Each time they’ve discovered themselves in bother, Spain and Colombia have relied on Vicky Lopez and Linda Caicedo respectively to dig them out of it. Be it Lopez’s twin strikes late within the quarter-finals in opposition to Japan that took Spain by or Caicedo’s objectives in crunch conditions all through the match for Colombia.
When the groups conflict within the ultimate of the FIFA Beneath-17 Girls’s World Cup on the DY Patil Stadium right here on Sunday, they may once more rely on their key participant to assist take the ultimate step.
When the groups clashed within the group stage, Spain received 1-0 due to Jone Amezaga’s Eighty fifth-minute strike. Spain have been dominant in possession led by Lopez, who was the livewire and dictated proceedings. The Barcelona participant begins as an attacking midfielder however has the freedom to roam the pitch, and is a hyperlink between the defence and the forwardline. The 16-year-old additionally likes to play on the wing or in ahead positions.
Colombia have been no match to Spain on that day however have grown in confidence marching forward within the competitors using on objectives from Caicedo, prime scorer within the match with 4 objectives. The Deportivo Cali participant, who has already performed for the senior staff within the 2022 Copa America Femenina, is a powerful presence in entrance of the purpose and retains switching from the wing to centre to the entrance of the assault.
On the eve of the ultimate, each coaches acknowledged the position performed by Vicky Lopez and Linda Caicedo to this point.
“Vicky has nice qualities as a participant however she will’t win the video games on her personal. Having mentioned that, she performs in an space which is essential for the staff to create probabilities,” Spain coach Kenio Gonzalo mentioned.
His Colombian counterpart Carlos Paniagua referred to as Caicedo a born chief, on and off the pitch. “Linda is actually necessary for us. She is our captain and all of the gamers really feel motivated when she is round, not solely on the sector but in addition again on the lodge, throughout coaching, whereas travelling… She is just not solely a high quality participant however an excellent human being,” Paniagua mentioned.
Spain shall be eager to retain the title they received in 2018 and it will additional improve their standing as a rising power in girls’s soccer. They beat Germany 1-0 within the semi-final, exacting revenge for his or her defeat within the ultimate of the 2022 UEFA Girls’s Beneath-17 Championship this yr.
Colombia, who beat Nigeria on penalties within the final 4, have already created a buzz again dwelling having made it to the ultimate for the primary time. In 4 earlier appearances, they have been knocked out within the group stage.
Germany will tackle Nigeria within the third-place match.