The Spanish coach Jorge Vilda was satisfied with the 3-0 victory in the debut against Costa Rica, but regretted not having made better use of the chances the team had. “We have to be happy, we have kept a clean sheet, but from what has been seen on the field the result should have been more bulky”.
Spain shot 45 times against Costa Rica, but converted only three goals – and the first was an own goal. “We have to improve our shots, we had many crosses, but few shots, and from set pieces we must also get more profit. By adjusting certain aspects we would have scored more goals, but I’ll take the victory”, assured the coach.
The lack of aim of ‘la roja’ was the most repeated message by the Spanish internationals after the match. “We had in mind that goals count, and we wanted to score as many as possible, but the first game is difficult and we haven’t been very good in front of goal,” lamented Aitana Bonmatí. The MVP of the match wanted to highlight the positive side, starting with a World Cup win: “It was very important to start with a victory. The first games are always difficult, everyone is full of energy. We’ve never started a World Cup like this. We have to settle down,” he said.
Salma Paralluelo, also from Blaugrana, highlighted that Spain had “achieved the first objective, to win”, although she agreed on the lack of aim: “We have generated many chances and it is true that more could have entered. May this game teach us for the next one, to be more effective, more forceful”. The striker made her debut in an absolute World Cup performing at a good level: “I looked good, it’s the first game. I am very happy to play my first absolute World Cup. I’m leaving with the thorn of not having been able to score, but happy with the result. Looking forward to the next match.”
Spain could have increased the score from eleven meters, but Jenni Hermoso missed a penalty in the first half: “I failed. I threw it badly, I thought I was going to do something else but football is like that, whoever throws it fails, ”she explained to TVE after the game. The Madrid striker was satisfied with the victory, although she also regretted not having come out with a bigger result: “The team is happy. We are always going to be demanding and although we have had a lot of possession and chances, we could have scored more goals”.
