23 players available. 23 Ballon d’Ors. The 23 best soccer players in the world. Jorge Vilda, the national coach, was full of praise for his squad behind the historic victory over Switzerland in the round of 16, but he knows that he needs more of her if he wants to continue in the World Cup. “I’ve seen the team do well both offensively and defensively, but if we want to be in the semifinals we have to improve,” said the coach in his most autocratic version.
Vilda has used 22 of the 23 players called up in this World Cup, with only Enith Salón remaining to debut, seen what has been seen, the third goalkeeper in Spain. “That we are 23 are not only words, but are facts,” she justifies. Of the 32 teams participating in the World Cup, only Sweden and Portugal emulate Spain, leaving only one soccer player (goalkeeper) without playing..
Distribution of minutes in Spain (until the quarterfinals)
- 360 minutes – 4 starts – Irene Paredes
- 346 minutes – 4 starts – Jenni Hermoso
- 316 minutes – 4 starts – Aitana Bonmat
- 312 minutes – 4 starts – Ona Batlle
- 300 minutes – 4 starts – Tere Abelleira
- 285 minutes – 4 starts – Salma Paralluelo
- 270 minutes – 3 starts – Misa Rodrguez
- 225 minutes – 3 starts – Olga Carmona
- 192 minutes – 1 starts – Alba Redondo
- 183 minutes – 1 starts – Oihane Hernndez
- 180 minutes – 2 starts – Ivana Andrs
- 171 minutes – 2 starts – Mariona Caldentey
- 134 minutes – 2 starts – Alexia Putellas
- 134 minutes – 2 starts – Esther Gonzlez
- 101 minutes – 0 starts – Eva Navarro
- 90 minutes – 1 entitlements – Tasting Coll
- 90 minutes – 1 starters – Laia Codina
- 90 minutes – 1 starters – Roco Glvez
- 77 minutes – 1 starts – Athenea del Castillo
- 44 minutes – 0 starts – Irene Guerrero
- 33 minutes – 0 starts – Claudia Zornoza
- 27 minutes – 0 starts – Mara Prez
- 0 minutes – 0 starts – Enith Saln
From Euro 2017 to World Cup 2023
The technician thus breaks with the modus operandi of his three previous tournaments as senior coach. In the 2017 Euro Cup, the first official tournament in which Vilda occupied the absolute bench, six called up were left without playing (Lola Gallardo, Mariasun Quiones, Celia Jimnez, Alexandra López, Paula Nicart and Esther González), having Virginia Torrecilla only 11 minutes.
In the 2019 World Cup, four players were left blank (Lola Gallardo, Mariasun Quiones, Ivana Andrs and Andrea Pereira) and four others played less than an hour: Celia Jimnez (5 minutes), Amanda Sampedro (45), Andrea Snchez Falcn (57) and Aitana Bonmat (59).
In the 2022 Eurocup the same four players were left without participating (Lola Gallardo, Misa Rodrguez, Ivana Andrs and Andrea Pereira), although two other players stepped on the green in a testimonial way: Amaiur Sarriegi (11 minutes) and Claudia Pina (34).
Six indisputable headlines
Despite the rotations, Jorge starts with an incorruptible base. Six players have repeated ownership in the four World Cup matches played so far: Irene Paredes, Jenni Hermoso, Aitana Bonmat, Ona Batlle, Tere Abelleira and Salma Paralluelo. “I wanted to pass this small ceiling that we had, but now we have to continue. There have been many qualifiers and many games and it is a huge joy,” he says. Paredes, the only one of this selection that has played everything and one of the three survivors Euro 2013.
The other two are Alexia and Jenni. The first one is not having as much prominence as usual, since she is coming out of an injury and seems short of rhythm, but the second is being another of the outstanding pieces of the national team’s machinery, adding three goals and an MVP to his account.. “After the round of 16 round, tears came to my eyes from all the time we’ve been here,” he says. “We have made history and it is to be happy, but we are going to work so that Spain continues to grow”, she resolves.
Besides them, Alba Redondo and Oihane Hernndez have completed the group of players who have participated in all the matches. “I’m always ready to play, try to give my best and contribute the most to the team,” says the Basque, who had her first start against Switzerland and more than fulfilled. “Let’s go for more,” she says. he
