WOMEN'S SOCCER
Spain’s World Cup winners set to turn their back on La Roja
Montse Tomé's first list will not include the world champions. The players are set to release a statement to confirm that they will not be part of the games against Sweden and Switzerland.
As things stand, new Spain coach Montse Tomé will not have the world champions at her disposal. Despite lengthy efforts late on Thursday night to try and get the players to have a rethink, AS has learned that Tomé will have to do without all 23 players from Spain’s World Cup winning squad along with the other players who joined ranks in refusing to play for the national team unless a series of changes were implemented at the FA.
Tomé, who replaced Jorge Vilda, now faces a challenge of securing 23 players who are prepared to pull on the red shirt for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Sweden and Switzerland. It’s also expected that during Friday afternoon, the players in question will release a statement offering their position on the matter.
Vilda and Rubiales out
The national team’s success in Australia/New Zealand was eclipsed by the incidents on the podium when then head of the RFEF Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso with his subsequent actions ultimately leading to his resignation last week. Former head coach Jorge Vilda who oversaw the World Cup was also relieved from his role but many players still believe wider changes at the FA need to be implemented and that the appointment of Tomé is testimonial.
Now the World Cup winners face a phase of uncertainty with Tomé set to be unveiled as new coach on Friday evening at the RFEF HQ before announcing her first squad list. At present the composition of said squad is an unknown with more question marks rather than answers engulfing La Roja.