africa within the quarterfinals in Wellington on Friday.
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More AP Women’s World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
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