UEFA Nations League: Tomé, before the Nations League final: “Our essence is to have the ball” | Soccer | Sports

This Spain goes against history. Not only did he finally make it through a qualifying round at the last World Cup – a milestone never achieved in previous major tournaments – but he ended up being crowned the best footballer, with possession and positional play as flag. A toast to the ball. Subsequently, it became the best team on the planet in the national team rankings while it never exceeded sixth position, a condition which was ratified in the League of Nations because it is already in the final with the candy for also sealing his safe passage to the Paris Olympics, a tournament he had never attended. In the final and at La Cartuja in Seville, it’s France (7:00 p.m., La1), a team that beat Germany in the semi-final and a team that Spain has failed to defeat so far . Another challenge; another opportunity to contradict history. “You have to be happy to be here, there are only two teams participating in the final. We need to have concentration, determination and self-confidence, to be united and have a connection, which allows great teams to win. This is the recipe. We will try to make a difficult match for Spain”, resolved the French coach Hervé Renard. The Spanish coach Montse Tomé, however, wants more tension. “The team is really looking forward to the final, but it is impossible to be relaxed. We face a great rival and we know what we have to do. “We are very prepared for this match, with a very good predisposition and mentality,” he resolved.

France have also been soft since Renard’s arrival, just five months before the start of the last World Cup. He was the fireman and also the best peace treaty, since the Blues They were decomposing. The former coach, Corinne Diacre, faced several of the most notable players like Eugénie Le Sommer and Amnadine Henry, who had already raised eyebrows after the 2019 World Cup. The criticism from the players was her guillotine with the selection, since they didn’t show up. on the lists again. The trigger, however, came when footballer Wendie Renard refused to wear the jersey – followed by Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani – due to disagreements with the coach. A chaos that led to the federation taking over on the bench as it had been calling for a big tournament for a long time – so far it only had a semi-final at the last European Cup and quarters finals at the World Cup in France 2019 and Australia. and New Zealand 2023 – to a team that has plenty of physicality and talent. “We have to continue to believe and work to achieve this goal of winning a title. Until we succeed, we will not give up. “It’s a decisive match and we have a lot of players in the team who have had great matches, who have won with the youth teams or their clubs,” Le Sommer said.

Since the arrival of Renard, the French team has recovered all the outlaw, also the best football because it has 16 matches with a record of 12 wins, two draws and two more defeats, both against Australia (the last in the World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout). “Now we face the first FIFA team, the world champions. It’s a big challenge. But we prefer to face him on the pitch rather than watching him on television. We have quality, a lot of quality, we believe in ourselves and in football, in these matches what counts are the details of concentration and tactics. We play football to live with this adrenaline. “You shouldn’t be afraid, but rather have a crazy desire to win,” said Renard.

The Tomé team plays with the ball between the feet, always with a game of possession and position by flag. “The style of play of Spain and Barça is the same. I don’t know what match to expect, but in the duels against Barça, you have to know how to be patient, sometimes accept having less of the ball… But football is about winning and the way has not “It doesn’t matter,” said the striker. Le Sommer. Renard underlined: “Possession is good when it is effective. Against Italy, they got 70% and lost. The important thing is “That’s what we do with possession. Tomé replied: “Our essence is to have the ball, to have it well, to know where to take it to do damage. And to have control of the game , that’s what makes us good. We can do them a lot of damage with the ball and we will try to go further from there and make sure that this structure compensates us for a possible loss to avoid a quick exit. If it’s us, we occupy the spaces well and we make France run without the ball, I think we will be able to hurt them.” And he added: “France is an actor with very rapid transitions, so we will have to be very attentive and aware of surveillance and aid. And on the other hand, pressure is one of our weapons. We recognize ourselves as a team that wants to have the ball and that presses intensely, high and orderly. This is our trademark and we will do everything we can.

France is not failing in this competition, since it is undefeated and has only conceded two goals. The figures further indicate that Blues They have beaten Spain 13 times and have not lost once, with a record of 10 wins and three draws, with 22 goals for and seven against. “Tomorrow will be the day this victory finally happens,” Jennifer Hermoso said. “France is the team that has conceded the fewest goals, but also the team that has scored the fewest,” recalls Tomé. Even if Renard saw it from his point of view: “Spain were deservedly world champions. They are the ones who played the most beautiful football and it is right that they are world champions. But in this Nations, they have scored and conceded a lot of goals (26 to nine), so we will have to take advantage of their mistakes because all the teams have weak points. Even if Spain has many stronger ones. That and La Roja forgot to pay attention to history a long time ago.

Alexia and Tere Abelleira, summoned

When Tomé chose the 25 players for the Nations League Final Four, it was surprising that he chose Alexia and Tere Abelleira, who were not medically cleared. Barcelona also did not appreciate that they named the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, because they understood that they would have to work with her at La Masia and not at Sevilla or Madrid. But the footballer also wanted to play her role as leader and second captain of Spain, which is why it was agreed to keep the paths open around the attacker’s recovery, always participating in part of the training sessions. Now, like Tere Abelleira, he has already completed the sessions and the federation doctors have no doubts. “We carried out the processes with great detail and care, the work that was done with doctors, physiotherapists, readaptors and physical trainers… His development is very positive; and at the last meeting they told me that all 25 players were available to play. From there, we will have to choose at 23″, Tomé slipped, adding: “Since she has been here, Alexia has been doing well and focused on what the whole team is focusing on.” A few hours later, the Spain included the two footballers on the list of summons for the match, leaving Sheila García and María Pérez aside.

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