2023-06-30 16:37:41
Jorge Vilda’s Spain already has its final call-up of 23 players for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. As expected, the double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and the three rebels that the coach had initially named, Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle, are among those chosen, of which a regular like Marta falls Cardona.
The Atlético de Madrid attacker, who has accused the lack of pace due to injuries in recent times and the enormous competition on the wingers, is the main surprise among the seven footballers who do not make it past the last cut. Together with her, they make up the group of those who remain at the gates of the World Cup Maite Oroz, another player that Vilda has frequently resorted to, as well as Elene Lete, Jana Fernández, Fiamma Benítez, Inma Gabarro and the injured Sheila García.
«There is nothing that we can say negative or little positive about the players who have been left out. If any of the six had to return, including Marta and Maite, they would give a level to enter among the 23 and play. In the end you have to make decisions. Tonight we have slept very little, in my case practically nothing. Players with a lot of level have been left out but the level of the 23 must be valued, ”said the coach in reference to the discards.
“We have been up until late at night evaluating line by line, the pros and cons, and the consensus has led us this morning to make the last decisions,” revealed Vilda, who described the list for the World Cup as “the most complicated to elaborate and decide because of how difficult the players have made it”. Likewise, Vilda also announced that Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes and Jennifer Hermoso, three of the most senior soccer players in the locker room, will serve as captains.
Thus, Spain will have plenty of resources to try to break its glass ceiling in the World Cups, the round of 16 of France 2019 against the powerful United States. Asked about his objectives, Vilda avoided specifying and putting pressure on his team, although he was aware of the possibilities of his team and excited to set new milestones for Spanish women’s football. «We want to go as far as possible, make history. We are ambitious. We have generated many expectations, a deserved privilege. We are going to fight to be at the top, “summed up the coach.
Duality Barça-Madrid
The backbone of a team with up to ten new features compared to the Euro Cup a year ago in England is marked by the duality between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which also sets the tone for the F League in recent seasons. Up to 16 of the 23 summoned play in one of the two big ones, specifically eight in each team. The Real Madrid player Misa Rodríguez starts in the lead to be a starter under the sticks, with her teammate Ivana Andrés and the Barcelona player Irene Paredes as the most important defenders. The center of the field has the hallmark of Barça with Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, the two great figures of Spain, while the goal-scoring responsibility is shared a priori between the culé Mariona Caldentey and the former Madrid player Esther González, with the young Athenea del Castillo and Salma Paralluelo with talent, verticality and energy in abundance to break down the door of the selection.
With the final list of World Cup players on the table, the internationals will enjoy two days off this weekend, after the convincing defeat of Panama (7-0) in the first friendly played at the Román Suárez Puerta de Avilés. On Sunday the internationals will meet again at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas with their sights set on the second preparation match against Denmark in Copenhagen and therefore more demanding. Subsequently, the Spanish expedition will travel to New Zealand, where a final match against Vietnam is scheduled, prior to the World Cup debut against Costa Rica on July 21.
The Central American team will be an affordable contact, just like Zambia, which Spain will face on July 26, before closing their participation in the group stage on the 31st against the theoretically toughest rival for first place, Japan. . From there, the hypothetical rival in the round of 16 would come out of group A, made up of powerful Norway, co-hosts New Zealand, Switzerland and the Philippines.
-The 23 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Misa Rodríguez (Real Madrid), Enith Salón (Valencia) and Cata Coll (Barcelona).
Defenders: Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Ivana Andrés (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester City), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Laia Codina (Barcelona), Oihane Hernández (Athletic) and Rocío Gálvez (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona), Irene Guerrero (Atlético), Teresa Abelleira (Real Madrid), Claudia Zornoza (Real Madrid), María Pérez (Barcelona) and Jenni Hermoso (Pachuca).
Forwards: Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Esther González (Real Madrid), Alba Redondo (Levante), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona) and Eva Navarro (Atlético).
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