Reigning Women’s World Cup champion Spain secured a Paris 2024 quota spot in football on Friday (23 February) with a 3-0 semi-final triumph over the Netherlands in the inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Spain will do battle in the final on Wednesday (28 February) at home in Seville against France, which also won on Friday, squeaking by Germany, 2-1.
The Netherlands and Germany will face off in a third-place game on Wednesday (28 February) in Heerenveen, Netherlands, the winner of that match set to secure a second Olympic quota spot on offer.
France are automatically qualified for the Games as the Olympic host nation.
In a re-match of their World Cup quarter-final, Spain scored two goals late in the first half to take a 2-0 advantage into the locker room thanks to Jenni Hermoso (41′) and Aitana Bonmati (45′) finding the back of the net.
Ona Batlle (77′) sealed the win for Spain in the second half, putting the hosts up 3-0.
Meanwhile, France exacted revenge on Germany after losing to them in the semi-finals of the 2022 European Championships, Kadidiatou Diani (41′) giving the Lyon crowd something to cheer about before Sakina Karchaoui capitalised on an extra-time penalty before the half.
Germany’s Giulia Gwinn (81′) brought her squad within striking distance on a penalty with some 10 minutes remaining, but they would never get closer. France remains unbeaten in the Nations League.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
