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Women’s National Team

Montse Tomé: "Our goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games"

The national team coach, Montse Tomé, and Spanish National Team captain, Irene Paredes, appeared before the media ahead of the semi-final of the Nations League against the Netherlands at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville
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Thu, 22/02/2024 - 18:20

Montse Tomé expressed her satisfaction with the group of players at her disposal and their hard work in preparation for the final four that starts tomorrow for the Spanish national team.

On Spain's opponents tomorrow, the coach said "we have analysed the Netherlands extensively following our last match. They are a team that plays very direct and makes good use of second balls with the verticality of Beerensteyn". Furthermore, Montse Tomé is confident in the level of her players and their ability to play to their strengths.

Regarding this Friday's match against the Netherlands, Tomé mentioned that it "is a game in which we have a very important objective: to get to the Olympic Games. We have a national squad of tremendously competitive players. We are among the elite and the players show me that ambition to continue learning, competing and enjoying themselves," she said.

Regarding the other semi-final, which sees France take on Germany tomorrow, the coach said she saw it as a very close match, saying: "We are the four best teams and each will do their utmost to win".

Finally, Montse Tomé appealed to the fans to come to the Estadio de La Cartuja: "We expect the fans to get behind the national team. Since our arrival in Seville, we have felt the passion and support of the people here. On the pitch, we hope we can carry out our plans and that the fans will cheer us on in what will hopefully be a celebration of Spanish football".

For her part, Irene Paredes also highlighted the Netherlands’ playing style: "We know how powerful they are. Beerensteyn is a very, very fast player and she plays off the last defender’s shoulder very well. We have corrected a couple of aspects of our play since the World Cup match and we will have to be totally attentive at all times".

As for her fondest memory from the World Cup match in Wellington against the Dutch, Paredes was clear: "I'd go for Salma's goal. That was the moment when we really realised we were in the semi-finals.

Spain faces the prospect of a double reward for Friday's match, something the captain commented on, saying: "to be in the semi-finals of a Nation's League and on the brink of qualification for the Olympic Games is incredible. We want to achieve this goal and we are going for it," said the captain.

On playing in Spain, Irene Paredes said that she sees it as "an opportunity for people to come to the stadium, cheer us on and give us that extra strength to achieve our goals of playing in another final and qualifying for the Games".

UEFA Nations League Femenina 2023