A complicated bronze medal to win for the Blues. Victorious at home against Sweden in the first leg of the Nations League final, won 2-1 in Reims on Friday, the French women’s team advanced with the score advantage for the return match in Stockholm on Tuesday.
Dominant but lacking in efficiency, the French waited until the hour mark to take the advantage through Paris FC striker Clara Matéo (58th). Enough to lead Laurent Bonadei’s players, then with a two-goal lead in the cumulative score, straight to victory.
Before Sweden, until now not very dangerous, came to thwart the French plans in the space of eight minutes. First with the equalizer from Evelyn Ijeh (84th), then thanks to the second goal from Rosa Kafaji (90th + 2). Taken to overtime, the Blue ended up winning (4-3 on aggregate) to win the bronze medal thanks to Everton player Kelly Gago, full of realism after coming into play (106th).
Spain crowned earlier in the evening
Already defeating France in the final last year, Spain continues to dominate women’s football. Facing Germany for the title, La Roja quietly won (3-0) at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid in front of more than 55,000 spectators, including the King of Spain Felipe VI.
After conceding a draw (0-0) in the first leg in Kaiserslautern (southern Germany), the Spaniards left the Germans no chance in the second leg, thanks to a double from Claudia Pina (61st, 74th) and a goal from Vicky Lopez (68th). The reigning world champions and European vice-champions thus win the Nations League for the second time in two editions, since the creation of the competition in 2023.