Spain Defends UEFA Nations League title with Dominant Win over Germany
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Spain’s women’s national team secured their second consecutive UEFA nations League title with a decisive 3-0 victory over Germany on Tuesday,February 28,2024,at Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. Goals from Alba Pina (61st and 74th minutes) and Vicky López (68th minute) sealed the win, following a goalless draw in the first leg played in Germany the previous week. The victory was celebrated by a record-breaking crowd and marked a significant moment for Spanish women’s football.
first Half Stalemate
The first half saw Spain control possession and create several scoring opportunities, but neither team could find the back of the net. Despite their dominance, the match remained scoreless heading into halftime.
Second-Half Surge Secures Victory
Spain’s pressure finally paid off in the second half. Alba Pina broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, followed by Vicky López extending the lead in the 68th minute. Pina then added her second goal of the match in the 74th minute, solidifying Spain’s advantage and effectively ending Germany’s hopes of a comeback.
“They’re the kind [of goal] I like to score, shooting from distance. A great game from the whole team,” Pina stated after the match. She also expressed her excitement, adding, “It’s especially exciting for me as it’s my first trophy with the national team.” [https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-women-s-nations-league/story/4891941/spain-beat-germany-to-defend-uefa-nations-league-title]
record-Breaking Attendance
The match drew a crowd of 55,843 spectators, setting a new record for a Spain women’s national team home match.This surpassed the previous record of 32,657, set during the 2024 final against France in Seville. [https://www.reuters.com/sports/football/spain-beat-germany-defend-uefa-nations-league-title-2024-02-28/] The attendance also ranks as the second-highest for a women’s football match at the Metropolitano Stadium, trailing only the 60,739 fans who attended an Atlético Madrid-Barcelona game in 2019.
Key Moments and Player Updates
* Jenni Hermoso’s Return: Veteran forward Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer, made an appearance in the 80th minute, replacing Esther González. Her inclusion in the squad marks a return under new coach Sonia Bermúdez, after being surprisingly omitted from the 2025 European Championship bid.[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/28/spain-germany-uefa-nations-league-final-match-report]
* Aitana Bonmatí’s Injury: Spain achieved this victory without key midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who suffered a broken leg in training on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined for five months. [https://www.espn.com/soccer/barcelona/story/4889994/aitana-bonmati-suffers-leg-break-in-barcelona-training]
* Alexia Putellas’ Reflection: alexia Putellas, a key player for Spain, described the night as “one of the most magical” and “one of the best of my career.” [https://www.reuters.com/sports/football/spain-beat-germany-defend-uefa-nations-league-title-2024-02-28/]
Looking Ahead
This nations League title reinforces Spain’s position as a leading force in women’s international football. Despite the injury to Aitana Bonmatí, the team demonstrated resilience and depth, showcasing a promising future. The return of Jenni hermoso adds further experience and firepower to the squad as they prepare for upcoming challenges, including qualification for future tournaments and continued success on the international stage.
Sources:
* ESPN: [https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-women-s-nations-league/story/4891941/spain-beat-germany-to-defend-uefa-nations-league-title](https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-women-s-nations-league/story/4891941/spain-beat-germany-to-def
Worth a look