Spain’s Top Scorer Dreams Looks Beyond Sweden, Eyes Final

Spain’s record scorer Jenni Hermoso says the thought of being within one win of the Women’s World Cup final is giving her “shivers”.

Spain face Sweden in Auckland this morning with the winner to play either England or Australia in Sunday’s final in Sydney.

“I always said that I wish I could win something with the national team and now I feel close,” said Hermoso.

“We are one victory away from the World Cup final.”

Spain are appearing in their first Women’s World Cup semi-final and former Barcelona forward Hermoso admitted there were nerves in the camp.

She added: “If we’re not nervous then something is not going right. To be in the final, to reach the final, just thinking about it gives me shivers. We are close to achieving this.”

Spain headed into their third World Cup with a cloud of doubt hanging over the squad after a feud between Vilda, who has been in charge since 2015, and many senior players. Fifteen players threatened to quit if Vilda was not fired.

Interestingly, England midfielder Keira Walsh believes the “pressure is on Australia” in front of a home crowd in their Women’s World Cup semi-final tomorrow in Sydney.

The Lionesses, who won Euro 2022 on home soil last summer, are playing in their third successive World Cup semi. Co-hosts Australia are in the last four for the first time but will have strong backing in Sydney’s 81,500-capacity Stadium Australia on Wednesday.

“That is a different thing to cope with.  But they are a great team, whether they feel the pressure or not. The way they play, they don’t look like they feel it.

“They are very physical and we have to be ready for that. It’s just about going in confident and playing on the front foot,” stressed Walsh.