Alexia Putellas helped Spain discover their circulation towards Belgium to go away Purple Flames coach Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir eager to cry after being on the tip of a 6-2 loss to the world champions.
Putellas scored twice and created two extra as favourites Spain made it two wins from two in Group B to e-book their place within the quarterfinals of the European Championships, knocking Belgium out within the course of.
The Barcelona midfielder has now scored three objectives on the match and is main Spain’s cost as they aim a primary ever Euros trophy.
“It goes hand in hand,” Putellas stated in a information convention after being named the sport’s MVP when requested if her good kind was making Spain tick or vice versa. “As a person, you concentrate on the group and once you really feel we’re all collectively, you circulation, and it makes me really feel good after all.
“I’ve this position of making probabilities, typically I additionally end them, typically others do, [but] I am feeling nice. It isn’t simply due to the objectives or assists, however due to how I really feel on the market, the sharpness.
“I stated it earlier than the match began: I have been feeling nice. In some video games issues come off, in others they do not, however the work is all the time there, and that is what issues — placing myself to the service of the workforce.”
Spain opened their marketing campaign with a 5-0 victory over Portugal and have now racked up 11 objectives within the competitors, which is already the joint second most ever scored within the group stage after England‘s 14 in 2022 with a recreation to spare.
Irene Paredes, Esther González, Mariona Caldentey and Clàudia Pina have been additionally on course towards Belgium as La Roja demonstrated a ruthlessness in entrance of purpose.
“That is one in every of our strengths — all of the attacking potential we have now, the completely different choices inside the squad, how versatile the gamers and our fashion of play may be,” Putellas added. “The workforce is doing rather well; we consider in what we’re doing and we’re actually having fun with ourselves.”
Belgium had earlier twice come from behind to stage the sport at 2-2 early within the second half earlier than fading within the last half-hour.
The end result means they’re eradicated from the competitors regardless of nonetheless having one recreation to come back towards Portugal.
Coach Gunnarsdóttir was tremendously happy with the hassle her gamers put in, however revealed she was virtually decreased to tears after seeing the workforce come up valiantly brief.
“I am actually pleased with my workforce as a result of I do know 100% that they’d the assumption that I used to be on the lookout for,” she stated in a information convention. “However, to be sincere, I walked into the locker room [after the match] and I actually wished to cry.
“Emotionally it was troublesome as a result of I actually believed in what we have been doing and I beloved seeing my gamers give all the things they’d. I actually suppose we gave them a recreation for no less than 60 minutes, a extremely good recreation.
“Spain are a extremely good workforce, extra environment friendly than final 12 months. They’re good at making good selections across the field. If you happen to give them a little bit room to shoot or take that cross, then they use it.
“They perceive the sport on a unique stage to many different gamers on this match, lots of them play collectively at membership stage as properly.”
Belgium shut Group B on Friday towards Portugal, who may nonetheless qualify after drawing 1-1 with Italy in a while Monday. They should beat Belgium and hope Spain beat Italy, with a six purpose swing additionally required.