At world champion Spain there is a goalkeeper discussion before the European Championship quarter-finals on Friday evening against Switzerland. So far, Cata Coll, before the tournament of the tournament, has only been a replacement. And trainer Montse Tomé also seems to give trust against the hosts of inexperienced Adriana Nanclares.
“The show begins”Catalina Thomas Coll Lluch wrote on her Instagram account on July 2 on July 2 and showed himself in a photo in the national jersey in the gesture.
A day later, the “show” said for Spain with the first group game against Portugal. In the 5-0 win of the “Furia Roja”, the goalkeeper was only a supporting actress. She was sitting on the bench. So also in the following game against Belgium (6: 2). So far, so unspectacular. Because Coll was not yet in full possession of her forces after an almond inflammation that she had out of action before the European Championship.
But then came the duel with Italy (3: 1) – and for the previous stammer goalkeeper the bitter knowledge of having to stand further back. Because although the 1.70 meter goal of FC Barcelona was fit again and accordingly went out of her commitment, Coll was once again on the bench. And now nothing will change at the European Championship.
Spain coach Tomé: “Want to focus on continuity”
“Although Cata was available, I think that Adri did a good job. We decided to focus on continuity”trainer Tomé said her decision in favor of Nanclares. The 23-year-old from Athletic Bilbao played her caps in Switzerland two, three and four.
“I felt that I can give the team rest and that they can rely on me”said Nanclares confidently. Voluntarily clear, as much as it is certain, she won’t be her place in the Spanish goal for her competitor of the same age.
Coll was surprisingly number one during World Cup 2023
Should Coll also be a replacement on Friday (9 p.m., live in the first and at Sportschau.de) in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, history would be repeated. From the point of view of the previous goalkeeper in an almost ironic way.
At the 2023 World Cup, she replaced Misa Rodriguez as number one during the tournament and then played a large part in winning the title with her performance.
After the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Coll also became a regular at FC Barcelona. For the 23-year-old, who was the first woman to be an honorary citizen of the municipality of Marratxí in Mallorca a year ago, it only seemed to be going uphill.
But now there could be a break in her vita for the keeper born on the party island. Or to say it in her words: “The show is over”…