Golden Era of Spanish Talent

With their skill pool, Spain is in a golden period. The country is home to numerous outstanding talents, some well-known and some not so much. Their most noteworthy player, Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, now regarded as the unrivalled, untouchable talent, emerged fast through the rankings. Alexia is one of several Spanish athletes that was not recognised for their exceptional football ability until Barcelona won the Champions League in 2021. And perhaps it also says a lot about the accessibility of the league.

Spain vs Australia, Women's Friendlies. Photo by SeFutbolFem
Spain vs Australia, Women's Friendlies. Photo by SeFutbolFem

 

Spain has a plethora of talented players, including Patri Guijarro, Athenea del Castillo, Ona Batlle, etc. Each of these players has had a beneficial influence on their respective clubs. Nerea Eizagirre and Amaiur Sarriegi topped the player with the most goals list in the Spanish league, just below Geyse/Asisat Oshoala, Alexia and Lieke Martens. It must be noted that most of these players, like Ona Batlle, Athenea del Castillo, Amaiur Sarriegi, etc., are still developing and yet to reach their peak. At the same time, players like Alexia Putellas, Sandra Paños, Irene Paredes, etc., are currently in their prime footballing stage.

This suggests that the Spanish National Team's present and future are stacked. However, is this golden period of talent being harnessed to its full potential? That is a mystery in and of itself. 

Jorge Vilda's Reluctance to Call Up Players

Anyone who has followed La Roja for a long time knows that Jorge Vilda is enamoured with some players and has a difficult time calling up others. Vilda has been hesitant to call up a backup pivot for Patri Guijarro since Virginia Torrecilla departed La Roja owing to health concerns. Maitane López, a natural pivot who had been with the squad till 2019, has not been called up since. Instead, he has continued to overwork Patri at the pivot position. 

Vilda constantly brings up the same players, despite injury concerns, despite having many choices. The Arnold Clark Cup, which took place earlier this year in England, is a prime example. Here are some of the problems faced during the Arnold Clark Cup 

  • Mariona Caldentey, a player, returning to the pitch after a long-term injury, started in the opener against Germany. She was then substituted early in the first half after a recurring injury to the same knee.  
  • Athenea del Castillo, Player of the Tournament for the Arnold Clark Cup, was called up as a replacement after Mariona's injury. 
  • Spain could not score many goals, with Alexia Putellas being their leading goalscorer relying heavily on the midfield as their attacking power and lack of a proper striker. 
  • Overworking Patri in pivot as there was no replacement.  
  • Starting the same players in all three games repeatedly. 
  • Multiple injuries were completely avoidable.
Spain vs England, Arnold Clark Cup. Photo by SeFutbolFem
Spain vs England, Arnold Clark Cup. Photo by SeFutbolFem

Claudia Zornoza is another athlete who has been refused several call-ups due to Vilda's refusal—instead preferring to play with the same squad repeatedly. Zornoza is a classic midfielder who knows how and when to pass the ball well. Though her strength is not defending, she can still play as a pivot.

Spain does not have the best reputation in tournament football, despite having elite quality in their roster. Jorge Vilda is maybe the most critical cause for this. The European Championships may, unfortunately, be no different.

Over-Reliance on players from Barcelona

The majority of the national team roster plays for Spanish club champions FC Barcelona, and many of the same players appear in the La Roja starting XI. Jorge Vilda is renowned for relying far too heavily on Barcelona players.

To put it into context, as previously said, Jorge's over-reliance on Blaugrana players is why he started the Arnold Clark Cup with a recently recovered Mariona Caldentey. These athletes have spent years playing together and conversing on the field without even glancing at one other. It's a flawless strategy that works. Because there isn't much that has to be done to get the most out of these players, Vilda finds it easier just to put them on the field and call it a day.

Another issue caused by this over-reliance is the potential of injury to these athletes. Claudia Pina suffered a hamstring injury while competing in the Arnold Clark Cup versus Germany. Having the same players play 90 minutes in such short competitions without rests or maintaining their demanding club commitments may result in more injuries. Unfortunately, due to Vilda's over-reliance, La Roja encounters this problem frequently. 

What If Jugar y Luchar Is Not Enough to Win?

The 28 players called up for the preliminary camp in Madrid sparked a lot of fan controversy, in typical Jorge Vilda manner. This is because Vilda opted to leave out several key players once again, but there were some shocks as well. In a nutshell, it was predictable.

The 28-player La Roja lineup, which included Salma Paralluelo and Ainhoa Moraza, was a pleasant surprise. The surprise, though, was fleeting. The absence of athletes such as Claudia Zornoza, Alba Redondo, and Martin Prieto sparked outrage among supporters. There was no obvious substitute for Patri Guijarro this time around once again. During the press conference following the squad's announcement, Jorge Vilda listed Laia Aleixandri, a former Atletico de Madrid (now Manchester City) centreback, as Patri's backup. And it doesn't stop there. Jorge Vilda has once again managed to exclude players of exceptional skill from the National Team. Missing names include Maitane Lopez, Carmen Menayo, and Nuria Rabano, among others.

Jenni Hermoso did not train on the first day of the preparation camp, while Esther Gonzalez trained separately from the rest of the squad. Jenni Hermoso had to leave camp and was ruled out of the Euro squad due to injury, subsequently confirmed. Claudia Zornoza steps in as her replacement. The 28 players who are now without the country's leading goal scorer practised for the friendly versus Australia.

Spain defeated the Matildas, who missed several key players, 7-0. What followed this matchday was expected, in typical Jorge Vilda form. The supporters, however, were in for a rude awakening.

From 28 to 23, Where the Wheels Come Off the Bus

The announcement of Vilda's final 23-man lineup stunned many fans and media. While everyone liked introducing specific players, such as Claudia Pina, most of the team seemed incomplete.

The biggest mystery was the absence of Amaiur Sarriegi from the final team roster. The presence of eight defenders, the absence of Claudia Zornoza and Nerea Eizagirre. Including Salma Paralluelo despite never being tested against any team and enabling Marta Cardona to reach the final roster despite being injured for most of the club season and not playing many games.

Spanish Women's National Team Final EURO Squad. Source: UEFA
Spanish Women's National Team Final EURO Squad. Source: UEFA

 

Given that the squad featured eight defenders, a striker who had not previously played 90 minutes, and another striker who had not been tested, the entire roster appeared to be a nightmare.

As if that wasn't enough, Salma Paralluelo had to withdraw from the squad due to an injury. It begs the question, if Jenni Hermoso had to quit the team due to injury, how did Salma make it to the final roster while injured. To top it all off, Teresa Abelleira steps in as Salma's successor. Tere Abelleira, Real Madrid's midfielder, is called upon to replace a striker? Amaiur Sarriegi, a striker with 17 goals in 30 league games, was left out for an undisclosed reason. And if another midfielder is needed, why not Claudia Zornoza? 

Lack Of Tactics, Vibes Only

It appears that Jorge Vilda has always lacked tactical understanding because none of his judgments makes sense to a rational individual. Continuing from where we left off, the presence of Tere Abelleira calls Laia Aleixandri's position and task into doubt. Tere Abelleira is a logical substitute for Patri Guijarro at the pivot position. However, as previously stated by Jorge Vilda, the replacement he sees in the role is Laia Aleixandri. So, now that Tere has been selected for the final team, where does this leave Laia?

Spain has always struggled to score goals due to a lack of a natural striker. Unfortunately, none of these issues has been addressed, and the squad appears to be an unpolished version. Such tactical gaffes make one wonder if Jorge Vilda is making the best of the talent at his disposal.

One of the main reasons for Spain's lack of international success is Jorge Vilda. With the quality at his disposal, this squad might have been invincible, but his defiance is leading to their downfall during the country's golden era. The Spanish Football Federation extends his contract until 2024, including the World Cup next year, noting that his extension has provided them security and hope in their dedication to women's football.

Spain vs Australia, Women's Friendlies. Photo by SeFutbolFem
Spain vs Australia, Women's Friendlies. Photo by SeFutbolFem

 

Everyone has high hopes for the squad due to the excitement around their club performances. What is critical to realise, though, is that Jorge Vilda's act is very different from what happens in the clubs. The players are under a lot of pressure because of all the promotions and hype around the squad. Former Barcelona coach Lluis Cortes stated in an interview, "If you don't know what to do with the ball, pass to Alexia, and she will know," as an example of the pressure mentioned above. It reveals a lot about the sort of pressure the coach puts on the athlete. The pressing opponents had on Alexia was extensively seen in the game versus Australia, with three players marking her at all times.

The best generation of Spanish football players might be left without winning any title with Spain because of Vilda's lack of tactical skills and understanding of the evergrowing women's game. In the seven years that Vilda has managed this squad, brutally and realistically, the players' potential and talent have covered for his incompetence.

 

 

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