Spain reach first Olympics with Nations League win
Spain have never played at the Olympics beforeSpain comfortably won their Women’s Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands to secure Olympic qualification for the first time.
The world champions confirmed their place at this summer’s Games in Paris with a 3-0 win in Seville.
Jennifer Hermoso, Aitana Bonmati and Ona Batlle scored the goals on a historic night for La Roja.
The Netherlands can still reach Paris 2024 if they beat Germany in Wednesday’s third-place play-off.
Hermoso gave Spain the lead after latching onto a Bonmati pass in the 43rd minute, before Bonmati converted a Mariona Caldentey cross two minutes later.
Former Manchester United full-back Batlle bundled home in the 77th minute to seal victory for Spain.
France, who automatically qualified for the Olympics as hosts, beat Germany 2-1 in Friday’s other Nations League semi-final, meaning another place is still up for grabs.
Kadidiatou Diani scored in the first half for France and Sakina Karchaoui doubled their lead from the penalty spot before Guilia Gwinn pulled a goal back for Germany eight minutes from the end.
The Netherlands have only once played at the Games, being knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2020, while three-time bronze medallists Germany have not qualified since they won gold in Brazil in 2016.
The final takes place in Seville at 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, while the third-place play-off is later that day at 19:45 GMT in Heerenveen.
Line-upsSpainFormation 4-3-3
13Coll2Batlle4Paredes16Codina19CarmonaSubstituted forHernĂĄndezat 73’minutes6BonmatĂ14Aleixandri10HermosoSubstituted forLĂłpez Serrano FĂ©lixat 73’minutes22del CastilloSubstituted forRedondoat 63’minutes7ParallueloSubstituted forGarcĂaat 83’minutes8Caldentey OliverSubstituted forNavarroat 83’minutesSubstitutes1RodrĂguez Rivero3LĂłpez Serrano FĂ©lix5MĂ©ndez9Redondo11PĂ©rez12HernĂĄndez15Navarro17GarcĂa18Oroz20BenĂtez21GarcĂa23LeteNetherlandsFormation 4-3-3
1van Domselaar18Casparij3Dijkstra20JanssenSubstituted forWilmsat 68’minutes22BrugtsSubstituted forJansenat 79’minutes14Groenen8Spitse10van de DonkSubstituted forKapteinat 86’minutes7BeerensteynSubstituted forSnoeijsat 68’minutes9MiedemaSubstituted forEgurrolaat 45’minutes11MartensSubstitutes2Wilms4Leuchter5van Dongen6Olislagers12Baijings13Jansen15Snoeijs16Kop17van de Sanden19Kaptein21Egurrola23LorsheijdMatch Stats
