#spanish women's football team

[lucawrites11]

What the Spanish Line-Up should be if Montse's head wasn't up her ass.

The Forward Line:

Salma has been unfairly been facing a lot of criticism for her familiar to score and create chances but she is playing in the wrong position in the 9 after spending two seasons at Barcelona adapting to playing on the wing. This is why I propose playing her on the left-wing.

First of all, Salma has preferred playing down that left hand side and it's clear in her heat maps against both Japan (left) and Nigeria (right).

Furthermore, in the six shots over two games that she has taken, Salma is shooting off her left foot with three on her left, two on her right and one on her head.

Ona Batlle has been playing that left and right back role but she can partner Salma well with their speed link ups down the left wing. With the other full back options, her role is best at left back at present so playing Salma on the left wing allows the exploitation of that.

The opposite wing should be occupied by mariona caldentey. The right wing is not her preferred position but the speed of Ona and Salma should be kept on the same side of the pitch. Mariona's experience should partner nicely with the relative inexperience of Laia Aleixandri.

The centre forward role should be occupied by Jenni. She is Spain's best 9 in recent history and her ability to play that false 9 is unmatched no matter how old she is. Also the ability of Alexia and Jenni to partner on the pitch should not be underestimated. Their overlapping runs and ability to occupy the space that each other needs to occupy with no communication is invaluable to a side that is struggling to score like Spain is. Jenni's positioning in the box is more effective than Mariona or Salma. She can also help improve Spain's ability to score with her ability to hold up the ball inside the box to create chances and her ability to score from corners. It's actually absurd that Montse is not playing her.

The Defense:

At right back, Olga Carmona has been poor defensively and Oihane Hernández hasn't been an effective replacement. it's clear that fourth defensive player at full back is a problem that Montse has recognised unable to chose between Oihane and Olga but there is another option in Laia Aleixandri who has played right back before at club and country. I would go so far to say that she's just as good at right back as centre back.

In the WSL this season she has effectively played that right back role and it's evident in her season's heat map.

To replace Aleixandri at centre back Codina is there on the bench with a very impressive defensive ability when she's been given a chance to show it and is familiar partnering with Irene Paredes from playing against Barcelona. Also the match tomorrow is a good time to test the defensive partnership with little pressure.

The Midfield:

The APA (Alexia, Patri, Aitana) midfield is a no brainer. it's familiar and positive and attacking focused rather than Teresa Abelleira who clearly thought she was playing rugby and was only allowed to pass the ball backwards.

The Substitutes and the Bench:

23 players are in the team but only 18 can be in the squad on matchday. I do not believe that Montse has been effectively selecting her bench. The seven players should be:

Misa Rodríguez (GK)

Alba Redondo

Athenea del Castillo

Teresa Abelleira

Vicky López

Olga Carmona

Jana Fernández

Lucía García has been ineffective at both club and country, Alba Redondo has been a much more effective scorer and plays that more traditional 9 that can replace Jenni Hermoso. Alba Redondo should be the replacement for Jenni in the sixtieth or seventieth minute.

My preferred replacement winger would be Eva Navarro for this match. Eva Navarro should be the first choice to change the game and provide a goal scoring threat considering the hard time Athenea del Castillo has been having in front of goal and partnering with the rest of the squad effectively especially in terms of the overlapping runs. With Brazil being a low pressure game, it would be a good time for her to stretch her legs.

Teresa Abelleira and Vicky López should both sub into the midfield to give Alexia and Aitana a rest in the congested schedule no matter the score.

If there are injuries, Olga Carmona and Jana Fernández are good subs off the bench. I would like to see, however, Ona Batlle being given a break by the more versatile Jana Fernández to keep her minutes managed like Alexia and Aitana in the congested schedule.

[hjellacott]

This is why Spain is not playing as great as usually. Many of our players have been kicked off the team for protesting for equality.

[alexiasleftoversalmon]

Ona’s hands….. and arms

Ok that’s it 🫡😮‍💨🥵

[talkingwoso]

A year ago today…. world champions ⭐️

[pernillecfcw]

@ingrid_engen - this past month was extra special 🤎🧸🪴🎞️

[sunshine-theseus]

Fuck the RFEF | Amaiur Sarrigei x Reader

Words: 1.8k Summary: you refuse to play for the national team, risking your playing license, Amaiur disagrees Warnings: angst, !!mentions of SA!!, let’s pretend the girls are on a break in Barca before the call-up and Amaiur went to the wwc Requested by - @realsociadadferminofan

Patri, Cláudia and Mapi were who I always went to when something went wrong. Joining the 3 in abstaining from national team call ups after the 2022 Euros and being one of the 4 that refused a call-up for the world cup due to lack of action toward Jorge Vilda’s misconduct, they were basically my closest friends. Not to say the other girls didn’t mean a lot, I know if they felt like they could, they’d have joined us in refusing. But these 3 were who I had when I felt like crying as I watched my friends and girlfriend win the biggest football tournament in the world.

This also meant I’d go to them with relationship problems.

-

“What do you mean?” Patri had quickly paused the movie she was watching and called Mapi and Cláudia over when I came crying and banging on her door.

“I told her ‘I don’t care about losing my license if it means going against my morals and everything I’ve protested’ and she called me selfish and brainless.” Another sob wracks my body and I fall back into the arms of whoever is next to me.

“Amaiur said that?” it’s Cláudia who asks, tone of voice proving how ludicrous Am’s actions were.

“Verbatim.”

--

“Am! Did you get the email?” I yell across the house for my girlfriend who sits in the living room doing God knows what.

“Sí! Did you?”

“Yeah! What did you say?” my teeth worry at my bottom lip as I wait for her answer.

“I said yes, it’s a national call up. What about you?” I’m not sure what to say as my girlfriend strolls into our bedroom, holding her phone to her face.

She’s clearly re-reading the email we’d all been sent. An email majority of us had signed a statement saying we should not receive if changes were not made, especially after the events at the world cup.

“No.”

“Que? Que quieres decir ‘no'?” (what do you mean ‘no’?) Amaiur gives me a shocked look as I retreat beneath our blankets.

“Nothing has changed Am. How am I supposed to go back? Did you even read the full email? ‘If you refuse this national team call-up, your professional playing license may be revoked in correlation to the Spanish FIFA and RFEF code of conduct.’ They’re forcing me to reject my morals and risk my entire career for some shit call-up.” Angry tears prick at the corner of my eyes. This isn’t fair, how does she find this fair?

“Bebé, they got rid of Rubiales and Jorge, that’s what everyone was fighting for. You, Mapi, Patri and Cláudia, you can come back now.”

“Amaiur how do you not see nothing has fucking changed just because they got rid of two shitty people? Alexia, Ona, they wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t to protect the other girls, especially the younger ones. Esas chicas merecen algo major.” (those girls deserve better).

“So you’re not going? You’re giving up your career for this? You’re being a selfish and brainless cabrona!” (dumbass) the anger quickly melts off her face and regret fills her eyes, but I’m already pulling the sheets off me and heading for the door.

I grab my keys from the bowl that sits on the table beside the door, and leave. Her pleas for me to come back so she can apologise are futile as I walk down the hall. Señor Perez, the old man with many cats, sits at the end of the hall, giving me a pitiful smile that I return before making my way down the stairs.

--

“Ese pedazo de mierda.” (that piece of shit) it’s the first thing Mapi has said all evening, but it makes me laugh.

“No. I mean yes, but I still love her, I don’t think she meant it. We were both just angry.” It’s hard not to defend the girl I’ve loved for so long, but I know I’m right.

She’s always supported my decision to stand up against the RFEF and higher-ups. I just think she expected after Rubiales and Vilda were gone, we’d be playing together again. Admittedly I’d momentarily thought the same, but there was no way I could go back.

“Are you guys going?” the trio give each other guilty looks before turning to me. No one says anything.

“It’s okay if you do. I truly understand, you guys shouldn’t risk your careers for this. You’re being forced into it and that isn’t fair. I’ll support you no matter what.” I place an arm around Patri and grab Cláudia and Mapi’s hands.

“Thank you hermosa. We’re still going to fight this, from the inside.” Mapi says it in a funny voice and sends me a wink and I can’t stop the laugh that escapes.

Not much else can be said before we settle down on the couch to continue whatever movie it is the Patri has playing. Despite me calming down, I didn’t think I was in a state to return to my girlfriend quite yet. The universe seems to disagree.

There’s a loud knocking on the door and a familiar voice rings out from behind it.

“Patri, I know Y/n is in there! I need to talk to her! Please?” I’m standing and opening the door before anyone can reply.

Amaiur doesn’t waist a second in spewing out apologies and wrapping her arms around me. I reciprocate the gesture and begin rocking us back and forth. It’s hard to ignore the stares of our Spanish teammates who sit looking on in the living room.

“I’m so, so sorry, I can’t believe I said that to you. I stand by you, you know that. I’m just so scared for you and your career. You love playing so much and you might lose it all because of this.” I let out a sigh and pull away, resting a hand on her cheek.

“Do you want to know why I’m so willing to risk it all? Why I need this change so bad before I can come back?” she gives a simple shake of her head.

I have to give myself a second, swallowing nervously as I look into her eyes. The warmest, most beautiful eyes. She should know, I’ve hid it for too long.

“When… When we played in the Euros, there was one night where I was feeling bad. You were out with some of the girls, and I was in our room alone. Well around an hour after you left, Vilda came bursting in, obviously we weren’t allowed to lock our doors so there was nothing to stop him. He asked why I wasn’t doing team bonding and I told him I wasn’t feeling well. He came toward me and hugged me like he was going to comfort me, but-” I begin to choke on my words and tears breach my waterline. I can’t bare to look at the girls around me.

Am places a hand softly over my hand that rests on my own arm and I take a deep breath before continuing.

“His hands began to stray. I told him to stop and shoved him away, but he just kept going. He groped my ass and boobs, tried taking my clothes off. He slipped his hand down my shorts.”

“Did he…” Amauri is too scared to finish her sentence.

“He didn’t get that far; someone came knocking on the door and he just left with a sick grin.”

“Did you report him?” Everyone around me looks like they’re about to throw up, but for the most part they look angry.

“I reported him to every higher-up I could. They laughed me off and told me I was being delusional. That is why I can’t go back until there is actual change. Especially after what happened to Jenni and knowing other girls have been through it too. If that means I lose the job I love? So be it. They won’t shut me up.”

“I’m not goin-” Am tries.

“Yes you fucking are. I already told those 3, and I will tell Alexia and Marta and Mariona and whoever else I need to. You have to go, to ensure things change. And to make sure the younger girls are safe.” Cláudia, Patri and Mapi have all disappeared, so it just leaves me and my girlfriend.

“For you. I’ll do anything for you bebé.” I stand on my tippy toes to press a kiss to her lips.

“Thank you.”

~~~~~

4 members of the Spanish Women’s National Team have been released from international duty without sanctions, not including Alexia Putellas who has been allowed to leave due to injury. Is the change we’ve been waiting for, finally coming?

It’s the main headline across all media platforms the morning of the second day of camp. A 7-hour meeting to release 4 players. Fucking ridiculous.

Despite it, a smile tugs at my lips as I sit in bed, the sun filtering through the stained-glass windows of Amaiur and my bedroom back in Donostia-San Sebastian. I wait patiently for my girlfriend to arrive, a cup of coffee on her bedside time while my own rests in my left hand.

“Hola bebé! Is that coffee I smell?” the door slams shut behind Amaiur and her footsteps slowly creep closer to the bedroom.

I place my coffee on my own bedside table and get up, pouncing into her arms when she walks through the open door. She stumbles for a moment before adjusting her grip on my thighs, smiling brightly up at me as I lean down and kiss her hard.

My hands thread through her hair and she turns us around and walks forward to press me against the wall. In a moment of weakness, she squeezes my thigh and I let out a moan, allowing her to slip her tongue past my lips.

Not long after, we have to break apart for air.

“You’d think I’d been missing for months with the way you kiss me.”

“Any amount of time away from you it too long.” I give her a small smile and she pecks my nose, making me giggle.

“Can we cuddle and drink coffee while we watch movies?” I pout at her as puts me back on my two feet.

“Anything for my girl.”

Very soon after, I find myself in her arms on the couch, all curtains drawn shut, warm cups of coffee abandoned on the table, Encanto playing loudly on the TV. Naturally I sing along poorly and quote every line.

“Have you heard from the RFEF about your license?” I smile into her neck at the question.

“I get to keep it. And they gave an apology. Not that it means much still, but we’re getting there.” Amaiur squeals and jumps off the couching, taking me with her. She lifts me up and spins me around before putting me back down, spreading kissing across my face. My heart clenches at her display of love. How can one be so perfect?

[orlandospride]

the twist of fate being that spain winning the world cup was, perhaps, exactly what was necessary to happen in order to clean up the rfef, because….

they got away with it. they were in the clear. they achieved their goals of ridding the team of the ‘problem’ players, and forcing the others into grovelling, humiliating, public compliance. they had the perfect “see? we were right all along. we’ve been vindicated!” playbook in their back pocket. they had a stable enough pr stance, and world cup to parade around in the defiance of any noise around them

but they literally just could not stop themselves from being absolute weirdos for one evening. it’s incredible. and frankly, a little scary

[wosona]

bon día to you too miss batlle 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

[useless-catalanfacts]

Hi! I was wondering if Alexia Putellas ever played for the Catalan NT, and if it's true that the reason why there's a "law" that says footballers in Spain can't refuse to show up for a Spain NT game if they are called is to prevent Galician, Basque and Catalans from refusing to represent Spain? :o

Yes, Alexia Putellas has played with the Catalan National Team (source). It's difficult to find information on the Catalan NT because it's not recognised by FIFA (because the Spanish Football Federation and the Supreme Sports Council of the Spanish Government blocked the request) and so it plays few games, only with the NTs of other places that aren't recognised by FIFA. And on top of that, women's football was barely ever even mentioned before 4 years ago or so, and now only every so often.

The Spanish Sport Law includes the fact that it's mandatory to play for the Spanish NT if you're called (Catalan political parties are trying to abolish this part of the Law). Yes, no need to add "" to law, because it's an actual law.

However, this hasn't always been followed by male athletes. For example, in 2005 the Catalan footballer Oleguer Presas was called to play in the Spanish NT and he met up with the coach to explain that he refuses because he's an independentist and that the thinks the Spanish NT should instead hire someone who wants to be there. The coach understood that having a player who actively doesn't want to be there won't result in an effective team, so he didn't call him. Presas wasn't punished because he acted to prevent breaking the law: he met up with the coach immediately when he announced he wanted to call him for the NT, before the NT made the official call, so he wasn't technically breaking the law because the players hadn't been officially called. The same thing was done by the Galician player Nacho Fernández in 1995, he spoke to the coach preventively, before being officially called, and convinced him to not issue the official calling.

The most famous recent case was in 2018, Gerard Piqué also refused to play with the Spanish NT. After he had played with them for years and got yelled insults and Catalanophobic hate at the stadiums, he announced he would not play for Spain any more.

But both Presas and Piqué were male football players who won the male Champions League with Barça. Male football players of the top level are already paid a lot and have their own attention and work future outside of the NTs, while female football players don't get the security of keeping this as a job with enough payment nor a stable future, so it's more difficult for them to have the conditions to be able to stand up to the NT and the Federation (which makes them even braver for having stood up against the coach's abuse and later also against Rubiales' forced kiss and sexual harassment and the federation for defending him).

Plus, Presas and Fernández (I'm unsure of what Piqué did) convinced the coach not to officially call them in the first place. The women's NT coach will not be convinced in the current situation, so the female players will officially be called and if they continue to refuse they'll be harshly punished. The Federation can't let them get away, they are standing up for themselves and for the rights of women athletes in front of the world. In the eyes of many directives of the Federation, women are supposed to accept that men can do anything they want to women, in fact, we should be thankful that they let us play football at all! They're going to be punished for rebelling.

Catalan male sportsmen have also been heavily punished for refusing to play for Spain. The most notable case is the hockey team. Hockey is quite popular in Catalonia but not in Spain, there are many hockey teams all around Catalonia and many people play it, with many of these teams having become very good. In 2004, the Catalan NT was allowed to compete in a Men's B World Championship in Macau (btw, Catalonia won the championship), because Catalonia was in process of being reviewed to be allowed or not into the International Federation (FIRS) and had received a provisional licence. After this, FIRS denied Catalonia access to the Federation so they could never play again. But anyway, in this context, the Men's B World Championship and the top level Men's World Championship were being held at the same time. The Catalan players who had been called for the Spanish NT explained they would not play for Spain in the World Championship and instead they would play for Catalonia in the B Championship (which, again, they won). As a result, these players (including Ivan Tibau, Jaume Llavarola and David Cáceres) were expelled from the Spanish Hockey Federation and weren't allowed to play any more.

To go back to the women's football case. After the Sports Law states that it's mandatory to play for a Spanish NT, each sport federation has its own internal rules about how they'll deal with a person who refuses. Here's what the Spanish Football Federation's Code of Discipline says about it (source):

[The football players who refuse to play for the Spanish NT] will be sanctioned with a fine ranging from 3,006 to 30,051€ and with one or many of the following sanctions:

— Being barred from occupying a position in the federation's organization, or having their licence suspended or removed, for a time period of 2 to 5 years.

— Deprivation of licence, in a definitive way; this sanction can only be imposed in an exceptional way for relapse or very grave infractions.

If they remove their license, they can't play anymore. And that's a huge fine (30,000€ = more than 31,700 US $), female football players don't get paid that much.

The Spanish Sports Law has already been used to punish national minorities (Catalans) who were dissidents, and the same threat is used against women for their dissidence. Being treated like that and then being forced to play for them sure will make you do your best for that team, won't it?/s :') But after all, that's no difference from what being forced to be part of Spain is like.

[buttergirlepic]

i know some people don’t really like iker casillas but he’s 100% right here we should’ve been spending these days and weeks praising the spanish team for their achievement but one man who holds the entitlement of an army took that away from them and made himself the centre of attention cause he’s a cunt who couldn’t keep his grubby little hands to himself and that’s actually vile

[elenitrack]

Salma Paralluelo 🇪🇸

2023 FIFA World Cup

[alexiasleftoversalmon]

Pookies looking like mafia leaders but hey not complaining 😮‍💨🥵🫡

[stargirlsfc]

In light of the recent news regarding the formal call-up of the Spanish players for the upcoming Nations League qualifiers, I thought I would make a dedicated blog post for anyone confused:

(all my sources are at the bottom of the post)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Happened?

On September 15 2023, Alexia Putellas posted the first official letter containing signatures from 23 world champions players 39 additional players. The letter outlines their refusal for a national team call-up as well as demands including the resignation of the current president of the RFEF, and a restructuring of the organisational chart of women’s football. Soon after, many of the players took to social media to post the same formal statement.

Their statement reads:

"The players of the Absolute National Team, recent world champions, as well as their teammates, wish to express, as they did on August 25, 2023, their enormous discontent after the events that occurred at the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup, and the subsequent extraordinary assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’.

It continued: ‘The events that unfortunately everyone has been able to see are not something specific and go beyond sports. In the face of these acts we must have zero tolerance, for our partner, for us and for all women’.

‘Several weeks after what happened, we want to make public the holding of various meetings with the RFEF in which the changes that we understand are basic to be able to move forward and have been expressed clearly and forcefully by the staff reached a structure that does not tolerate or take part in such degrading events’"

Today, September 18 2023, the Official Twitter Account for Spain's Women's National Football Team posted a video of the players that are due to represent Spain in the Nations League qualifiers against Sweden. Among them were Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro, Amaiur Sarriegi, and Lucía García– all of which had signed the formal statement refusing a call up.

Can the players just not turn up?

Yes and No.

It is said that rejecting the call-up is a punishable offence as it is viewed as a very serious infraction by Spain’s National Sports Law (see Article 104 (1)(c)

-- Article 104. Very serious infractions

For the purposes of this law, the following are considered very serious infractions:

a) The violation of sanctions imposed for serious or very serious infractions.

b) Actions aimed at predetermining, through money, intimidation or simple agreements, the result of a test or competition, whether or not it affects the result, and, in general, actions that involve an attempt to alter the normal development of a competition or sporting activity.

c) The unjustified lack of attendance at the calls of the national sports teams, as well as players who have been designated to be part of the national teams that fail to make themselves available.

This means refusing a call up is punishable by law.

What Are The Punishments?

Article 108 of the Sports Law details what the consequences would be in the case of a very serious infractions offence.

-- Article 108. Sanctions for the commission of very serious infractions.

For the commission of very serious infractions classified in article 104.1, the following sanctions may be imposed, in appropriate proportion to the infraction committed:

a) Financial fine, not less than €3,000.01 nor more than €30,000 .

b) Loss of points or positions in the classification.

c) Loss or demotion in category or division.

d) Sports event or competition to be played behind closed doors.

e) Prohibition of access to stadiums or places where tests or competitions are held for a period of no more than five years.

f) Definitive loss of the rights that, as a partner or member of the respective society, association or sports entity, correspond to you.

g) Closure of the sports venue for a period between four games/meetings and a complete season.

h) Disqualification from holding positions in the sports entity for a period between two and fifteen years, in appropriate proportion to the infraction committed.

i) Suspension of federal license or equivalent temporary qualification for a period between two and fifteen years.

What Happens Now? We'll just have to wait and see what the players decide to do. But there's never been a time to show your support for these players more than now.

Sources:

Alexia Putellas Official Twitter

Cuenta oficial de la Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol | Official Account for Spain's Women's National Football Team Twitter

Diario AE: What happens if Spain’s women reject national team call-up

EuroWeekly: 'Spanish Football In Chaos As Women’s World Cup Winners Refuse Call-Up For Latest Squad'

[pernillecfcw]

Mapi fit check 🩵🔥

[hjellacott]

JORGE VILDA FIRED, MONTSE TOMÉ BECOMES SPAIN'S FIRST FEMALE FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM +18 HEAD COACH

I've been telling you for months that Spain winning the World Cup would be a great thing and the beginning of the end for Rubiales, Vilda, and all those bastards.

[bluemartiann]

Which FIFA wwc 2023 team are you supporting?