At the end of the group stage whose last day was played today, we know the two finalists of this 2018 edition of the Cyprus Cup. As last year, the two qualifying teams will play their first final in the Cyprus, Italy and Spain Tournament which could achieve a "double" after winning the Algarve Cup in 2017.


=> The complete program / results of the Cyprus Cup 2018


This is one of the peculiarities of the Cyprus Cup, the finalists of the tournament can only be from groups A and B, reputed stronger than Group C, whose winner automatically plays the match for third place.

The two finalists are respectively Italy, winner of the group A and Spain, first of the group B. North Korea who finished at the top of the group C will meet Switzerland, best second of the groups A and B, and defending of the title in this Cyprus Cup.


Italy ends the group stage by freewheeling


Italy were already assured of their place in the final before this third and final day after their two victories against Switzerland and Wales. Successes that allowed Milena Bertolini to turn her squad for the last match against Finland. A useful rest before the final, but the Squadra Azzura was also feverish in this match which finally ended on a draw (2-2).

At the beginning of the match, Italy creates first chances by Valentina Giacinti, who hits the goal several times without being able to catch the frame. Finnish side, Emmi Alanen tries his luck on the edge of the Italian area but it passes to the left of the goal protected by Rosalia Pipitone, the guardian of Roma (11th).

The Finnish number 10 will open the scoring in the 25th minute following a hand from Lisa Boattin in the box. A preventable penalty, with the young defender of Juve surprised by the rebound. Alanen takes care of the sentence and gives the advantage to Finland. The Squadra Azzura then manages to come back quickly by Valentina Giacinti.

At the start, a ball in midfield by Greta Adami and the Italian midfielder who serves Valentina Giacinti left side. At the entrance to the surface, always left side, Giacinti arms a cross shot that ends in the small net opposite Tinja-Riikka Korpela (28th).


Four goals including three on penalty


In the second half, we find Emmi Alanen who hits the goal, countered by Lisa Boattin (49th) before being able to shoot a few moments later a new penalty. While the Italian team plays with fire by circulating the ball around its surface, it is recovered by Tuija Hyyrynen, then Juliette Kemppi is unbalanced in the surface by Linda Tucceri Cimini.

A penalty again avoidable and transformed by Emmi Alanen again giving the advantage to Finland (50th). A situation that forces Milena Bertolini to change her eleven. The entry of Valentina Bergamaschi gives a new breath to the Squadra but it is another entrant who brings his team to height. Manuela Giugliano scores on a penalty (86) after a foul by Anna Auvinen on Valentina Giacinti at the entrance to the box.


Switzerland will play third place against North Korea


This draw allows Italy to finish this undefeated group stage while Finland takes its first point. In the other match of group A, Switzerland and Wales were neutralized in a match where both teams had opportunities to open the scoring. Ramona Bachmann (29th) for Switzerland and Natasha Harding side Welsh (69th) hit on the amounts. Laura O'Sullivan also had the opportunity to work with a triple Swiss opportunity, shot after blow pushed by the British goalkeeper before being replaced by a defender on his line (59th).

This draw allows Switzerland to maintain the second place in this group A. Best second, Switzerland will play the match for third place against North Korea. Unbeaten in Group C, the North Korean players also finished in a 0-0 draw against South Africa. The Banyana Banyana finished second in Group C, two points behind North Korea.

Spain to a doubled Algarve-Cyprus Cup?


In Group B, Spain was not sure of finishing in first place. Austria and the Czech Republic could win in this last day to take the lead of the group. The Czechs who have long faced the Roja today before giving in late in the game (2-0).

Resistance but also success with Spain who hit the amounts twice in the first period by Patri Guijarro (20th) and Irene Paredes on corner (33). In the second half, it is Lucia Garcia who sees his shot beaten by the bar after a personal exploit in the Czech defense (56th).

Teammates Lucie Vonkova are also able to get closer to the Spanish goal against, and the Czech captain is also conducting a raid full axis at the hour of play, but finally fails to adjust his shot in the Spanish area . The opening of the score finally came in the 73rd minute on corner, a goal scored by Irene Paredes who took the lead at the far post a center Virginia Torrecilla left side (73rd).

Entering the break, Alexia Putellas provoked the second Spanish goal in stoppage time following a Lucia Garcia center right side. Barbora Votikova misses his exit and Alexia Putellas can play the ball in the box. She steals the ball over the goalkeeper and Jitka Chlastakova trying to counter the Spanish midfielder deflects the ball into his own goal (90 + 3).

With this win, Spain is in the running for an unlikely double after winning the Algarve Cup last year and becoming the first team to win both tournaments.


Belgium signs its first tournament win


In the same group, it was finally Belgium who took second place in Group B after their 2-0 win against Austria. It was Lille striker Jana Coryn who opened the scoring in the 35th minute, taking advantage of Manuela Zinsberger's dangerous exit on Heleen Jaques's long ball. In the second half, the Belgian defender is this time at the conclusion on a free kick by Lauren de Neve. An action that recalls the goal of Tine De Caigny in the first group match against the Czech Republic, this time with Heleen Jaques who Zinsberger wrong head (74th).

With an extra goal, Belgium could have played the match for third place instead of Switzerland, but Zinsberger manages to divert the shot of Tessa Wullaert in the 66th minute or that of Janice Cayman in stoppage time, unchecked from the 18 meters (90 + 1). The Red Flames will finally finish this tournament Wednesday with the match for fifth place against South Africa.


Cyprus Cup 2018 - Posters for the final and classification matches (Wednesday 7 March)


Final: Italy / Spain (17h *)

Final for Third place: North Korea / Switzerland (13h)

Final for fifth place: Belgium / South Africa (14h)

Final for Seventh place: Wales / Austria (10h)

Final for ninth place: Slovakia / Czech Republic (10h)

Final for the eleventh place: Finland / Hungary (10h)

* The meeting times are indicated in French time, one hour less than Cyprus where the tournament takes place


photo: David Catry