Spanish coach Montse Tomé had all 22 players during the last training session before facing Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2024 Games this Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. in Marseille. The La Roja players trained on the pitch at the Complexe Romain Tisserand, with the first 15 minutes open to the press. After some initial stretching in the centre circle, with the goalkeepers already apart, Laia Aleixandri, with a bandage on her right thigh, joined the group to regularly follow the exercises: physical circuit and some ball until the session ended..
“We are about to start the last training session before the semi-finals. We have had a great year following that dynamic of positive results and We are in the semi-final of the Olympic Games, a new tournament for everyone and I think the team has deserved to get here.”a smiling Tomé began her speech in the Mixed Zone, who later acknowledged that between matches there is not much time for specific training and that much of the work has already been done: “We have worked hard in the lead-up, in fact the team has been doing it since September, and when we started it isthe minipreseason We have worked on all the aspects that the team needed: physical, technical, tactical, psychological… During the competition we work hard based on what we do in the matches and above all, using very little energy. The key now, after each match, is to recover the players. We also use video a lot. We are a national team and a coaching staff that has always believed a lot in working with video. We also have a group of footballers who, thanks to this way of working, can quickly adapt to what we want and, above all, we also have a very recognised model.”
When asked about her mental resilience in the face of time-wasting by her opponents, such as those experienced against Colombia in the quarter-finals or Brazil itself, in the last day of the group stage, the Asturian coach explained: “It’s something we’re seeing in this tournament, that in the end we would like to see more continuity, because this makes for a good show. But it’s also true that when it happens we have to be on top. One of the things that this team has shown is the mental capacity to overcome any adversity. So I think that when things happen that you don’t control, we have to beWe have to be more focused than ever and manage not to lose sight of the game, which I think we are doing so far, especially the Brazil game, which was not an easy context in terms of these time losses and the team has continued to focus on moving forward, scoring goals and attacking.”.
The match between the two teams in the group stage was won by La Roja 0-2 with goals from Athenea and Alexia.The Brazil we saw against France is the one we had analysed. That’s how we thought they would play, but they changed their approach. Brazil is a team that presses high, that takes you to one-on-one situations, from the physical, and also from Quality creates this type of context, but against us, as you saw, as soon as we started they set up a 5-4-1 block, defensive and trying to make their transitions.. We have carefully analyzed what Brazil can do, we do not have control over what can happen, but we will see what they want to propose and the team is prepared for anything,” said Tomé, who confirmed that all of them were available: “We can count on any of the 22.”
That clash against the Canarinha was marked by the expulsion of Marta, who was banned for two matches, a punishment that Brazil has appealed to FIFA and the CAS: “It is not something I can have an opinion on either. These are plays that occur in the game and the referee has the power to decide and that is what she has decided. We value Marta for the player she is, a legend, and the rest is not something she can decide or have an opinion on.”.
Asked about the aspects to improve with respect to Colombia, the Asturian explained: “Any game leaves you with a lesson, either because you managed to win it, because you managed to be yourself, because you managed to take the game where you wanted and others because in the end You also face rivals who are goodWe knew that Colombia with Mayra, Caicedo, players who can counterattack, could create these situations that later occurred at some point. They were bold and true to their essence, they did what they had been doing. And well, we, especially the team’s reaction, managed to turn around an adverse score and the team grew from there.”.
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Finally, the Spanish coach was asked about the possibility of using Jenni Hermoso as a forward: “We are very lucky to have the group of players that we have. From day one we believed that versatility was something important.. These players have accepted their role. We have been able to start in one way, then change in other games and all the players have gone out thinking about what they can contribute to the team. And I always say the same thing, if we could play with 22, they would all play and we would give them all a role. And in the end, this is how this sport is. 11 start, then those who can come in have the ability to change the dynamic, to maintain the essence of continuing to be Spain and I am really very happy with all of them.”
Olympic Games medal table
