The last time the Canadian women’s team played in the semi-finals of a World Cup was in 1986. This Friday, 36 years later, they resume the fight for medals with the Aragonese coach, Víctor Lapena, at the helm. How are you, coach?

We radiate happiness. All the people who follow the team are very happy. It is also a group that is experiencing a generational change. There are a few players left, those who have played in Tokyo or the World Cup in Tenerife, who have always been there, in the quarter-finals, on the verge of achieving it… It has been very exciting for everyone. Not only now, but how this team competed in the group they called death.

They overthrew Serbia, champions of Europe; France, Olympic bronze; Japan, Olympic silver medal…

And with Australia we only lost three points… The team is having a very good championship, I don’t know if it’s beyond our possibilities, and I hope we’ll get a medal because it would be something historic. I feel that the players trust a lot of what I say, on the approach. We have a very recognizable basketball and I think people like it. The opinions I get from coaches in Spain are very positive. That’s what makes me the happiest. I always tell girls to try as hard as they can, good things come from there. They understand him, support him, trust him… It was a pleasure to lead this team. Let’s see how far we can go.

He took office in January this year. Did you expect to reap the fruits of your work at the head of the national team so soon?

I don’t deal with that much, setting long-term goals. I am more in the daily work, to see how the team evolves and to see if we can do a basketball or another. It’s a long-term project, thinking more about the Olympic Games. Due to some circumstances or others, we have expedited this process. From the first contact, when we played the phase preceding the World Cup in February, I already noticed that this group had special things, both on a human and professional level.

tell me some

I had never worked with Canadians, but they had always told me that they were very disciplined, that they worked hard. Added to that they are a very happy group, I have a lot of fun training with them. I came with the hope of facing every game as best we could. The team arrived with a lot of ambition, eager to compete. Winning teams like Serbia or France allowed us to grow a lot as a whole. Before coming to the World Cup, I didn’t set myself any limits because I don’t like doing it.

What aspects would you highlight in your players?

Canada has always been a tough team to beat, with a very powerful physique. With Spain, I remember we had problems because they competed very well. They lacked something that seems to have been acquired this year: knowing how to compete in important moments. Everything is due to the union that the girls have with the technical staff, we believe a lot in what we do. Everything we offer, they execute almost perfectly. Everything is very dynamic, joyful, there are no bad vibrations. The bench is spectacular, how those who don’t play rejoice… That’s one of the things I would highlight the most.

The million dollar question. How to beat the United States?

In addition to having a bad day, reducing possessions, trying not to score easily, not in seconds or from the three-point area. That means, if they have a bad day in two shots, if you have a near-perfect day…you can have options. They play averages of 90 and 95 points. For us, this is very difficult to achieve. Let’s take it up without any fear. We have taken a style and, with small adjustments, we will continue in the same line.

The Americans present intimidating figures.

Since 2006, when the United States lost the semi-final against an impressive Russia, they have not lost a match, neither in the World Cup nor in the Olympics. The estate is huge, but so is the wear and tear they put you through. They move the bench all the time and those off often look better than those on the pitch.