Can debutants Spain make history with Olympic gold after World Cup triumph?

Spain are set to compete in the Olympic Football Tournament for the first time aiming for an astonishing record: to become the first reigning Women’s World Cup champions to win an Olympic Gold medal, Soccernet.football reports.

The women’s football tournament, first held at the Atlanta Games in 1996, has seen the United States dominate, winning four of the seven editions. However, the U.S. never won the Olympic Gold immediately following a World Cup victory.

In men’s football, achieving both the World Cup and Olympic Gold in close succession has been rare since World War II.

Italy last accomplished this feat in 1936, having won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938. Uruguay also managed a similar treble, winning Olympic Gold in 1924 and 1928 and the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Spain’s women’s team has been on a winning streak since their World Cup triumph last summer.

La Roja have claimed victories in the UEFA Women’s Nations League and hold the top spot in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.

Their squad, now arguably stronger, includes Laia Aleixandri, Lucía García, and Patri Guijarro, who previously boycotted the national team under former coach Jorge Vilda.

Spain’s Olympic journey begins on Thursday against Japan, who defeated them 4-0 in the World Cup group stage last summer. This time, Spain face additional challenges from former African champions Nigeria and South American giants Brazil within the same week, with only the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

Head coach Montse Tomé emphasized the importance of balancing attack and defence to avoid another defeat by Japan’s counter-attacks. She stated, “Our job is to analyze the opponent, develop a match plan, and ensure the players are prepared for any changes.”

Spain departed their training base near Madrid to head to Nantes, where their first two Olympic matches will be held.

The Stade de la Beaujoire, the venue of their games, has historical significance for Spanish football. The men’s team suffered a memorable loss to Nigeria there during the 1998 World Cup.

Spain’s debut at this year’s Olympics marks a significant step for the European giants, and many will watch as La Roja look to make history by adding an Olympic Gold to their recent World Cup victory.