Jenni Hermoso scored a last-minute winner on her return to the national team, just hours before Luis Rubiales was banned following ‘Kissgate’
Hermoso, 33, had not featured for Spain since the World Cup final in August which was overshadowed by former Spanish football federation chief Rubiales kissing her on her lips during the medal presentation; a kiss Hermoso insists was not consensual.
FIFA reached a verdict on Monday morning following the conclusion of their investigation into Rubiales, banning him from football for three years for his antics during the medal ceremony of the World Cup final.
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For the first time since that final against England, Hermoso was recalled back to the national team by new manager Montse Tome this month after previously being omitted from the September squad.
Hermoso provided the perfect response to her recall to the team by scoring a last-gasp winner and the only goal of the game against Italy in the UEFA Nations League. Coming on as a second-half substitute, the striker slotted home a rebound off Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani.
Speaking after the game, Hermoso said: “What better joy than to feel good again, to score the winning goal. Now I can only smile." Tome also praised Hermoso’s impact and revealed how good it was to see the Pachuca markswoman playing with a smile on her face again.
Tome said: “We’re all very happy because we were able to win and because she [Hermoso] scored that goal. 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."
Rubiales, 46, denied any wrongdoing but resigned from his position last month after widespread backlash following the kiss, including from a number of Spain’s men and women footballers. He remains under investigation by Spanish prosecutors after Hermoso filed a legal complaint. He denies charges of sexual assault and coercion.
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