“Spain is Spain,” Switzerland’s talismanic captain, Lia Wälti, had warned and, in the quarter-final between the host nation and the world champions, Spain Spained, crushing the resolve of a team that had played in an inspired fashion.
The hosts had more than clung on, they fought, roared on by a crowd that maybe believed, maybe did not, but that did not really matter. It took until the 66th minute for the tournament favourites to find a way through, Athenea del Castillo and Clàudia Pina each striking in a five-minute, second-half spell to crush gentle rumblings of a possible upset.
