There have been 25 seconds remaining when ultimately the nerves fell away they usually knew. Marta Cardona leaped on the far submit to information a header again within the internet and Spain into the quarter-final towards England, substitutes streaming from the bench to greet her, as relieved as they have been delighted. It had been edgy and much from straightforward, however that they had executed it. Denmark, in the end, had not executed sufficient. They’d waited for his or her second, the aim they wanted, however it was Spain who acquired it, ultimately.
Lars Søndergaard had no drawback admitting that his aspect would have much less of the ball than Spain, mendacity in wait for his or her second to interrupt, and within the opening half an hour or in order that plan regarded prone to be vindicated. Denmark’s 4-5-1 unfolded quick, his staff fast and direct, operating at Spain. Janni Thomsen discovered house into which to advance, Kathrine Kühl impressed and Pernille Tougher was more and more tough for Spain to regulate.
It was her sharp sprint that nearly arrange Karen Holmgaard after 10 minutes after which a protracted ball despatched her away to lob excessive and huge with Sandra Paños coming off her line to fulfill her. Subsequent Tougher outran Mapi León, reached the world and fired off a shot that Paños saved on the close to submit. Not lengthy after that, Katrine Veje lower open Spain on the left and pulled again, the ball ultimately coming to Thomsen who fell underneath problem from Athenea del Castillo, treading a tremendous line.
All that got here in a five-minute spell halfway via a half through which Spain regarded decidedly uncomfortable, however they began to take a level of management. There was a willingness too to ship early into the world, Mariona Caldentey heading over and Ona Batlle delivering an excellent ball from which Del Castillo couldn’t get a clear contact on the far submit. Del Castillo then had a penalty enchantment of her personal, though it was extra her personal roulette that precipitated her to fall than the problem.
One other Denmark break ought to have produced extra and served as a reminder of their menace at the same time as Spain have been stepping up. But the selección not often made clear openings, though they could have led when a stunning trade arrange Caldentey. That point Lene Christensen was there to make a pointy cease; a second later from a looping, light cross she might solely get a finger on the ball, leading to a scramble. Irene Paredes’s header was cleared off the road.
Nonetheless there was no approach via for both aspect, Paredes blocking Rikke Madsen’s shot in the beginning of the second half. Spain continued to hunt the aim that Denmark wanted with Olga Carmona, one in all three adjustments on the break, hitting the aspect netting. A draw would see them via, they knew, but when time was theoretically on their aspect and the ball was virtually solely theirs, the longer this went on the narrower the margins grew to become. The larger the nerves, too.
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Tougher lay in wait too, a protracted ball seeing her scampering away, earlier than she single-handedly took on three defenders and fired over from the sting of the world. She had turn out to be a lone determine solely very often linked to her teammates, Denmark seemingly completely satisfied to embrace that concept that one shot is perhaps sufficient and that she is actually adequate to take it. Till with 20 minutes remaining, Søndergaard determined the time had come to, introducing Nadia Nadim and Stine Larsen.
The influence was virtually instant and the second may need been Nadim’s. Tougher made it, once more making one thing of a protracted ball, holding, rolling her marker and laying the ball off brilliantly. Nadim’s rising shot from the sting of the world was pushed away by Panos. Spain had been warned, and their subsequent change spoke of concern, Laia Aleixandri despatched on with 10 tense minutes remaining.
