Overpowering Olga powers Spain into World Cup final

Olga Carmonarsquos stunning 89thminute strike gave Spain a 21 win over Sweden on Tuesday to propel them into the Womenrsquos World Cup final for the first time in their historySpainrsquos thrilling victory at Eden Park sets up a showdown in Sydney on Sunday with either Australia or England who meet in the other semifinal on WednesdayParalluelo puts Spain aheadThe lastfour clash in Auckland seemed to be drifting towards extra time before suddenly bursting to life when substitute Salma Paralluelo put Spain ahead with nine minutes leftRebecka Blomqvist equalised for Sweden in the 88th minute only for fullback Carmona Spainrsquos captain to score with a superb shot in off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box 60 seconds later ldquoWe are so proud of everything we have done and for getting to the final because now we are one small step away from gloryrdquo said ParallueloIt has been a remarkable run for a nation who had never previously gone beyond the last 16 at a Womenrsquos World Cup and for a team who had been in disarray in the months leading up to the tournamentFifteen Spanish players told their federation last September that they no longer wished to be considered for selection mainly out of unhappiness with coach Jorge Vilda and only three of them returned for this World Cup runAlso Read Womenrsquos football on the rise and for the betterWhile their dream of World Cup glory remains alive Sweden are left with a familiar feeling after going so far at another major tournament before falling shortThis is the third time in four World Cups that they have reached the semifinals only to lose on each occasion Peter Gerhardssonrsquos side also lost in the last four at the European Championship last year having been beaten in the final of the Tokyo Olympics on penalties against Canada in 2021lsquoHuge disappointmentrsquoldquoEveryone just feels sadness and huge disappointmentrdquo said Gerhardsson whose team had been so impressive in beating Japan 21 in the last eightldquoWe were up against an excellent Spanish side and they were able to disrupt us a lot more than Japan didrdquoVilda decided against handing a start to Paralluelo after she came off the bench to score the winner in the quarterfinal against The NetherlandsInstead he recalled Alexia Putellas and the reigning Ballon drsquoOr winner started for the first time since Spain were walloped 40 by Japan in the group phaseThe plan was clearly to dominate possession and make a more physically imposing Sweden do the chasing Spain had far more of the ball in the first half but the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was from long range when Jennifer Hermoso laid the ball back to Carmona whose shot whistled wideEngland bank on ability to win big moments ahead of Oz blockbusterCaptain Millie Bright says England thrive in big games and will not be intimidated by the Sydney crowd when they face Australia in their Womenrsquos World Cup semifinal on Wednesday England have been in this position before in 2015 and 2019 losing 21 on both occasions with a thirdplace finish their best World Cup so far But coach Sarina Wiegman led them to the European title last year on home soil and Bright said they were well prepared to handle another blockbuster game in front of an expected 75000 partisan fans at Stadium Australia ldquoWe are just super excited to play in front of a really intense full stadium At these big tournaments especially a semifinal we thrive in these moments We know as an England team therersquos always pressure and itrsquos something we embrace and deal withrdquo said BrightThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever