Aitana Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo come out. Esther Gonzalez and Lucia Garcia enter. These are the changes that were to take place at half-time of the match between Italy and Spain in the Women’s Nations League this Friday. A double change which should not have been talked about, but ultimately caused a big stir in Spain.
Because if Aitana Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo left the green rectangle, and Lucia Garcia made her entry onto the pitch, Esther Gonzalez for her part… remained on the bench. The attacker therefore left her teammates at 10 against 11 for the resumption of the second half, without anyone realizing it.
Two minutes outnumbered
A huge ball which quickly cost Jenni Hermoso and her team dearly, who conceded a goal shorthanded after just 38 seconds. Enough to allow the Italians to equalize at 1-1, while La Roja had been leading the score until then. It was only two minutes after the start of the second half that Esther Gonzalez entered the pitch in disaster, without warming up.
While Spain, world champion last June, remained on eight consecutive victories, it finally lost (2-3). Esther Gonzalez nevertheless reduced the gap in the 76th minute, but it was not enough to make up for the three goals scored by the Transalpines.
“There must have been a misunderstanding. This must not be repeated. I couldn’t say how it happened. I’m sorry. We cannot afford that in a high-level match,” reacted Athenea del Castillo after the match.
Despite this defeat, the Spanish are qualified for the Final Four of the Nations League. They will notably find France there, for a final square which will take place in February 2024.
