On the verge of the final against four-time champions the United States this coming Saturday, tournament debutants and FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Spain made four changes following their penalty shootout victory over Colombia as Laia Codina, Teresa Abelleira, Jenni Hermoso and Eva Navarro all came into La Roja’s starting eleven. Meanwhile, an injury-hit Brazilian squad – who became silver medalists in both 2004 and again in 2008- somewhat forcibly and tactically recalled Lauren, Ludmilla, Angelina, and Priscila. 

SPA: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona; Abelleira; Bonmatí, Hermoso; Paralluelo, Caldentey, Navarro 

BRA: Lorena; Thaís, Tarciane, Lauren; Ludmilla, Yasmim, Yaya, Angelina; Jheniffer, Portilho, Priscila 

Seeking to avenge their group-stage defeat earlier in the tournament, Brazil fortuitously left Spain scratching their heads after only six minutes in Marseille as Cata Coll launched her attempt at a goal kick – under pressure from senior debutant Priscila – straight into the back of captain Irene Paredes and into the back of the net.

Fresh off of her quarter-final match winner that sent hosts France packing from their own tournament, Gabi Portilho should have doubled the Canarinhas advantage not long after. However, with the goal at her mercy, the striker ended up blazing her attempt high into the stands behind the goal. 

Despite amassing over two-thirds of possession, the Spainards were nearly caught short again by an attacking Brazilian outfit in the 21st minute, as Coll somewhat redeemed herself for the earlier mistake by preventing Ludmilla’s effort from sneaking in at the near post. Co-Spanish captain Jenni Hermoso, looking to make her mark on the match as she did against Colombia, eventually called Lorena into action shortly before the half-hour mark with a hard-hit volley that stung the palms of the Brazilian keeper.

Inexplicably, with halftime on the horizon, 19-year-old Priscila wasted a glorious opportunity to double her nation’s advantage to the dismay of the Brazilian supporters, as she somehow fired her one-on-one effort against Coll to the wrong side of the far-post. 

Nonetheless, Brazil deservedly doubled their advantage with practically the last kick of the first half, as a guilty ball-watching Olga Carmona allowed the fast-arriving figure of Portilho to expertly fire past Coll into the bottom corner of the net. 

Following the restart, in a carbon copy of the commencement of the game, Brazil threatened Coll’s goal almost immediately. Ludmilla forced the Barcelona shot-stopper to redirect her fierce long-distance effort over the crossbar before Jheniffer was millimetres away from turning the ball home at the back post. Hermoso once again forced Lorena into making a save with time running out for Spain, however, the game was put to bed by second-half substitute Adriana in the 72nd minute, who headed home from practically underneath the bar after rattling the woodwork moments earlier.

Salma Paralluelo pulled a goal back with five minutes left in regular time by expertly directing her header into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Duda Sampaio on the goal line. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas saw two efforts sublimely saved by Lorena, after being substituted on in the 75th minute. Despite her short stint, Putellas registered the most chances (3) for her side in their entire match (as per FotMob).

However, Coll’s trajectory out from the back ultimately ended any hopes of a miraculous comeback, as another Brazilian substitute in the form of Kerolin, latched on to a poor goal kick to cheekily nutmeg La Roja’s shot-stopper to send Brazil, and notably the returning Marta (from suspension) through to the final against four-time champions, the United States of America.

Meanwhile, despite Paralluelo getting her name on the scoresheet again deep into 15 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the match with a quick-thinking rebound after seeing her initial effort blocked by Lorena, Spain will conclude their 2024 Olympic Games against Germany in the bronze medal playoff match on Friday.