The Spanish team played half-time yesterday in Pontevedra against Italy, although it cannot be said that they got their ticket there for the Final Four of League A of the Nations League, where they will seek qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. They actually did it in Lucerne, where Switzerland defeated Sweden with an early goal from former Blaugrana Crnogorčević – now at Atlético – that broke their losing streak and left the Swedes with no options.
That match ended when Spain dominated their match at will and won with a great goal from Athenea in the 12th minute of play. With an offensive and unapologetic approach, the Montse Tomé players showed their best side to turn the duel into an exhibition of vertical and combinative football, with no options for an opponent who barely smelled the ball.
But the break came and the players, logically, knew that they already had the job done. That the Swiss, whom they had beaten in their previous clash, had already finished the job. And deconcentration arrived, which soon turned into chaos. To begin with, after the restart Spain took the field with 10 players, without Aitana Bonmatí, who had been replaced by Esther who was still on the bench. This time neither the Federation nor the team delegate will be able to say that it was a new computer failure.
And that was how Caruso's goal for Italy came to tie the game. It had been an oversight, yes, if the thing had stayed there. But just ten minutes later Cambiaghi headed into the net without marking to make it 1-2 and, shortly after, it was Linari who made it 1-3 with another ball centered into the area to once again show Spain's defensive lack of concentration.
It is true that from then on, using courage, the team woke up and Esther reduced the differences in a great individual play. But although there were still 15 minutes of regulation time left, it was already late and the result no longer mattered. Spain will finish as leader of its group – already without full victories – in the absence of Spain-Sweden next Tuesday and the Olympic qualification will be played between February 21 and 28.
