PRE MATCH | A Match to Change Destiny
There are certain dates that Spaniards can’t get out of their heads and one of those dates occurred forty years ago. On a Saturday like this one in August, and also on February 5th. That afternoon, the Women's National Team began a journey in the town of La Guardia, Pontevedra, which, exactly four decades later on the other side of the world, can place the team in the elite of world football.
Starting at 7:00 AM (Spanish peninsular time) with live TV coverage on La1 of TVE and minute-by-minute updates through this official medium, the national team faces Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup and finally overcome a knockout stage in a major competition.
The match can be followed live from 7:00 AM (Spanish peninsular time) on La 1 of TVE and will have comprehensive minute-by-minute coverage through this official medium.
At the Eden Park Stadium in Auckland, there will be a fierce duel against Inka Grings' Swiss team, ranked 20th in the FIFA rankings and undefeated throughout the group stage, thanks to a well-organized defense with Real Betis goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann acting as the last line of defense with attacking firepower from players like Ramona Bachmann or the ever-reliable Barcelona player Ana-Maria Crnogorčević.
If Spain qualifies, they would be the first team to reach the quarter-finals, where they would face the Netherlands or Norway.
Breaking down Switzerland's presumably compact defensive block will be the great challenge for Spain, who come with the lesson learned from the last match against Japan and the desire to win a match that would etch Jorge Vilda's team into the history of sporting achievements in our country.
Click here to listen to the statements from coach Jorge Vilda and player Olga Carmona ahead of the match.
For this purpose, the coach relies on the 23 selected players, who have completed their final training session on New Zealand turf, with only the captain Ivana Andrés being absent, training separately from the group.
Spain's last encounter with Switzerland was a victory by two goals to nil in March 2019, with goals from Jennifer Hermoso and a Müller own goal. The two teams have an evenly balanced record in their head-to-head duels and currently share the round of 16 as their best achievement in a World Cup.
The match will be officiated by Welsh referee Cheryl Foster, with Irish Michelle O'Neill and Dutch Franca Overtoom as assistant referees.
One of the two teams will break that tie this Saturday in a match led by Welsh referee Cheryl Foster, to be played just as dawn breaks on the Peninsula. What better way, with a historic qualification to conquer, to experience together the dream of a memorable summer night, shared between Spain and New Zealand.
