Spain 2-0 France: World champions win first Women's Nations League final

Spain added the first UEFA Women's Nations League title to the FIFA Women's World Cup they won in August after a convincing defeat of France in Seville.

Match in brief: Spain supreme

Mariona Caldentey scored the clincherUEFA via Getty Images

Salma Paralluelo had been an early threat in Spain's 3-0 semi-final win against the Netherlands in Seville on Friday and proved so again here as she had an eighth-minute shot blocked by Amandine Henry, also testing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin from distance. Irene Paredes headed wide as Spain continued to dominate, culminating in Aitana Bonmatí making it 1-0 as she raced in to meet Olga Carmona's low centre.

Just before half-time Laia Aleixandri came close after another Spain corner, and although France started the second period brightly it was soon 2-0 as Ona Batlle found Mariona Caldentey to strike home from inside the box. Peyraud-Magnin then had to be alert to smother Paralluelo's run.

France still looked to test Spain and Élisa De Almeida volleyed wide. But they were not allowed a shot on target for the entire final as Spain confirmed their champion status.

Player of the Match: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

UEFA via Getty Images

Alexandra Jonson, match reporter at La Cartuja de Sevilla

This Spain side just can't stop writing themselves into the history books – beating France for the first time ever to become the first Nations League champions. The result was never in doubt either, as from start to finish this was all Spain, with France restricted to a couple of half-chances.

La Roja dominated for pretty much all of the 90 minutes. France, like the Netherlands in the semi-finals, couldn't find an answer. There is a reason why Spain are viewed as the best in the world and they showed it once again tonight.

Player of the Finals: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

AFP via Getty Images

Reaction

Mariona Caldentey, Spain goalscorer: "We had never won against them before, but it’s been some time since we last played them, we have evolved a lot. We wanted to beat them and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves. Things are going well and we have to take advantage of the fact that this team doesn’t stop, and doesn’t want to stop. This gives us strength to continue on an individual level, at club level and at national team level. We want more, and the longer we can extend [this period of success] the better.

"Now we are going to enjoy this little by little. We know how difficult it is, because those who will be at the Olympics will have earned that qualification. It will be difficult, but we want to win every game and that’s what we aim for."

Jenni Hermoso leads the celebrationsUEFA via Getty Images

Jenni Hermoso, Spain forward: "We work hard – there are a lot of training sessions. We also have to live up to being world champions. It sounds great, but it’s also a responsibility. The players know that we have to give our all in every game to defend this crest and our status as world champions. Today we once again got to celebrate, which I think we deserved.

"We were really happy with how many fans came for the semi-final and today it was even more. For us it’s a pleasure to be able to win trophies here in front of our fans, to feel their support and I think it goes further than that – this is proving that women's football is the future."

Montse Tomé, Spain coach: "We are all very happy for the performance that the girls have given on the pitch and all the coaching staff for all the work we’ve done in the last ten days, and since we started with this national team. From now on, the players have to celebrate, be happy and enjoy the work they’ve put in.

"We have a very good present and a very good future. These players have just won the World Cup, now this – and beaten France. It was an opponent we had never beaten before."

Hervé Renard congratulates Montse ToméUEFA via Getty Images

Hervé Renard, France coach: "We didn’t play a good game against a team that are world champions and flying high in women’s football. You have to be aggressive and keep the ball when you get it, but we lost it again straight away.

"In the final 30 minutes we were a bit higher up the pitch and tried to apply more pressure, but it was tricky when these players are on the ball – they commit very few technical errors. The technical level is exceptional. When I coached Morocco, we were lucky enough to play Spain at the 2018 World Cup with their midfield of Iniesta, Isco and Busquets. Today I had the impression I was seeing the same thing."

Grace Geyoro, France midfielder: "They played to their strengths and we didn’t play as well as we should have. We didn’t manage to win any duels but that's because they put pressure on us."

Key stats

• Spain had never featured in a senior women's international final before August's World Cup, which they also won.
• Spain beat France for the first time in their 14 meetings (having previously lost ten and drawn three).
• France were in their first senior women's international final.
• Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Olga Carmona, Aitana Bonmatí, Jenni Hermoso, Salma Paralleulo and Mariona Caldentey also started Spain's World Cup final win against England in August, while Oihane Hernández came off the bench in that match too.
• Amandine Henry won her 100th France cap.
• Vicky López came off the bench having in the semi-final become Spain's youngest-ever senior international.
• The 32,657 crowd is a record for a Spain home women's international, breaking the record set in Friday's semi-final, also at La Cartuja de Sevilla.

UEFA via Getty Images

Line-ups

Spain: Cata Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Olga (Oihane 68); Bonmatí, Aleixandri, Hermoso (Vicky López 85); Athenea (Eva Navarro 72), Paralluelo, Caldentey

France: Peyraud-Magnin; De Almeida, Lakrar, Mbock Bathy, Karchaoui; Henry (Dali 58), Geyoro; Diani (Dufour 76), Le Sommer, Bacha (Majri 76); Katoto (D Cascarino 58)