Spain 0-1 Germany: Guilia Gwinn penalty settles bronze medal match in favour of Germans

Germany have claimed the bronze medal in the women's football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over Spain. A tight match was settled in the second half after Guilia Gwinn was felled in the penalty area. The Bayern defender dusted herself down and stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick.

Germany beat world champions Spain 1-0 to take bronze at the Paris Olympics in a match that was defined by two penalty kicks.

A tactical tussle flickered into life in the second half when Giulla Gwinn challenged for a long ball over the top and was clattered by the onrushing Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll, who opted not to use her hands for fear of contact coming outside her area, and failed to make any contact with the ball, gifting Germany a penalty.

Gwinn stepped up to score the penalty she had won, and looked to have secured victory for her side, who repelled increasing Spanish pressure as the game ticked into added time.

Olympic Games Paris 2024

Hayes speaks of 'dream' of winning Olympic gold with USA - 'bigger than anything else'

10/08/2024 at 23:51

But there was late drama when a foul in the box gave Spain the latest of chances to equalise with their own spot-kick, with Lucia Garcia taken down inside the area with just seconds left of the seven added minutes.

However, Spanish skipper Alexia Putellas was superbly denied by Germany’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, and the veteran stopper was engulfed by her teammates when the final whistle sounded just moments after her stunning save.

• Spain 0-1 Germany: As it happened
• Morocco crush rivals Egypt 6-0 to claim bronze

Talking Point – Germany shut down lacklustre Spain

It takes a whole team to shut Spain down to the extent that Germany were able to in this match, although questions must be asked about the lack of cutting edge from the world champions.

Marina Hegering was an absolute rock for her side, making a string of crucial interventions to halt dangerous Spanish attacks, but it was a combined effort from the Germans, who were compact and solid throughout.

Spain should perhaps have looked to move Salma Paralluelo out wide and bring on a different sort of option through the middle, but ended the game having created just half-chances from open play.

Player Of The Match – Ann-Katrin Berger

There were a number of impressive displays from the Germans, particularly at the back, but the defining moment of their tournament came in the very final minute of the match when goalkeeper Berger showcased her brilliance at saving penalties, denying Spain’s captain with a superb stop.

Berger made a number of excellent saves in the match, with a point-blank effort to deny Jenni Hermoso the other stand-out effort.

Ann Katrin Berger dramatically saves Alexia Putellas' penalty in the final minute of the bronze medal match

Image credit: Getty Images

Player Ratings

Spain: Coll 6, Batlle 7, Codina 6, Aleixandri 6, Hernandez 6, Alexia 7, Bonmatí 8, Abelleira 7, Athenea 7, Hermoso 7, Paralluelo 6. Subs: Carmona 7, Guijarro 6, Garcia 6, Caldentey 6.

Germany: Berger 9, Gwinn 8, Hendrich 8, Hegering 9, Linder 8, Bühl 7, Minge 7, Popp 7, Rauch 7 – Nüsken 6, Brand 6. Subs: Schüller 6, Doorsoun 6.

Match Highlights

63’ – PENALTY!

Gwinn goes down after a challenge with the keeper and, after a brief delay, the referee points the spot. It was a really odd one, but replays show that the decision was the correct one… and quite what Coll was doing isn’t really clear. Perhaps she thought it could be outside the box so didn’t want to use her hands to challenge in the air? That’s the only logical explanation.

65’ – GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 SPAIN (GWINN, PEN)

Germany take the lead! Gwinn steps up after receiving some treatment and sends the keeper the wrong way, stroking the ball home to make it 1-0. She looks quite overwhelmed with it all in the celebrations – this is a big moment!

74’ – UNBELIEVABLE SAVE!

Carmona whips in a gem of a cross that is begging for a finish from Hermoso, but Berger makes a superb save from point-blank range to keep Germany ahead.

97’ – PENALTY!

Oh my word, what drama. Right in the final seconds of this match and it’s a penalty for Spain! Lucia Garcia collapses to the turf in the box after a late challenge and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The German players can’t believe it, but VAR upholds the decision and we have an extraordinary moment – Putellas vs Berger with what will surely be the last kick of standard time.

98’ – BERGER SAVES!

It’s an absolutely stunning save from Ann-Katrin Berger, who denies Putellas as she dives to her left, surely winning the match for Germany. Play continues but there are just seconds remaining…

Key Stats

This is Germany’s fourth Olympic bronze medal in women’s Football. World Cup winners Spain have never won a medal in Olympic women’s Football.

---

discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer

Olympic Games Paris 2024

Brazil v USA - Olympic women's football gold medal match as it happened

10/08/2024 at 16:35

Transfers

Arsenal push to secure Guimaraes and Vinicius deals - Paper Round

2 hours ago