Before the World Cup semi-finals, Spain’s footballers want nothing more to do with last year’s uprising against coach Jorge Vilda.
“I see the team more motivated than ever and full of self-confidence,” said Barcelona striker Jennifer Hermoso at the final press conference before the game against Sweden in Auckland/New Zealand. “I don’t want to remember everything that happened in the past. I just want to enjoy this sport, inspire our country with this team.”
Last September, after the European Championships in England, 15 national players declared their temporary withdrawal from the Spanish selection in an email. They explained that the current situation under Vilda and his coaching staff is “significantly” affecting their “emotional state” and “health”. The federation presented itself to Vilda, some of the players have meanwhile returned to the national team.
Hermoso was not among the insurgents at the time, but had expressed their solidarity on social media. Spain’s Real Madrid captain Ivana Andrés has already stressed that the players “have a very good relationship with our coach”.
Spain have never been in a World Cup semi-final, only reaching the round of the top four at the 1997 European Championship (1-2 against Italy). World soccer player Alexia Putellas is becoming more and more in the spotlight. The 29-year-old from FC Barcelona fought back after tearing her cruciate ligament last July, has played a total of 155 minutes at the World Cup, but has not yet played a full game.
“We are all very happy with the level Alexia has reached,” said Vilda. “It’s true that she’s been in a nine or ten month recovery process. Alexia is ready for anything.”
