The bigger they are the harder they fall, even in a game of kicking a ball. Spain’s women’s national football team fail to medal in Paris 2024. After a year of domination, from winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 to the UEFA Nations League in early 2024, ranking #1 globally for the first time in its history, the unstoppable force has finally hit gravity; Reality. Sport teaches us that even winners must lose every now and then because if not, they would not know how to win. Certainly a bumpy ride of a roller coaster through the initial Olympic group stages including a thriller vs Japan and new challenge vs Nigeria, Spain just couldn’t pull through when it came to 2x Women’s World Cup winners Germany. The players have just come from finishing an almost nine moth season with club, including almost half representing FC Barcelona in domestic Liga F. Six Olympic matches within the span of a two-week period seemed to exhaust not just one of them but all. Head coach Monste Tome’s side had an opportunity for redemption after a shambolic semi-final loss against Brazil at the Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Lyon, but it seems as if Spain’s best performance was their opening match days prior. Germany just seemed to want it more after narrowly missing out on a chance for gold vs the USA. Not to forget to mention that both sides did not score from open play, rather the Germans were granted a penalty in the 65th minute after Spain and FC Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll made an attempt at clearing the ball with her fists in her designated goalkeeper box, but ended up awkwardly punching German player Giulia Gwinn of FC Bayern Munich in the upper torso. The referee was front and center for that foul, and Gwinn netted a dime into the back of the net faster than lightning.
Spain weren’t without their chances, with six shots on goal and almost 70% of ball possession throughout the whole game, but Germany’s heart and hustle persevered. Just as Germany were given a penalty for a defensive wrongdoing so was Spain. A pass to Spain’s Lucia Garcia in close shot range ended up having her tangled and tripped up by a German player, resulting in another opportunity to stay alive. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger etched herself into the stuff of legends after saving a penalty shot from Alexia Putellas in the 90+7th minute of regular time, as Alexia guessed to her right and Berger dived to her left. Putellas failed to convert what would have been a 1-1-tie which inevitably would mean overtime, potentially penalties, and the rest is history. Within seconds the final whistle blew and in their debut at the Olympics, Spain have been described as “Never even getting close to their best” (ESPN.com). Germany won the game because they portrayed their best.
Truly a chapter in the football book to close for La Roja, or rather a lesson learned that success is earned not given. Not the way they wanted it to end, rather with many holes to mend. Fair play to Germany for proving their worth on the world stage once again and an exciting gold-medal match ensued the day after between Brazil and the USA. Paris 2024 closing ceremonies commenced Monday the 11th of August and the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad finally came to a close. Shared with 32 other sports, football showed us why we love it so much; the beautiful game of chaos and chance. FC Barcelona have already begun preparation for the 2024/25 season, ironically staging exhibition matches in Germany with players whose nations did not qualify for the Paris Olympics brought along for the ride (Fridolina Rolfö, Ingrid Engen, Esmee Brugts, Keira Walsh, Ewa Pajor). Fully focusing on yet another season, FCB Femeni will be back and better than ever. Stay tuned.
