Jenni Hermoso makes triumphant return for Spain with late winner in Italy
The Spain substitute Jenni Hermoso scored a superb 89th-minute winner against Italy in the Nations League on Friday as she returned to the national team for the first time since the kiss scandal following their Women’s World Cup success in August.
Hermoso had been left out of the squad for the matches against Sweden and Switzerland in September, but marked her return to the team with the winner in Salerno, finishing well on the rebound after Alexia Putellas’ shot was saved by the Italy goalkeeper, Laura Giuliani.
The attacking player came off the bench midway through the second half to make her first apperance following the furore which overshadowed their
World Cup final win in Australia, involving the former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales resigned last month after the allegedly unsolicited kiss at the World Cup presentation ceremony caused outrage among players, government officials and many in wider Spanish society and raised questions over sexism in sport.
“What better joy than to get back here and feel good again, to score the goal that gets the win – I can only smile,” said Hermoso, who plays club football for Mexican side Pachuca, after scoring her 52nd international goal.
Spain’s new head coach, Montse Tomé, said at the time of Hermoso’s omission from the squad that she made the decision to “protect her”, although she was now thrilled to have Hermoso back in the team.
“We’re all very happy because we were able to win and because she [Hermoso] scored that goal,” Tome said after Friday’s game. “When Italy closed down, when they got more into a low block, we needed someone else, like Jenni, in there. And she scored that goal, the goal that made us all very happy.”
“I would also like to say how happy I am with that goal, considering the time she has spent on the pitch. We saw her smiling and I think everyone is smiling,” the coach added.
Spain top Nations League A group four with maximum points from three games and face bottom side Switzerland on Tuesday.