Amid unrest between the players and the managers, Spain will travel to Australia and New Zealand to try and make the 2023 Women’s World Cup a memorable one. Last year, 15 players decided to withdraw from national duties in protest of their manager Jorge Vilda and coaching staff asking attention from the Spanish federation of the situation that has significantly affected them. Most of the players are recalled after making themselves available again while others from the mutiny not selected or have maintained their stance of not going back.
History
Spain are fairly new to the FIFA Women’s World Cup stage with the 2023 one being their third participation overall. La Roja have only one win so far in seven matches played at the stage. Four have been lost while the other two are drawn. That victory came against South Africa in the opening group stage match in 2019. Spain’s journey ended in the last 16 stages, their first qualification to the knockouts, beaten by holders the United States by 2-1. Playing in her third consecutive World Cup, Jennifer Hermoso is the top-scorer for her country at this stage with three goals. All of them came in the previous edition.
Qualification for Women’s World Cup
The qualification phase was an easy walk for Spain as they managed eight victories in the same number of games and also did not concede a single goal. More than 50 goals were scored with an eight-point difference from second-placed Scotland. Amaiur Sarriegi was the top scorer in their qualifiers group with 11 goals while Mariona Caldentey came third with eight goals.
Preparation for Women’s World Cup
Spain’s preparation has been equally jubilant like their qualifiers with only loss in 11 matches. Nine of those have resulted in a victory. In that period, La Roha have collected wins against sides like Norway and Denmark with the huge one, a 2-0 success over USA coming in October last year. Spain scored 35 goals in those matches and conceded just five with 7-0 wins over Argentina and recently Panama. The side are in promising form before the tournament.
Spain Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Goalkeepers: Cata Coll (Barcelona), Misa Rodríguez (Real Madrid), Enith Salon (Valencia)
Defenders: Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester United), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Laia Codina (Barcelona), Rocio Galvez (Real Madrid), Oihane Hernandez (Athletic Club), Irene Paredes (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Tere Abelleira (Real Madrid), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona), Irene Guerrero (Atletico Madrid), Jenni Hermoso (Pachuca), Maria Perez (Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Claudia Zornoza (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Marta Cardona (Atletico Madrid), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Esther Gonzalez, Eva Navarro (Atletico Madrid), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Head Coach: Jorge Vilda
Seven players including Elene Lete, Jana Fernandez, Sheila Garcia, Fiamma Benitez, Inma Gabarro, Maite Oroz, and Alba Redondo were cut from the initial squad to make the final list. The manager has already decided to not call Sandra Panos, Laia Aleixandri, Lucia Garcia, Leila and Andrea Perei, part of the 15 protesting players, despite making themselves available ahead of the Women’s World Cup. Three of them, Aitana Bonmarti, Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Puetellas and Mariona Caldentey are part of the squad again. Their teammate Patricia Guijarro and Mapi Leon have maintained their stance of not featuring for the squad. Forward Esther Gonzalez is made the captain of the team.
Strength
The strength for Spain is undoubtedly their world-class players. Especially in midfield where the pair of Bonmarti and Putellas is expected to dominate games. The forward line looks stacked and lethal with Caldentey, Hermoso and Paralluelo making the scoring trio. Real Madrid’s record scorer Esther Gonzalez will also take her chance being the captain. Hence, La Roja will carry a fantastic strike force to Australia and New Zealand hoping to do the damage. Additionally, the team is carrying a terrific form to the tournament which is in need of the hour.
Weakness
However, the off-field issues for the side will be a big damage to the team’s progress in the tournament. They still lack prominent players in key areas of the pitch. Mainly in the defence without established names like Mapi Leon or the usual number-one, Sandra Panos. The lack of defensive steel and scorer of two goals in Barcelona’s comeback triumph in the Champions League final, Guijarro is also a big miss. With all respect to the Real Madrid contingent replacing them, the gulf of quality without the elite class will be felt. Even the returning players from the mutiny is not fully complied with the present management and that could cause a lack of trust again.
Key Player: Aitana Bonmarti
While Balon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas gets in her rhythm after nearly a year's absence due to injury, Aitana Bonmarti will take the creator mantle once again. The 25-year-old did so in the absence of the star at the Euros the previous year. Bonmarti is not someone’s replacement but brings a class of herself as proven by earning the best player award in the past Women’s Champions League. The winner with Barcelona scored five goals and delivered seven assists, including one in the final, in one of the most outstanding individual campaigns the competition has ever witnessed. In the league, she contributed to 19 goals for her side in 23 matches as the Catalan giants raced to a record eighth title. Combining with Putellas in the heart of midfield, Bonmarti wants to replicate her club form in her second Women’s World Cup with the national team using her supreme intelligence.
How will Spain Lineup at FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023?
The classic 4-3-3 formation will be renewed with few decisions required at the back. In the absence of Sandra Panos, Real Madrid’s Misa Rodríguez will go in between the sticks while her teammate Ivana Andres could pair Irene Paredes at the centre with no Mapi Leon in the squad. Another Real Madrid player replacing a Barcelona one is Tere Abelleira taking the place of Patricia Guijarro in the defensive midfield role. After missing the Euros last summer with a ligament tear, Alexia Putellas will be starting a major tournament again. So is Jenni Hermoso who is leading the forward line.
Spain Fixtures for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Spain vs Costa Rica - Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (13:00)
Spain vs Zambia - Eden Park, Auckland (13:00)
Japan vs Spain - Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (12:30)
Prediction
Despite the chaos surrounding the team, Spain should not find any difficulty of escaping their group or even topping it. Their deficiency will come to the fore once they reach the knockouts although they might achieve their highest finish in the Women’s World Cup by moving into the quarterfinals. Moving into the last four is also not ruled out but to do that the team needs to find a strong unity from somewhere. There are talents to do so to make it possible and it will be an extraordinary achievement.
Note: All Timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
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