The one in Australia and New Zealand is called to be the showcase World Cup for Aitana Bonmatí. The FC Barcelona footballer did not miss out on her first chance to claim her own and shone in Spain's debut against Costa Rica, scoring a goal and being recognized as the MVP of the match, which ended with a solid 3-0 victory for the red team on this first day of the group stage.
In the absence of Alexia Putellas, who did not enter the field of play until minute 77, Aitana Bonmatí led without a bracelet. No play started without going through the boots of the team's brain, which was also applied in attack. Something that he has learned in this last year at FC Barcelona, in which he has had a greater offensive role to replace Putellas.
Two of Spain's three goals against Costa Rica carried his signature. In the first, he assisted Esther with his heel so that she was sending a dangerous cross into the Costa Rican area that would end up entering Valeria del Campo's own door. In the second, she would display all her magic with a goal to frame. The one from Sant Pere de Ribes received on the penalty spot, settled the ball with her spur and shot close to the post, impossible for Daniela Solera. Esther González, fishing for a rebound after Jenni Hermoso smashed a ball off the crossbar, rounded off a win that Spain completed in just six minutes. And the score could have been bigger if Hermoso had hit from eleven meters. The referee punished a rigorous foul on Olga Carmona and the Madrid striker, after discussing it with Esther, was in charge of launching it. Pachuca's was not fine and the Costa Rican goalkeeper guessed the trajectory and frustrated what would have been the fourth goal for Spain.
Under the leadership of Aitana, the Spanish team continued to generate chances, up to 45 shots were collected by FIFA statistics at the end of the match. Of course, only 12 between the three sticks, with a team without success in the final meters and unable to extend the 3-0. To put this figure in context, in the last World Cup in France, the United States shot 40 times over the goal of Thailand and the game ended with the biggest win in the history of the tournament: 13-0.
One aspect, aiming, that Jorge Vilda's team will have to improve if they don't want to suffer against a more demanding rival than Costa Rica. He also showed weaknesses in defense, allowing himself to be surprised in actions that against strong counterattacking rivals like Zambia, the next duel that awaits Spain, could cost him dearly.
The spoils of the Spanish team could have been – and should have been – greater, but they fulfilled the most important objective: starting the World Cup with a victory and adding the first three points of the group stage. And he did it with two important absences in the midfield: Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro. The one from Mollet continued to film on his return after his long knee injury and played only the last twenty minutes, while the pivot is not in this World Cup – just like Mapi León and Claudia Pina – because they consider that the improvements implemented in the Federation are not enough. Without them, Tere Abelleira and Jenni Hermoso, although a little further forward, accompanied Aitana in midfield, but it was the blaugrana who carried all the weight of the game. Her magic with and without the ball earned her the best player of the match trophy. An award that also took place in Spain's debut in the last Euro Cup, which also started with a goal. The Catalan midfielder no longer has room for individual recognition in her showcases. She won the MVP in two of the four games she played with the red in the Eurocup, and with Barça this year she has been distinguished in five Champions League games, in addition to finishing as the MVP of the season in this competition. Against Zambia (Wednesday, 9:30 am) she will have a new opportunity to continue adding arguments in her race towards the Ballon d'Or.
It is not the only one that attracts international attention. Salma Paralluelo yesterday became the youngest Spanish soccer player to debut with the senior team, at 19 years and 250 days, surpassing Celia Jiménez, who was 19 years and 354 days when she made her debut at the 2015 World Cup, curiously also against Costa Rica. The FC Barcelona winger started against Costa Rica and she played 77 minutes, when she left her place on the field to Alexia Putellas, and she is called to fight for the award for the best young player of the tournament.
