Reigning world champions, the Spanish starts Thursday against Portugal their quest for a first crown at Euro football, with the status of favorites to defend and wounds to heal.
Almost two years after his triumph at the 2012 World Cup, whose party had been spoiled by the kiss imposed by the ex-president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales at the attacker Jenni Hermoso, the Roja dreams of a historic double, to finally move forward.
AFP
Despite the conviction to a fine of 10,800 euros for sexual assault against the former boss of the RFEF, confirmed on appeal last week, the case remains a “burden”, according to the Double-Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas.
And neither the multiple resignations and structural changes within the Federation claimed by the players, nor the victory in the League of Nations (against France), have for the moment sufficient to lighten it.
On the field, the selector Montse Tomé chose to do without hermoso, the best scorer in the history of the selection, for what would surely have been her last international competition at 35 years old.
But she can count on an unrivaled talent group, comprising 11 of the 23 world champions in 2023, still led by the stars of FC Barcelona Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas and the new PSG Olga Carmona player.
Uncertain bonmati, suspended bark
Hospitalized a few days ago for viral meningitis, Bonmati resumed training in Switzerland, the organizing country of the tournament, before the first meeting of the group stage against Portugal, Thursday in Berne.
AFP
His presence in the Iberian midfield remains very uncertain, however.
The Barcelona captain Irene Paredes will be suspended for this first meeting, which remains largely within the reach of the players of La Roja, large winners during the last two games against Portugal (7-1 and 4-2).
Spain, which remains on a failure during the match for 3rd place at the Paris Games against Germany – the only nation to have won a World Cup and a Euro – will then face Belgium and Italy, two other teams much lower on paper.
“We are always expected as the favorites. I believe that if we play as a team and if we take pleasure in the field, no one can stop us, ”warned the young Barcelona Vicky Lopez.
“Spain is a real cradle of champions and we still have a great future ahead of us,” added the real Madrid Alba Redondo to AFP.
The 28 -year -old player, who proudly displays her homosexuality, does not fear “the pressure” that weighs on the shoulders of the reigning world champions, determined to “continue to visited” women’s sport and couples between women. And to “move forward to overcome fears”.
