FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Spain’s journey from unrest to the brink of immortality
Following their Euro 2022 exit, 15 players removed themselves from national team selection. But prior to the World Cup, a handful made the decision to return - and now they are on the brink of history.
Football
When Spain crashed out of the Women’s European Champions to England last summer, there was disappointment among the players and staff alike.
It would turn out there was much more to it than many had anticipated, though.
In the months that followed, 15 of La Roja banded together to make a joint statement, announcing their intentions to step down from the national team.
Emails to The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) explained that playing for Jorge Vilda was impacting their mental health, prompting them to go on strike.
FC Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas, though not thought to be included in such emails having been ruled out for an extended period due to her ACL injury, voiced her support for her national teammates who spoke out.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Spanish football expert Fernando Kallas said it had been something ‘boiling away for the last two or three months’.
“I think this story is unprecedented in the history of football,” he added. “I don’t remember a national team at such a high level where almost every player is just stepping down from the team.”
The 15 players who stood down from the national team were: Ainhao Vicente, Lola Gallardo, Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Patri Guijarro, Andrea Pereira, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Alexandria, Lucia Garcia, Ona Batlle, Amaiur Sarriegui, and Nerea Eizagirre.
Despite threats from the RFEF that their unwillingness to represent their national team if called upon could result in five years of disqualification from the international stage, they stood their ground.
Months before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 was set to commence, many of Las 15 began to make themselves available for selection once more.
FC Barcelona trio Guijarro, Leon, and Pina, however, made it clear that they would not be returning, standing by their original decision.
For the likes of Bonmati, Caldentey, and such, Australia & New Zealand was seen as a fresh chance to succeed with La Roja.
Barring a thumping defeat to Japan in the group stages, Spain have been relentless in their road to the final, where they will face England on Sunday (20 August).
While on the surface this is a team currently at the height of their game, the last year came with significant challenges, as Bonmati told The Athletic.
“I’m not going to hide that it has been a complicated year,” she said.
“At club level, it’s been an incredible year. But at national team level, it’s been tough. I’ve seen both sides of the same coin.
“I’ve suffered a lot, but now I’m focused on what’s happening – we can’t stay stuck in the past, we have to move forward.”
The Golden Ball contender believes the mentality of Spain has contributed to their success so far and can carry them to football’s most coveted award.
“We are in the final because we are professional footballers who know what we do, what we work for and we know what our objectives are.
“This mentality has been there since the first day of preparation for the World Cup. Without this mentality, we wouldn’t have made it this far.”
It has no doubt been a turbulent year for those who returned to the national team setup, but their togetherness on the field has shone through and taken them to this point.
They are now just 90 minutes - or more - away from immortality, but face an England team that, under Sarina Wiegman, have continuously hit new heights and will aim to do so once more.