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Spain, 'La Roja', in the grand final of the European Women's Team Championship held in La Manga, where they will face Sweden in what constitutes a rematch of the 2007 edition, when the Spanish team ended up winning the gold medal.

This is the outcome of intense semifinals, full of emotion, uncertainty and good play, which have led the Spanish and Swedish teams, the two best teams in the previous phase, to the fight for gold in a duel of very high voltage guaranteed.

To achieve this goal, Spain applied hard work, team spirit, a capacity for sacrifice, and enormous doses of talent. The path to the grand final had two distinct phases: one of tremendous intensity and parity, where the Scottish team offered their greatest resistance during the foursomes, and another much more comfortable one, the result of the Spanish team's consistent success, which prevented any possibility of a Scottish comeback after they had, admittedly, had the Spanish team on the ropes in the morning session.

Not surprisingly, Spain and Scotland split the points in the foursomes in some exciting final holes that almost left the hosts in a very difficult situation, as Kelsey Mac Donald and Louise Kenney put the first point on the Scottish scoreboard after unbalancing their close duel with Mireia Prat and Elia Folch in the last holes.

Meanwhile, Carlota Ciganda and Marta Silva, who were clearly dominating, suffered terribly to defeat Pamela Pretswell and Laura Murray after losing three consecutive holes as the end of the course approached.

The match, controlled by the Spanish team until the 14th hole, saw a strong Scottish comeback that leveled the score. This situation raised the tension to unexpected levels on the final hole, when neither team could find the putt before Carlota Ciganda cleverly offered a draw, a necessary step to determine the winner in the playoff.

On the first playoff hole, with everything still to be decided, the combined genius of Marta Silva – a sensational approach shot from over 150 meters – and Carlota Ciganda emerged once again, who made a birdie with an extraordinary putt from eight meters that ultimately gave wings to the Spanish team.

The enormous tension of the morning was transformed, due to the persistent success of the Spanish team, into a false tranquility which, however, was evident in a comfortable score in favor of the hosts.

Carlota Ciganda, who was leading the pack, settled old scores in the British Ladies Amateur with Scotland's Kelsey MacDonald, whom she defeated on the final hole. Earlier, Marta Silva eliminated Laura Murray (4/3), as did a very solid Mireia Prat against Megan Briggs in yet another display of strength from the Spaniard. These three points rendered Elia Folch's defeat to Louise Kenney and the outcome of the clash between Ane Urchegui and Pamela Prestwell meaningless.

Mireia Prat, euphoric after her clear individual victory, asserted that "Spain can beat anyone playing like this, so the opponent doesn't matter to us." Carlota Ciganda was more reserved, admitting that the team "suffered a lot in the second foursome." "If her putt on the 18th had gone in and we'd been down 2-0, we'd be talking about something else entirely right now," she remarked with relief.

On the other side of the bracket, Sweden has reached the final in style, displaying a power against Germany (5.5-1.5) that does not go unnoticed by anyone, even though the Germans offered enormous resistance and the final result does not fully reflect the work that the Swedes had to do to win.

Sweden headed for the final in the morning with victories by Caroline Hedwall-Camilla Lennart (2/1) over Thea Hoffmeister-Pia Halbig and Amanda Strang-Nathalie Mansson (H19) over Lara Katzy-Stephanie Kirchmayr.

With a 2-0 lead, Sweden only needed to apply their usual steamroller tactics to seal the victory against the Germans thanks to the success of the Hedwall sisters, who compensated for the defeat of another of their key players, Camilla Lennart, against Thea Hoffmeister.

TITLE ELIMINATIONS

Semifinals

Sweden, 5.5 - Germany, 1.5

Spain, 4.5 - Scotland, 2.5

AROUND GREEN

Germany, a team that has steadily improved. Last year, Germany proved that it's possible to barely qualify for the first flight, gradually improve throughout the tournament, and ultimately win it. This year, the challenge will be twofold, as overcoming the formidable Sweden could lead to a match against Spain, who are eager for revenge after their 2009 semifinal defeat.

Kelsey MacDonald, the heroine of the British. The Scottish player reached the final of the Ladies British Amateur less than a month ago. She lost, but her sensational play helped her eliminate the Spanish pair of Carlota Ciganda and Adriana Zwanck. Now the hosts have the chance to exact their long-awaited revenge.

A repeat final. Sweden and Spain, the top two teams in the first round, will play for the title. Coincidentally, they faced each other in the final of this same European Championship in 2007. Back then, in Italy, Spain won 5.5-1.5. Carlota Ciganda and Camilla Lennart are the only players returning.

Spain goes through to the Grand Final of the European Ladies Team Championship taking place in La Manga Club, where they will face Sweden in what is effectively a re-run of the 2007 final, in which the Spanish players came away with the gold.

This is the outcome of an intense semi-final stage, full of emotion, doubt and great golf, which takes Spain and Sweden – the two best teams in the qualifying phase – through what is sure to be a high-voltage duel for the gold.

Achieving this objective required a great deal of hard work, team spirit, sacrifice and huge doses of talent on the part of the Spanish Team. The route to the final had two very distinct phases, one marked by tremendous intensity and equality, with the Scottish putting up their greatest resistance in the foursomes, and the other, much more placid, as a result of the Spanish players' repeated accuracy, which prevented any chance of a comeback by the Scottish, even though they had managed to get Spain up against the ropes in the morning session.

It wasn't for nothing that Spain and Scotland shared the points in the foursomes with some thrilling final holes that were on the verge of putting the host team in a very difficult situation, as Kelsey MacDonald and Louise Kenney put the first point on the Scottish scoreboard, getting ahead in their very closely matched duel with Mireia Prat and Elia Folch on the last few holes.

Carlota Ciganda, in the advance guard, settled her outstanding score from British Ladies Amateur with Scotland's Kelsey MacDonald, beating her at the last hole. Prior to that, Marta Silva eliminated Laura Murray (4/3), as she did a very sound Mireia Prat to Megan Briggs in the umpteenth demonstration of the Spanish player's strength; three more points that reduced the impact of Elia Folch's defeat at the hand of Louise Kenney and the outcome of the clash between Ane Urchegui and Pamela Prestwell to nothing.

On the other side of the grid, Sweden has made it through to the final in flamboyant style, demonstrating a superiority over Germany (5.5-1.5) that nobody can have failed to notice, despite the fact that the Germans put up a great fight and that the final result does not truly reflect the work the Swedish had to put in to win.

At 2-0 up, Sweden needed only to put their usual steam-roller into action to condemn the Germans, thanks to the accurate hitting of the Hedwall sisters, who made up for the defeat of another of their mainstays, Camilla Lennart, by Thea Hoffmeister.

AROUND THE GREEN

Germany, from less to more. Last year, Germany already demonstrated that you can get through to the first flight by the skin of your teeth, improve as the tournament progresses and end up winning. This year, it will be twice as difficult, as if they beat all-powerful Sweden, they could face Spain, who will be out to avenge their defeat in the 2009 semi-final.

Kelsey MacDonald, heroine of the British. The Scottish player reached the final of the Ladies British Amateur less than a month ago. She lost, but her sensational playing served to eliminate Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Adriana Zwanck. Now the host team has a chance at eagerly awaited revenge.

Finally restored. Sweden and Spain, the two best in the first stage will be playing for the title. Coincidentally, the same two teams also met head-on in the finals of the 2007 European Championship. On that occasion, in Italy, Spain won 5.5-1.5. Carlota Ciganda and Camilla Lennart are the only two players repeating the experience.