Spain begin their ambitious World Cup dream against Costa Rica

Women’s team make World Cup debut in Australia and New Zealand against theoretically most affordable rival

MADRID, July 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Spanish women’s football team will make their long-awaited World Cup debut in Australia and New Zealand this Friday (9:30/2) with the theoretically most affordable duel of their Group C which measures a Costa Rica against which they should not fail if they do not want to complicate the objective of being first.

More than four years after being eliminated in the round of 16 against the United States at the World Cup disputed in France, Spain will now seek more luck in the Antipodes, where they will want to confirm the competitive growth and level they have known since Megan Rapinoe condemned them from the penalty spot.

The bets point to the team coached by Jorge Vilda as one of the great favorites for the title and the time has now come to put these expectations and ambitions into play. And after the turbulence experienced last September and which seems to have calmed down somewhat, it will also be the turn to examine the solidity of a dressing room, something key, especially when difficulties may arise.

The “Reds” start as the rival to beat in their group, even ahead of a more traditional team in the World Cup like the Japanese, and will have to know how to manage this unusual favoritism which they must confirm with a first place which, unless surprised, “soften” the course of the centers, “cursed” so far in the history of women’s football.

A year after the bitter setback suffered in the Eurocup, the team wants to aspire to everything and already send a first message against a Costa Rican, who stands out as the easiest obstacle to overcome, but dangerous because not only does he have less pressure but also because debuts in major competitions are always difficult to manage on an emotional level.

After a good last straight line of preparation, with victories without conceding against Panama (7-0), a rival that can be compared to the team of ‘Tico’, Denmark (0-2) and Vietnam (9-0), the Spaniards arrive encouraged at this first, which repeats the history of eight years ago in the World Cup in Canada. At that time Spain were favourites, but could only erase a draw which made things difficult for them, although now the distance between the two teams seems even greater, due to the growth of Spanish women’s football, reflected in the successes of FC Barcelona.

On the sporting side, Jorge Vilda confirmed in preview that he had all his players “available”, including an Alexia Putellas who is treated with care and who started the duels against the Panamanians, scorers, and Danes. The double Ballon d’Or, recovered in April from a serious knee injury which left him without EURO, needs rhythm and it seems difficult for him to start.

COSTA RICA ARRIVES WITH BAD RESULTS

Irene Guerrero and Claudia Zornoza could be the ones chosen to occupy this interior position with Aitana Bonmatí, while Tere Abelleira emerges as the “anchor”. Behind, everything indicates that Ivana Andrés and Irene Paredes will be the central defenders, and above all, alongside Jenni Hermoso and Salma Paralluelo, the options of Mariona Caldentey or striker Alba Redondo.

Opposite, a Costa Rica which faces its second World Cup with the hope of improving the performance of eight years ago, when it could scratch two draws, and catapult an improvement in women’s football in its country.

As in 2015, Amelia Valverde is at the helm of the ‘tico’ team, which, like Spain, still has players from this match on Canadian soil in its ranks, including Raquel Rodríguez, its best player, who plays for the American Portland Thorns, and who was responsible for balancing Vicky Losada’s goal. It also has in its ranks one of the youngest players of this World Cup, Sheika Scott, only 16 years old.

Unlike the Spanish team, Costa Rica, fourth in the last round of CONCACAF teams, does not come at an optimal time for results as they haven’t won any of their friendlies this year, also showing some attacking issues.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

— POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.

SPAIN: Misa Rodríguez; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Ivana Andrés, Olca Carmona; Aitana Bonmatí, Tere Abelleira, Irene Guerrero; Salma Paralluelo, Jenni Hermoso and Mariona Caldentey.

COSTA RICA: Hearth; Guillén, F. Villalobos, Benavides, Del Campo; Valencian, Alvarado; Chinchilla, G. Villalobos, Herrera; and Rodríguez.

–REFEREE: Casey Reibelt (AUS).

–STADIUM: Sky Stadium in Wellington (New Zealand).

–TIME: 9:30/2.