Women's World Cup holders Spain eye Nations League title / Photo: JORGE GUERRERO - AFP/File
Women's World Cup holders Spain eye Nations League title
Reigning world champions Spain can claim another title on Wednesday when they face France in the final of the inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League, while the Netherlands and Germany meet to decide who will join them in qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Spain's World Cup triumph in Sydney last August ended up being somewhat overshadowed by Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales's forced kiss on midfielder Jenni Hermoso after the final against England.
Rubiales recently had a three-year ban from football upheld by FIFA and is also set to go in trial over the kiss, while the Spain team –- led by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati -- have tried to keep the focus on football.
Under new coach Montse Tome, Spain comfortably topped their Nations League group ahead of Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, and then defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in Seville in last Friday's semi-final.
Winning through to the final also allowed them to take one of two qualifying spots open to European nations for the women's football tournament at the Olympics. It is the first time they have qualified for the Games.
However, star Barcelona midfielder Bonmati believes Spain's World Cup success has not had the hoped-for impact on the women's game in the country.
"Unfortunately I can't say a lot of things have changed," Bonmati said in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe.
"We have the example of the English, when they won the Euro (in 2022). We saw a real change following their success at a nationwide level.
- 'Served no purpose' -
"It had repercussions, and there was more investment in the domestic league. The stadiums are full when England play. It makes me jealous because I can't say the same thing has happened here.
"There are still so many things to do here and I have the impression that the World Cup has not served any purpose."
She complained that the match against the Netherlands was moved at short notice from Cadiz to Seville, where the final will also be played.
"We were supposed to play in Cadiz and in the end we changed the venue to La Cartuja. That wouldn't happen with the boys."
France had already qualified for the Olympics automatically as the host country and Herve Renard's team are now hoping to win a first international title in the Nations League to set them up for the Games.
The Netherlands entertain Germany in Heerenveen in the third-place play-off with the winner of that game also progressing to Paris 2024.
Germany lost 2-1 to France in Lyon in their semi-final last Friday and so must now overcome the Dutch if they are to go to the Olympics, in which they won the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
After flopping at last year's World Cup, in which they exited in the group stage, their form has improved under veteran interim coach Horst Hrubesch, who took Germany's men to the final of the 2016 Olympics.
However, the Dutch – whose coach Andries Jonker used to manage Wolfsburg in the men's German Bundesliga -- are hoping to make the most of home advantage at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.
"We still have a chance," of reaching the Olympics, said captain Sherida Spitse after the semi-final.
"We are very happy with that. We are playing at home with the crowd behind us."
N.Steward--EWJ
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