Current location:Stellar Space news portal > politics
History weighs heavy on Lionesses
Stellar Space news portal2024-05-22 00:14:17【politics】2People have gathered around
Introduction(Left) Spain star Aitana Bonmati will likely be a leading contender to succeed teammate Alexia Putel
(Left) Spain star Aitana Bonmati will likely be a leading contender to succeed teammate Alexia Putellas as the Ballon d'Or Feminin winner should she help La Roja to glory on Sunday. Putellas has struggled to find her best form since returning from a major injury;Ella Toone has starred for England at the World Cup, with the Manchester United forward netting a stunning opening goal in the semifinal win over Australia. Toone also scored the opener in last year's Euros final as the Lionesses won their first major trophy. [Photo/Reuters]
England eyes 'incredible' chance to end 57-year World Cup drought, but silky-skilled Spain plans a repeat of its own
SYDNEY — Skipper Millie Bright said her team is determined to seize an "incredible opportunity" to do something an English side has not managed since 1966 — win a World Cup.
The Lionesses powered into Sunday's final in Sydney against Spain after a ruthless 3-1 dismantling of co-host Australia, with their relentless energy grinding down a Matildas side that had few answers.
It set up England's biggest game since Bobby Moore lifted the men's trophy at Wembley 57 years ago.
"I'm really happy for the fans back home, for our nation," said Chelsea stalwart Bright, with men's skipper Harry Kane and even King Charles III sending congratulations.
"It's something that we've all been driving toward and it's something that's been missing. Now the opportunity we have is incredible."
The European champion has grown through the tournament, with its ruthless attacking game and defensive resilience proving a tall order for the opposition.
But it has been its adaptability that has driven it to the brink of history, built on the back of the tactical genius of coach Sarina Wiegman who led the team to the European title last year.
"You can win in many different ways and, for us, we've faced so many challenges at this tournament," Bright told FIFA.com.
"It's hard for people to see on the outside, but as players, we know that there's more to football than just pretty passes and connecting.
"In each game, we've proved something different about how we play, what we're capable of. We're very adaptable to what teams throw at us.
"But things are really starting to click now and we're getting the ball in the back of the net."
This is ominous for Spain, who has also shown resilience after its tournament preparations were thrown into disarray.
Last September, 15 players told the Spanish soccer federation they did not want to be considered for selection. The protest was aimed chiefly at coach Jorge Vilda, including complaints that he was too strict.
Vilda held on to his job, but he faces a coach described as the "Pep Guardiola of the women's game" in Wiegman on Sunday. The Dutch coach has reached four major tournament finals in a row, leading the Netherlands to the European title in 2017 and the World Cup final in 2019, where it lost to the United States.
The 53-year-old took England to European glory on home soil last year and now has another chance to win the biggest trophy of them all.
"We made the first final in 2017 and thought this is really special, it might not ever happen again," she said.
"Then you make the second, the third and the fourth and still think this might never happen again because there is so much competition," she added. "I can hardly describe how proud I am of the team."
Emulating Iniesta
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati remembers the moment Andres Iniesta scored in the 2010 World Cup final clearly, even though she was only 12 years old.
Iniesta's extra-time goal against the Netherlands in Johannesburg gave Spain a 1-0 win for its first and only men's World Cup trophy. Bonmati says it's time for a new Spanish champion.
"I hope we can repeat the history with our team," said Bonmati, whose team reached the final with a 2-1 win over Sweden on Tuesday.
Iniesta, 39, now plays with Emirates in the UAE Pro League. He celebrated La Roja's victory on social media, proclaiming: "Enormous!"
Bonmati, 25, has emerged as a versatile star for La Roja while two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas continues to work her way back from a ruptured ACL. Bonmati had two goals and two assists in Spain's 5-1 last-16 rout of Switzerland.
She helped Barcelona win its second Champions League title this year. Four Barca players have not returned to the national team over the Vilda dispute. The coach insists Spain is ready to "file away" that discord and focus on Sunday's final, and Bonmati also put aside any suggestion of friction in the team.
"We never give up, and now we believe in ourselves," she said. "We are a very strong team mentally."
Address of this article:http://www.afischerphasedrives.com/article-87c599902.html
Very good!(561)
Related articles
- BBC Countryfile star Adam Henson's wife wrote heartbreaking goodbye letters after cancer diagnosis
- Man United overhaul under Ratcliffe extends to new technical director
- Caitlin Clark 'is set to sign eight
- Israeli PM announced plans to rebuild areas near Gaza border, not build inside the territory
- This Week: Home sales, Fed meeting minutes and consumer sentiment index
- Karlie Kloss exudes confidence in a bold red midaxi dress as she attends star
- Emma Roberts keeps it casual in a hoodie and Dragon Ball Z t
- The NBA playoffs are finally here. And as LeBron James says, 'it's a sprint now'
- Julian Assange's five
- Stevie Nicks provides poem about ill
Popular articles
- Trump film shocks Cannes as former US President is depicted 'raping' his then
- Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in Alaska
- Has Salman Rushdie changed after his stabbing? Well, he feels about 25, the author tells AP
- Angel Reese gushes over Caitlin Clark as she put rivalries aside at last week's WNBA Draft
Recommended
Online reading or offline clubs? Young Chinese embrace both in digital era
Apple pulls WhatsApp and Threads from App Store on Beijing's orders
Jeezy BACKTRACKS on request for full custody of daughter Monaco, two, amid Jeannie Mai divorce
Tennis umpire banned for life for manipulating scores and gambling
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection
UN refugee agency tells Cyprus to stick to the law in its efforts at sea to thwart refugee boats
Pregnant Rooney Mara dresses her baby bump in head
Links
- Travel route honors CPC's historic journey
- Wintering swans boost tourism in Chinese provinces
- Cavani on target but Boca held by Fortaleza in Copa Sudamericana
- Chinese FM holds talks with US secretary of state
- US move of tariff hikes sets 'bad example' for free trade
- Australia to host 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
- Panda train offers special journey for passengers
- Cuba announces unilateral visa exemption for Chinese citizens
- UN official dismisses allegation of 'overcapacity' in China's green industries as misplaced
- Russia vetoes UN Security Council draft resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space