In the club game, Spain have been at the forefront of the growth of women’s football in recent years, producing a sensational Barcelona side and smashing attendance records at both domestic and European matches.
Unsurprisingly, then, the Spanish head to England this summer among the favourites for the Women’s European Championships.
Here we take a look at their chances...
Tournament record
Best finish: Semi-finals (1997)
Spain did not enter the first Women’s European Championships in 1984 and then qualified for just one of the next nine editions. However, they are the coming force in women’s football and have now qualified for six consecutive major tournaments, including next year’s World Cup.
The coach: Jorge Vilda
Vilda was on the books at both Real Madrid and Barcelona as a youth player but never made a professional career and turned to coaching in his thirties.
He began his career with Spain’s youth teams before taking the senior gig in 2015 having won European titles at both U17 and U19 level while developing many of the players that make up his squad for this summer’s tournament.
Key player: Alexia Putellas
At the heart of much of Barcelona’s recent success, Putellas is the reigning Ballon d’Or Feminin and has been the standout player in European club football over the past two seasons.
The 28-year-old was part of the Barca side that lost their Champions League crown when being upset by Lyon in May’s final and will be desperate to make amends by leading her nation to a first major tournament success.
Form
Spain qualified unbeaten, winning seven of their eight group games and conceding just one goal in the process and have been even better in World Cup qualifying so far, winning six out of six with six clean sheets to boot.
They participated in the invitational Arnold Clark Cup earlier this year, finishing second to England on goal difference after drawing with Germany and the hosts either side of a 1-0 win over Canada.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Sandra Panos (Barcelona), Lola Gallardo (Atletico Madrid), Misa Rodriguez (Real Madrid).
Defenders: Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Maria Leon (Barcelona), Leila Ouahabi (Barcelona), Andrea Pereira (Barcelona), Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester United), Laia Aleixandri (Atletico Madrid), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Sheila Garcia (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Irene Guerrero (Levante).
Forwards: Lucia Garcia (Athletic Club), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Marta Cardona (Real Madrid), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Claudia Pina (Barcelona), Salma Paralluelo (Villarreal).
Group stage fixtures
- July 8 - Finland (Stadium mk, 5pm)
- July 12 - Germany (Brentford Community Stadium, 8pm)
- July 16 - Northern Ireland (Brentford Community Stadium, 8pm)
