Giulia Gwinn delivered an unexpected Olympic bronze medal for Germany on Friday by securing a 1-0 victory over Spain, who were unable to recover from their earlier defeat to Brazil.
Despite Germany being buoyed by the return of captain Alex Popp and prolific scorer Lea Schuller, Spain appeared more likely to score in Lyon, hitting the crossbar twice. Teresa Abelleira was the first to come close, attempting a free-kick while German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was off her line, and then Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati saw a stunning shot also strike the crossbar.
Germany, however, clinched the Olympic podium spot thanks to Gwinn’s calm penalty conversion after she was fouled by Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll while challenging for an aerial ball. The match could have been more comfortable, but Coll redeemed herself by stopping Schuller’s close-range shot shortly after. In the final moments, Berger played a crucial role, making a brilliant save to deny Jenni Hermoso’s header and then stopping Alexia Putellas’s penalty with virtually the last kick of the game, securing a narrow 1-0 win for Germany.
Only the US women’s national team has won more Olympic medals than Germany, with six guaranteed to be added to their total tomorrow—regardless of whether they defeat Brazil in the gold medal match. This was Germany’s fifth medal haul overall. This was also the most unexpected of the five teams, given they entered the competition with a mixed record, had lost a vital player in Lena Oberdorf shortly before the Games started, and had an unimpressive managerial situation with Horst Hrubesch filling in.
THE MVP
It was particularly fitting that Gwinn not only scored but also netted the penalty that earned Germany a medal, given she has been the standout player for her country throughout the tournament. The right-back missed last summer’s World Cup, where Germany suffered a group-stage exit for the first time in their history. However, she played a key role in helping the team recover and secure a place on the Olympic podium in France.
THE BIG LOSER
Having entered the Games as the clear favorite for gold, Spain’s failure to even secure a medal at Paris 2024 is a significant letdown and has led to scrutiny of head coach Montse Tome. Questions are being raised about her decisions, such as the use of Salma Paralluelo, the limited playtime for Alexia Putellas in the quarter-final and semi-final, and ongoing defensive issues. Attention will be on the former assistant coach to address these problems before next summer’s European Championships.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Both Germany and Spain have automatically qualified for the 2025 European Championships. Therefore, their focus for the rest of the year will shift to organizing and participating in friendly matches to prepare for a strong challenge for the title in Switzerland