Women's EURO team guide: Spain
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Article summary
With a clutch of players who have thrived at club level, Spain must be confident of improving on the international stage.
Article top media content
Article body
Group B fixtures
Friday 8 July
Spain vs Finland (18:00, Milton Keynes)
Tuesday 12 July
Germany vs Spain (21:00, Brentford)
Saturday 16 July
Denmark vs Spain (21:00, Brentford)
How they qualified: Group D winners (P8 W7 D1 L0 F48 A1)
Women's EURO best: Semi-finals (1997)
Women's EURO 2017: Quarter-finals
One to watch: Aitana Bonmatí
The midfielder scored in the 2021 UEFA Women's Champions League final and was named Player of the Match. Still only 24, Bonmatí is as exciting a prospect as there is in Spanish football.
Coach: Jorge Vilda
Having worked across the youth set-ups for Spain, Vilda took the top job in 2015 and has helped bring through a number of the players he worked with at age-group level. The side have consistently improved under his stewardship. They finished second in the 2020 She Believes Cup and are now looking to secure a first major international trophy.
Tactics
As you would expect from Spain, Vilda favours a 4-3-3 formation, which the majority of his charges also play at club level, especially their Barcelona core. They like to dominate possession in the 'tiki-taka' style their men's side pioneered between 2008 and 2012, and they have no shortage of nous with Irene Paredes and Sandra Paños all bringing their experience. However, injuries to Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso are a blow.
Pedigree
Despite Spain's success at club level in recent times, their national side might be considered underachievers given their best performance at a Women's EURO is a semi-final spot 25 years ago. They reached the round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup but will have higher hopes for this summer's tournament as their players have come on leaps and bounds in the ensuing time.