Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here. You can find the entire program of the games here.
One of the biggest surprises of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament was seen late on Tuesday evening Finnish time, when reigning world champion Spain lost to Brazil 2-4 in the semifinals.
The number one in the Fifa ranking went into the match as an overwhelming pre-favorite – despite the fact that Spain’s performances at no point in the Olympic tournament evoked sighs of admiration. In the semi-final against Colombia, Spain was even down 0–2, but eventually won 3–2 after penalty kicks.
Brazil, on the other hand, has never been among the favorites to win the tournament. The team, which played its most successful years in the early 2000s, won only one of its three matches in the first series, when Nigeria fell 1–0. In the opening series, Spain beat Brazil 2–0 in a match that is remembered above all for Marta’s red card.
In the opening group, Brazil was mostly content to defend, but in the semi-final, the team also showed brave pressure. It produced results for the first time already in the sixth minute, when the Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll kicked towards the ball in the opening Irene Paredesfrom which the ball bounced into his own goal. Gabi Portilho managed to score just before the break, which started with Brazil leading 2–0.
– The result was a huge surprise. In the opening group, Spain was leading the game against Brazil even before Marta’s red card. They had more scoring attempts and better ball control, but now it was a completely different game and a completely different Brazil. Brazil could have scored more goals. Spain looked confused and panicked, it seemed that they are not ready at all, Urheilu’s expert Hanna Ruohomaa crystallized.
The reason for the collapse in exertion?
Before the Olympic quarter-finals, Spain had lost only one match in 2024, when the Czech Republic surprised them in the League A of the Nations League with a 2–1 victory. According to Ruohomaa, the Czech Republic also surprised Spain with a tight press and moving behind the line.
– The Spanish defense line likes to play high and participate in attacks and playmaking. If you get to attack behind the line, defenders don’t particularly like to start a running race, they like to be with the ball more. I think Brazil did this really well. Spain’s defense looked vulnerable and ragged. It was possible to burst both from the sides and from the middle.
Adriana already took Brazil to a 3–0 lead in the 70th minute. It is telling that the situation started with the Ballon d’Or winner who was chosen as the best player of last summer’s World Cup Bonmat’s fence from false input.
– Bonmati was a bit of a shadow of itself. The stress level of the players has been talking for more than a year. On the women’s side, the number of games has increased enormously, the tempo of the game is getting tougher, the quality and speed of the game are moving forward, which causes a lot of injuries.
– Within a year, Spain has played the World Cup, which they won, the League of Nations, the European Championship qualification… A large part of the Spanish players represent Barcelona, who play in the Champions League, where they advance to the end and then there are series games. With the Olympics on top of that, the strain on the players is huge all the time, Ruohomaa reflected.
The pace of games at the Olympics has also been wild: there are games every three days, and Spain, for example, has six games in 15 days.
The Barcelona captain also aroused wonder in the Spanish media and in the home audience Alexia Putellans pledging the exchange. Putellas ran defender Laia Codina replaced only in the 77th minute. Putellas cheered up Spain’s game and he was involved in organizing both of his team’s hits, for which he was responsible Salma Parallel life.
– Putellas has been replaced in almost every match Jenni Hermoson with. They have been on the field very little at the same time. I was really surprised that he didn’t get to the field until so late. I wonder if there is some trouble, injury or illness in the background. If this was a tactical choice, it failed, Ruohomaa reflected.
Working in a prestigious tournament for the first time as Spain’s head coach Montse Tome didn’t open up Putellas’ situation any more.
– I have said many times how lucky we are to have competition in the team. On other days it’s other people’s turn, the head coach acknowledged.
Ruohomaa also praised the opponent for outscoring the stars.
– Brazil was able to break Spain’s game. They interrupted the game many times and were able to attack. Spain couldn’t get their possession rolling like they normally do.
– Brazil defended quite deep in this game as well, but still they attacked very aggressively and got possessions even higher, which was a change from the meeting in the first group.
Brazil has received criticism throughout the tournament for playing with time, and its matches have seen wild overtimes: even on Tuesday, no less than a quarter of an extra time was given. Especially the goalkeeper Lorena has been patched up on the court throughout the tournament – including in the semi-finals.
Spain head coach Montse Tome admitted to Marca that the time game was annoying, but did not get behind it.
– It was annoying for us, as it was for other opponents. It doesn’t really favor the viewers either. However, we must play clean and fair. But we can’t complain about it because we didn’t lose because of it.
According to Hanna Ruohomaa, against a team like Spain, all means must be used.
– Partly this (playing with time) has taken Brazil to the Olympic final. But nowadays it increases playing time and you can do whatever you want. As long as time gambling takes place within the rules, it is difficult to eradicate it.
– There can be many opinions on whether it is respectful of the game and the opponent, but as long as we are talking about winning the Olympic gold, the success of our own country and various cultural differences, I can’t be angry at Brazil if they have this kind of means to mix up the game of the reigning world champion.
An incredible climax to Marta’s national team career
Brazil will also include its star Marta in the Olympic final, who had to watch the quarter-finals and semi-finals from the side of the stands. Marta received a red card in the final match of the first group after kicking Olga Carmona on.
The situation seemed unintentional, and the red card made the legend burst into tears.
Marta watched the quarter-finals and semi-finals from the side of the stands, but will be able to participate in the Olympic final. It will also be the legend’s last match in the national team shirt.
– Marta’s importance to women’s football is absolutely huge. For many junior girls, he is the first superstar to be compared to on the men’s side to Mass and To Ronaldo. In the 2007 World Cup, he was already a young superstar who led Brazil to the final.
– He has played a long, international career and played incredible seasons in Sweden, for example. He was impossible to keep in his best years, he was a whirlwind that raged on the field, Ruohomaa observed.
According to Ruohomaa, Marta’s pace has naturally slowed down at the age of 38.
– In my opinion, Marta brings to the field more mentally these days with her own personality than with what she does. He doesn’t get past so quickly with deflections and is no longer in the goal posts like in the old days.
Head coach of Brazil Arthur Elias faces a tough choice in the finals when the legend is released from suspension.
– Is he going to make changes to the winning team that sensationally beat Spain. Which weighs more: a winning starting line-up or a sports legend, the brightest star in women’s football, playing the last game of her international career?
USA in the final
The USA, who defeated Germany 1–0 in their own semi-final, will take on Brazil in the final. He finally hit the winning shot, which stretched into the next match Sophia Smith.
Also in the quarter-final against Japan, the USA had to play a follow-on match.
The United States, which failed in last summer’s World Cup, hired perhaps the hottest coach name in women’s football, who made a strong impact at Chelsea, as their coach. by Emma Hayeswho didn’t start until the end of Chelsea’s season.
That is why, according to Ruohomaa, the place in the final is a small surprise.
– After last summer’s World Cup, the USA had a small crisis when they have been a major power in women’s soccer. They have had the best players, the USA series has been talked about as the best women’s series and suddenly Europe passed, the USA remained in the stands.
– They responded and signed all-conquering Emma Hayes. There were a lot of question marks in the air because Hayes didn’t get into real action with the national team until five weeks before the Olympics. But apparently the change was made in such a short time, Ruohomaa commented.
The settings for the final are clear.
– Brazil will surely face a tired USA, but I would say that Brazil will enter this as a clear underdog. However, anything can be expected after the victory against Spain, Ruohomaa decided.
The women’s soccer Olympic final will be played on Saturday, August 10. from 18:00. Bronze match on Friday at 16:00.