Harmless and dominated, the French team did not manage to shake a superior Spain (0-2) on Wednesday in Seville. She will still have to wait before lifting her first trophy.
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The step was too high. For their first final in official competition, the Blues were defeated by Spain (0-2), Wednesday February 28 in Seville, thus abandoning the Nations League to the world champions. Six months after a cruel elimination against Australia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Hervé Renard’s group is missing a new opportunity to finally open the selection list.
But this time, there will be few regrets, as it was so difficult to exist for the French women, tirelessly caught in the spider’s web woven by La Roja. Beaten in all areas of the game and pressed like never before, the French players were guilty of losing too many balls to hope for anything.
Aitana Bonmati punishes the Blues
A saving return from Griedge Mbock and Amandine Henry, at the feet of Salma Paralluelo, made it possible to delay the deadline on a missed clearance by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (7th). But it is quite logical that Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring by cutting a cross from the left from Olga Carmona (32nd, 1-0).
Led for the first time in nine matches (against Panama at the World Cup), Hervé Renard’s protégés then did not find the resources and aggressiveness necessary to come back to the score, still struggling to approach the cages guarded by Cata Coll . As the evening progressed and the rays of the Andalusian sun disappeared, the Spanish trap inevitably closed on the Blues.
Second title in a row for Spain
None of the French team’s usual weapons were able to work. Usually so brilliant on set pieces, Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s partners even almost failed several times in similar phases, like the post found by Irene Paredes on a corner (25th).
But it was ultimately Mariona Caldentey who ended all suspense upon returning from the locker room on a serve from Ona Batlle (52nd, 2-0). Although the La Cartuja stadium was not full, a record crowd (32,657 spectators) was responsible for reminding the visitors throughout the match that they were not yet boxing in the same category, with vuvuzelas and Spanish flags. To better exult at the final whistle.
After a joy spoiled by Luis Rubiales’ forced kiss on Jennifer Hermoso at the World Cup, Spain can this time celebrate its second title in quick succession, before aiming for a third in Paris in five months. Until then, Hervé Renard’s players will have to capitalize on this good run in the Nations League to finally go to the end, at home. Because it was not in Seville, a city decidedly cursed for French football, that the Bleues had an appointment with history.