They lost the best two players in the world but Spain will fight on and will enjoy it too, their captain vowed on the eve of a tournament they just want to start now – before anything else can go wrong.
“When they face adversity, all humans seek to overcome. We’re a resilient team and know what we have to do: play football,” Irene Paredes said as she prepared for the selección’s opening game against Finland. “Maybe more things have happened than normal but there are 23 of us, the moment has come and we’re ready, raring to go.”
First Spain lost Jenni Hermoso, the Ballon d’Or runner-up and their all-time top scorer to a knee injury. Next they had a Covid outbreak, five players picking up the virus, although Mapí León, Sheila García, Sandra Paños, Andrea Pereira and Marta Cardona were all able to rejoin the squad. And then on Tuesday, the Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas felt a crunch in her left knee during a small-sided game in training. Tests the following day confirmed the worse possible news: she had torn the anterior cruciate ligament.
Although she has chosen to stay with Spain at their Bisham Abbey training base and was at Stadium MK watching her teammates train on Thursday evening, Putellas faces 10 months out. As for the team, they have had to go through what coach Jorge Vilda described as a period of mourning.
That, though, must end in Milton Keynes, where Paredes insisted: “We’re clear about what we want to be. Whoever is there, we have a clear idea of how to play. We’ve had various big blows but we’re a team that comes back stronger. We have to enjoy it: when we enjoy it, we are better.”
Puetallas has been replaced by Real Sociedad striker Amaiur Sarriegi, who had been a surprise absence from the original squad. She was at Port Aventura theme park in Tarragona when she was told, with Vilda, saying she had answered the call in such a hurry that she flew straight to England without any of her stuff, which has had to be fetched for her.
“The day before yesterday was not the best: it was a big shock, a huge blow for everyone: for the team and for [Alexia], thinking about what she’s going to miss,” Vilda said. “But the next day, 48 hours before our first match, the team met, it came together, united and made a promise. We can’t let the sadness and anger over what has happened [affect us]. There is no choice but to come together, be stronger, and fight even more. She is still with us, a captain and an example to us all. Now we just want the ball to roll.”
He added: “It’s not just football; it’s about the group too. Hers is an absence we feel. But I want to show total confidence in the 23 players we have: there are alternatives and quite a few players who can play on the inside left of midfield. Our philosophy comes above all else and we have 23 players who can play that way perfectly.”
Although he again repeated a recurring message, insisting that Spain should not be considered favourites and that the expectations placed upon them have been unrealistic, Vilda said: “That’s not us turning away from the challenge. I wouldn’t change any of my players for anyone’s.”
The Euros itself though might have changed just about anyone for Putellas, the world’s best player, Finland coach Anna Signeul saying: “Her absence is really bad for the tournament. It doesn’t matter what players Spain put on the pitch; they’re a fantastic team.
“They have a lot of Putellas on their team. You would be wrong if you think that they will come out weaker. [But] It’s sad for Spain, it’s sad for the tournament, and especially it’s sad for her. She’s not alone in it happening. I was Scotland manager when Kim Little tore her ACL before the Euros and it’s devastating for the player. It’s a loss and I feel really sad for her, we all do.”
