Spain goes to the World Cup with aspirations and with the certainty that it is not leading the best possible team. Jorge Vilda made a Solomonic list, with several of the 15 soccer players who rebelled against the Federation demanding improvements. Despite the tension and without concessions, some of them have returned –as have others who did not sign and supported them–, but not all are here. Pieces of the level of Mapi León, Patri Guijarro and Sandra Paños are missing, all of them headlines in Barcelona that were proclaimed champions of the Champions League in June. That is why in this tournament the one who has the most to lose is the coach, who needs to overcome some qualifying rounds and reach, at least, the quarterfinals with the best eight. Despite the absences, there is a team for it, with the double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas in the lead. In the dressing room there is a balance between Barça and Real Madrid, who contribute eight footballers each, plus Batlle and Oihane who will play for the blaugrana and white, respectively, next season. Spain has changed a lot and only six repeat the World Cup in France. Four of them, Paredes, Ivana Andrés, Putellas and Hermoso, will play their third World Cup.
She turns 24 in the tournament in which she will be in charge of defending the goal of Spain. Under the sticks, the Madrid goalkeeper – where she is indisputable – stands out for her agility and speed of movement, to make up for her lack of centimeters (173). She has leadership skills in defense.
Right-back who mixes both defensive intensity and offensive depth. She trained at Barça, the last three courses of hers she has physically hardened in the Premier, at Manchester United, to earn a return this summer to the Blaugrana club. She is serious and involved, the band is well covered.
An intelligent footballer with a lot of touch, he has a good long drive. He dominates the organizer position and sometimes does not hesitate to drive the ball. This season she has emerged as a very good arrival, scoring seven goals with the white club.
Strong and powerful center back in the air, he is the ceiling of the team with his 1.78 meters. Barça’s defense is one of those that chains its third World Cup. His leadership is beyond doubt, even though he lost the captaincy after conflicts with the Federation.
The bearer of the bracelet starts as the couple of Paredes after the resignation of Mapi León. It is an expeditious defense, which is placed well and sticky in the markings. The forwards suffer to turn if they have the Valencian behind, who has been at Real Madrid for three years.
Competitive and rebellious like few others, the interior gives the feeling that it always measures up and wants more. It does not stop growing. At Barça, without Alexia, he has taken over in terms of influence on the game. 18 goals testify to this. With Spain, despite his youth, he already has 57 caps.
The Sevillian is one of the most consistent players on the team. He has shown that she can already be counted on in several First Division teams. She is very resistant and has deployment in the midfield area, where she covers a lot of the playing field. She also understands the game between the lines well.
Associative footballer like few others, the forward is one of those who fills the plays with clarity. Because of her tactical sense, she can play on the entire attack front and as a false 9. She also has a good relationship with goal and is one of Spain’s great specialists from eleven meters.
He does not give a ball for lost and has the gift of opportunity in the area. The goalscorer for Madrid (22 goals this season) does not stop running while she is on the pitch. With Spain, it was difficult for her to see the door with the same ease until she became the director of this qualifying phase.
One of the legends of the team (47 goals with the red), it is his third World Cup and four years ago he was the great protagonist of the selection in France. Her refined technique allows her to act as a 9 or playmaker. She went to the Mexican league, where she continues to show her master class.
After a difficult year due to the injury that prevented her from playing even a whole game with Barça, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner has the opportunity at the World Cup (her third) to once again teach the cerebral and surgical football that brought her to the top. She marked Panama, something important for her full recovery.
Seasoned winger who transmits a lot of security, with and without the ball. Vilda has even used her on the left wing because she always performs well. She has been in First Division since she was 18, so she does not lack baggage. He has just signed for Real Madrid after finishing his contract with Athletic.
She barely has two games with the senior team behind her and she was not a regular in the lower categories either, but this season she has taken a big step forward at Valencia, with whom she made her debut at the age of 17. She is a porter of a lot of personality and character. She is very perfectionist.
The World Cup is a great opportunity for her to gain weight and pose. She is one of the freshest she arrives on her legs, since at Barça she has only been a starter nine times, blocked by a very consolidated defense axis. She is an elegant center back, with a good ball output and a desire to feel important.
She has been a semifinalist in the U-17 World Cup (2016) and runner-up in the U-20 World Cup (2020), and now she is finally playing for the absolute. After two difficult seasons, she has rediscovered herself at Atlético, scoring seven goals. Spain recovers a nervous, fast and incisive forward.
The big surprise on the list because he still has a Barça Atlètic record. This campaign he rose to the first team in five games. His neat criteria, his interpretation of the game and his command of the midfielder have been the keys to entering. Vilda compares her to Busquets. Big words. He will have minutes.
With the years that he has been scoring goals in the First Division, it seems incredible that this is his first big date with the national team. She comes from being the top scorer in the F League with 27 goals. It is a guarantee because she usually sees the door on the big days. In the area she is able to find oil and make plays herself.
The youngest of the team. Her progression is meteoric. In her first year at Barça, she started in the Champions League final won in Eindhoven. The former athlete has a privileged physique, she is fast, faces successfully and has sharpened her sense of goal: 15 goals this season. A jewel.
A winger who takes over the left flank with his constant climbs and has the soul of a winger. The Sevillian took the position from the last Eurocup. Her crosses are a danger, but she can also finish plays herself. Soccer is a family thing since her brother plays for Teruel.
Player of the full confidence of the coach. Vilda has known her since 2014 when she reached the final of the U-17 World Cup in Costa Rica. A doer on the pitch, she’s a great header against what the 5’7 of hers would have you think. In principle, she starts as the fourth center.
He will bring his wisdom. It is not in vain that she was the league champion with Rayo 12 years ago. She spent six years without being called up to the national team, but her good performances in Madrid’s midfield have given her a great opportunity. A balance point in a young team.
Vertical player who has the goal between her eyebrows. Her dribbling and her vision are her best virtues. Without forgetting her ability to score: ten goals this season with Madrid and seven with Spain in 27 games. The Cantabrian is also very resistant despite the blows she receives in her slaloms.
A regular substitute for Paños at Barcelona, ??she is used to training day by day with the best, despite the fact that she has never made her debut with the national team. Instead, she has been to two U-17 World Cups and one U-20. She is a goalkeeper with good reflexes and a lot of reaction, she is a good penalty taker.
In 2015, he replaced Ignacio Quereda after 27 years. He has eight in office. The Federation has kept him very firmly despite the pulse launched by 15 footballers who asked for improvements. In the three previous major tournaments he has passed the group stage, but has never been able to overcome a knockout stage.
