Jorge Vilda evaded questions about his leadership and the unrest that has surrounded Spain on the eve of a first World Cup Final for La Roja. “Next question please,” was the managers response when asked directly by the media, continuing his stance of avoidance this tournament and refusal to apologise.
Despite the well-documented problems rumbling on, the manager instead focused on the challenge ahead. “What we want to do tomorrow is to be the best in the world,” Vilda said, “and we will do this by winning the final.”
He continued: “I’m extremely pleased to play a final tomorrow. To feel a country that’s supporting a team and [to have] the possibility to make many people happy. It could be the happiest day of their lives. It’s a huge responsibility but we feel very supported.
“From the very beginning, the players have been united. Today will be the 65th training session and all of them have gone well … They will have memories for the rest of their lives. [They’ve] had fun and tomorrow we want to celebrate together.”
The experienced Irene Paredes was equally thrilled to be playing in her first major tournament final. “I think that the dream is only very recent in my career as we had [nothing] to compare this with,” the 32-year-old defender said. “I’ve been taking it step by step and doors have been opening for me. Once you reach the elite part of the game, you get these opportunities, and the team has been doing it very well. Tomorrow, we have the chance to play a World Cup. [We need to] do what we have been doing until now.”
They meet Sarina Wiegman’s England tomorrow for the second consecutive time in a major tournament. The Lionesses ended Spain’s hopes at last summer’s European Championship in a competitive quarter-final encounter. “Last year, it was a game where we know we were on top, but the result is what counts,” Vilda said. “It’s a good reference point. The team has evolved and grown in this World Cup. We’ve shown that mentally we’ve taken a step further in many aspects, but the players are super concentrated on football and that is what has made us reach the final.”
He said of Wiegman: “She is a trainer whose results have shown the fruits of her work. It’s not easy what she has done. You don’t achieve this without excellent prep and the star players she’s had in both teams. Tomorrow will be a tactical match and we are going to fight with everything.”
Paredes knows how important bringing home the trophy could be for women’s football in Spain. “For everyone who doesn’t know us but is starting to, I would tell them to support us and give us the opportunity,” she said. “Clubs should support women’s football to give us the same opportunities. We can do very beautiful and important things.”
