Spain’s persistence paid off after hours of waiting at the door. They received the response they deserved, but they understood that deserving and receiving don’t always align. Salma Paralluelo, wearing yellow-soled boots, stood on the clear green turf under a bright blue sky, surrounded by fluffy white clouds. Her lack of historical baggage and youthful minimalism made her the perfect candidate to make history. With a powerful shot, the 19-year-old Barcelona winger not only secured Spain’s victory, but also reaffirmed their belief in their greatness and their ability to overcome past disappointments. This win propelled Spain to their first-ever World Cup semi-final, and for once, they felt that fate was working in their favor.
We were already aware of Spain’s quality. Mariona Caldentey and Ona Battle moved on the left side with impeccable timing, like skilled dancers. Aitana Bonmatí and Jennifer Hermoso dominated the center, dictating the pace of the game. Teresa Abelleira, at the base of midfield, was exceptional, impenetrable, and limited the Dutch team to resorting to long passes from defense to Lineth Beerensteyn. However, as Beerensteyn missed two golden opportunities in extra time, a familiar song began to play – one in which Spain dominates, but leaves empty-handed.
Do we receive luck or do we create it ourselves? Spain had a goal disallowed in the first half, while the Netherlands had a valid penalty denied in the second half. However, Spain was clearly superior throughout the match, even after Stefanie van der Gragt’s late equalizer forced the game into extra time. Spain coach Jorge Vilda described it as a match filled with emotions, and Selma’s goal brought sheer joy.
Joy hasn’t always been associated with this team in recent years, with internal conflicts and doubts about whether the players were playing for their coach or against him. However, Vilda has proven himself in this tournament, making effective selection choices and substitutions. He brought back Caldentey and brought Paralluelo off the bench to take advantage of the tired Dutch players, resisting the temptation to introduce an underprepared Alexia Putellas.
The stadium was eerily silent, paying tribute to the ancestors. An early goal could have changed the atmosphere, but Spain missed numerous opportunities. Meanwhile, Danielle van de Donk, the Dutch player capable of disrupting Spain’s midfield, watched from the stands, suspended. The Dutch relied on hitting the ball to Beerensteyn time and time again, but Spain’s defense, led by Oihane Hernández and Irene Paredes, shut them down. Despite the missed chances, Spain continued to pass the ball with precision. Gonzalez found the net just before halftime, but it was ruled offside. The Dutch improved in the second half, and the numerous long passes to Beerensteyn finally paid off, resulting in a penalty. However, the decision was reversed after video review.
With 10 minutes remaining, Van Domselaar’s heroic efforts finally came to an end. She had defended the Dutch goal valiantly throughout the match, but she couldn’t stop Paralluelo’s cross, and Van der Gragt’s handball granted Caldentey the opportunity to score the winning penalty. Finally, the Dutch team started to play, but it was too late. Van der Gragt took matters into her own hands and pushed forward, scoring a powerful goal. Extra time was intense, but Spain’s persistence paid off. Beerensteyn had a couple of close chances, but couldn’t find the net. And finally, Paralluelo seized the moment and scored a beautiful left-footed shot, securing Spain’s victory.
No longer would Spain be haunted by past failures. This was their time to dream big and embrace beautiful visions for the future.
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