The 2022 European Championship sparked a crisis in Spanish football.
The team went to their debut Euros with certain expectations, including a hope of winning their first competition or, at least, going far. But they were eliminated in the first round of the knockout stages by England in extra time. It proved to be the last straw for many players.
The reckoning was less about losing to England — the eventual winners — and more about Spain’s best generation of footballers being let down by a coach who could not help them in certain matches. While off the field, the players felt that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did not support them enough or provide them with the professional tools that other countries had.
It sparked the ‘Las 15’ movement, with 15 players refusing to return to play for the RFEF until conditions changed. Only three of the 15 played in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which Spain won. That final was marred by the non-consensual kiss from Luis Rubiales to Jennifer Hermoso during the celebrations. It also ended with the dismissal of the then-coach, Jorge Vilda, along with Rubiales.
Who is the manager?
Montse Tome was Vilda’s assistant coach and, following his dismissal, she was appointed head coach in September 2023. Her first roster was limited by players protesting Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss.
At her first press conference, ahead of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers against Sweden and Switzerland in September 2023, Tome said she had spoken to all of the players who had declared themselves ineligible as a group. But the players said they had not spoken to the coach.
As a result, RFEF and the team’s captains met for a long meeting that lasted until the early hours of the morning. The result was a restructuring of the federation.
Over time, tensions have settled, but Tome is a coach that many still see as part of Vilda’s staff. Despite her saying “I am not Jorge Vilda” on several occasions, Tome has not managed to fully win the trust of the dressing room and her future with the team after the Euros is uncertain.
How do they play?
Spain play in a style very similar to Barcelona. In a 4-3-3 formation, they want to dominate the ball, be offensive through possession and position, and get a lot out of their midfield while playing out of defence.
In terms of selection, the defence and midfield are set, with perhaps the only question mark being whether Olga Carmona or Leila Ouahabi will play at left-back.
Up front, there is an excess of attacking options. Mariona Caldentey has been playing as a right-winger, Esther Gonzalez has returned to the national team in fine form, having scored four goals in the last three games, and Real Madrid’s Athenea del Castillo is also in the mix.
Another big question is whether Salma Paralluelo or Claudia Pina will play on the left wing, as both have been selected in the squad. Pina has had a great season, but Spain seem to prefer her as a substitute.
Who are their most influential players?
The midfield trio of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas is the key to Barcelona’s — and Spain’s — success. Mariona Caldentey, of Arsenal, provides a bonus to this setup.
Caldentey was the Women’s Super League (WSL) player of the season and won the Champions League with Arsenal, playing a key role in the final win over Barcelona, her third consecutive Champions League title. Although it is not her ideal position, Tome plays Caldentey as a right-winger.
Arsenal midfielder Caldentey consoles Barcelona’s Bonmati after the Champions League final (Maja Hitij / Getty Images)
Guijarro has returned to defensive midfield after two years playing in the attack, and this is where she shines most. The 27-year-old organises the team, provides balance between attack and defence, and is the compass for her side.
Bonmati was considered one of the top players in the Champions League, but she did not have her best season in Liga F. The 27-year-old still has the ability to shine in big games and is the one who sets the tempo for the team.
Putellas is back to form after an ACL injury suffered the day before the start of Euro 2022, which prevented her from performing at her prime in the World Cup and the following season. This season in Liga F, she has been Barcelona’s top assist provider and second-highest goalscorer behind Ewa Pajor. The 31-year-old gives the team vision and is a player who tends to make good, quick decisions.
What is their biggest strength?
An ability to link up well. The World Cup winners know how to play an attacking and entertaining style of football thanks to the talent of one of the best generations of players the national team has ever had.
It also helps that the core of the team is made up of Barcelona players, who are used to playing together.
What weakness might other teams be able to exploit?
Teams that sit back in a defensive block are Spain’s biggest weakness. Due to their attacking style of play, they can leave themselves exposed at the back and can be hurt by quick counter-attacks.
Any notable absences?
Jennifer Hermoso and Misa Rodriguez. Both were singled out by Tome for what she considered to be bad behaviour that did not help the team after the Olympic Games, where the team failed to collect a medal.
Hermoso is not on the Euros squad. (Marc Atkins/Getty Images,)
What is their strongest starting XI?
How have they performed over the past 12 months?
The last Olympic Games were the first time Spain’s women had played in the Games, and they were left disappointed.
The players expected the organisation to be on a par with the European Championship or the World Cup, but what they found surprised them. The players felt far removed from what the Olympic Games were about, spending little time in the athletes’ village.
“Did I take anything away from the Olympics? The shirt, nothing else,” Caldentey explained in her book, released earlier this year.
On a sporting level, it didn’t end as they had hoped either. They started as favourites, but Brazil beat them 4-2 in the semi-finals. They then lost 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal match.
After the Olympics, Spain drew with Italy and Canada (both 1-1). Since then, they have scored 30 goals in eight games and conceded 10. They collected seven wins and only one defeat (1-0 at Wembley against England in February).
They beat the Lionesses 2-1 in their last game in Barcelona, which gives them confidence for what lies ahead.
What are they expected to achieve at these Euros?
Spain and England have been locked in a battle since Euro 2022, and if the two teams meet in the knockouts, it could be quite the rematch.
The fact that Spain won the last match in Barcelona, which qualified them for the Nations League semi-final, gives them a boost of confidence. But the memory of the match played at Wembley remains fresh in their minds, as does the fact they have always found it difficult to beat the Lionesses.
The group they have been drawn into is manageable: Portugal, Belgium and Italy. They faced the first two opponents in the first phase of the Nations League, beating Portugal 7-1 and 4-2 over two matches. They beat Belgium 5-1 and 3-2 over their two fixtures. In October, they drew 1-1 with Italy, the only opponent who could complicate things.
Many are focusing on the semi-finals, where they could face England, though the teams from northern Europe also command a certain amount of respect.
Did you know?
In Spain’s last starting 11 against England in the Nations League, which will likely be the one Tome will use for the Euros, nine of the 11 players were from Barcelona or had played for the club at some point.
Laia Aleixandri played in the club’s youth teams and Mariona Caldentey played there until last summer when she signed for Arsenal. Carmona signed with Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in June.
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
