“Thank you”. That was on Olga Carmona’s undershirt. And so he taught it after scoring the goal that put Spain on their feet on television screens across the country. A message dedicated to the mother of a recently deceased friend, in true Iniesta style in 2010. “This win is hers,” he said after the final whistle. Barely able to speak. And it so happens that Olga Carmona (Seville, 23 years old) is nostalgic and superstitious. Spain’s winger and captain’s left-footed shot created the illusion of the team wearing these screen-printed shin guards with the image of her player and family. He moved up and down the wing, attacking and defending throughout the game, more in La Roja style – with steals and quick transitions – than in Barça style, even though the team consisted of six Barça starters. At Real Madrid, a team with which he has played more than 100 games, the pressure could not increase. Not even the rush of a stadium full of 75,000 fans in Sydney dampened his enthusiasm.
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Carmona is already used to responsibility. He proved it the day he scored a penalty in front of a crowd of 91,553 at the Camp Nou in the Champions League quarter-finals that Real Madrid ended up losing. In the World Championship final this Sunday, he came out of the cabin tunnel in earnest. I’m not looking at the trophy. Neither did his rivals. But with fire in his eyes. The days before the game I was very nervous. She is manic and likes to be in control, but is also ambitious. She wanted to play in the final, even though winning the World Cup had never crossed her mind, nor had she believed that she would be the one to score the winning goal like she did against Sweden in the semifinals. “It’s the most important goal of my life,” he said after the game against Sweden. Little did she know that she would go from heroine to legend in the finals as she would be the author of the goal and MVP of the game.
But the Lionesses, also used to possession and led by a tactical architect like their coach Sarina Wiegman, roared in the final. A first part where Spain stole and took away the ball, with great agility from Aitana and Jenni and Olga running down the wing trying to break through the lineups of their rivals. The Sevillian trained as a winger with her brothers at Sevilla CF’s youth academy. and then as a trace. And now, as a winger in the national team, he brings back memories. She’s always liked to attack. And he showed it in the final.
But his road to the World Cup was not easy. He only played 45 minutes in the game against Japan, Spain’s only defeat in the league. In the second round she was not selected by Vilda to enter the field and in the quarterfinals she was eliminated shortly after the goal that tied the game with the Netherlands. Very determined by those around her, she managed to bounce back and what started as a discreet World Cup ended with her being lauded as a key player. Protagonist under his own power on the path to choose from to reach the first star on the shield. Her mother, one of her biggest supporters, who has an identical hug tattoo to hers, flew to Australia with one of her brothers on Friday with her. In this last stage, although as a child she always preferred tennis, swimming and flamenco, it helped her to keep her feet on the ground and appreciate the whole process she experienced at the World Cup.
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But Olga took off her high heels and forgot about swimming and tennis. To lead the band. Up and down. He defends steadfastly, attacks with claws and takes direction from Vilda like he did in Sydney this Sunday. Until Cata Coll caught the last ball. And Spain shouted that it was world champion. A title to which Olga tied the knot: she scored a goal that made history. Very far from his Seville. But very close to his mother.
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