This Spain goes against history. Not only did it finally manage to overcome a qualifying round in the last World Cup – a milestone never achieved in previous major tournaments – but it ended up being crowned with the best football, with possession and positional play as its flag. A toast to the ball. Afterwards, it became the best team on the planet in the national team ranking when it had never gone above sixth position, a condition that has been ratified in the Nations League because it is already in the final with the candy of having also sealed his safe passage for the Paris Olympic Games, a tournament he had never visited. In the final and in La Cartuja in Seville, he plays France (19.00, La1), a team that beat Germany in the semifinals and a team that Spain has not been able to overcome until now. Another challenge; another occasion to contradict history. “You have to be happy to be here, there are only two teams participating in the final. We have to have concentration, determination and confidence in ourselves, be united and have connection, which allows great teams to win. That's the recipe. We are going to try to make a difficult match for Spain,” resolved French coach Hervé Renard. Spain coach Montse Tomé, however, wants more tension. “The team is really looking forward to the final, but it is impossible to be relaxed. We face a great rival and we know what we have to do. “We are very prepared for this match, with a very good predisposition and mentality,” she resolved.

France has also been sweet since Renard arrived, just five months before the last World Cup began. He was the firefighter and also the best peace treaty, because the Blues They were decomposing. The previous coach, Corinne Deacon, faced several of the most distinguished players such as Eugénie Le Sommer and Amnadine Henry, who already raised eyebrows after the 2019 World Cup. The criticism from the players was her guillotine with the selection, since they did not appear on the lists again. The trigger, however, came when soccer player Wendie Renard refused to wear the shirt — followed by Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani — due to disagreements with the coach. A chaos that led the federation to take over on the bench because they have been demanding a big tournament for a long time – until now they only have a semi-final in the last Euro Cup and quarterfinals in the World Cup in France 2019 and Australia and New Zealand 2023 – to a team that has plenty of physicality and talent. “We have to continue believing and working to reach this goal of winning a title. Until we achieve it we will not abandon. “This is a decisive match and we have many players in the team who have played great games, who have won with the youth teams or their clubs,” said Le Sommer.

Since Renard arrived, the French team has recovered all the outlawed, also the best football because it has 16 games with a balance of 12 wins, two draws and another two defeats, both at the hands of Australia (the last in the penalty shootout of the World Cup quarterfinals). “Now we face the first FIFA team, the world champions. It is a great challenge. But we prefer to face it on the field than watch it on television. We have quality, a lot of quality, we believe in ourselves and in football, in these games, what counts are the details of concentration and tactics. We play soccer to live with this adrenaline. “You don't have to be afraid, but rather have a crazy desire to win,” said Renard.

Tomé's team plays with the ball between their feet, always with possession and position play by flag. “The playing style of Spain and Barça is the same. I don't know what game to expect, but in duels against Barça you have to know how to be patient, accept sometimes having less of the ball… But football is about winning and the way doesn't matter,” said forward Le Sommer. Renard underlined it: “Possession is good when it is effective. Against Italy, they had 70% and lost. The important thing is what is done with possession.” Tomé responded: “Our essence is to have the ball, to have it well, to know where to take it to do damage. And having control of the game, which is what makes us feel good. We can do a lot of damage to them with the ball and we will try to go deeper from there and have that structure compensate us for a possible loss to avoid a quick exit. If it's us, we occupy the spaces well and make France run without the ball, I think we will be able to hurt them.” And she added: “France are players with very quick transitions, so we will have to be very attentive and aware of surveillance and aid. And, on the other hand, pressure is one of our weapons. We recognize ourselves as a team that wants to have the ball and that presses intensely, high and orderly. It is our hallmark and we are going to go all out.”

France does not fail in this competition, as it is undefeated and has only conceded two goals. The numbers, furthermore, say that the Blues They have beaten Spain 13 times and have not known defeat once, with a balance of 10 wins and three draws, with 22 goals in favor and seven against. “Tomorrow will be the day that this victory finally takes place,” said Jennifer Hermoso. “France has been the team that has conceded the fewest goals, but also the team that has scored the least,” Tomé recalled. Although Renard saw it from his perspective: “Spain has deservedly been world champion. They are the ones who played the most beautiful football and it is fair that they are world champions. But in this Nations they have scored and conceded many goals (26 to nine), so we will have to take advantage of their mistakes because all teams have weak points. Although Spain has many stronger ones.” That and La Roja forgot to pay attention to history a long time ago.

Alexia and Tere Abelleira, summoned

When Tomé chose the 25 players for the Final Four of the Nations League, it was surprising that he chose Alexia and Tere Abelleira, who were not medically cleared. He did not like Barcelona either that they cited the double Ballon d'Or winner, because he understood that they should work with her in La Masia and not in Seville or Madrid. But the soccer player also wanted to play her role as leader and second captain with Spain, so it was agreed to keep the avenues open around the attacker's recovery, always participating in part of the training sessions. Now, like Tere Abelleira, she has already completed the sessions and there are no doubts from the federation's doctors. “We have carried out the processes with many details and care, the work that has been done with doctors, physios, readapters and physical trainers… His evolution is very positive; and in the last meeting they told me that the 25 players are available to play. From there, we will have to choose at 23″, Tomé slipped, adding: “Since she has been here, Alexia is fine and focused on what the entire team is focused on.” Hours later, Spain included the two soccer players on the list of those called up for the match, leaving Sheila García and María Pérez out.

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