WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023
Who is Spain’s most important player? Making the case for Mariona
The Barcelona attacker is one of Jorge Vilda’s most impactful players and a huge threat for Sweden to deal with in the World Cup semi-final.
In women’s football, the name Mariona carries with it a sense of quality, effort and calm, as well as the ability to show up when needed. The Spanish international returned on the quiet to the national team after time away, doing things as she always does. With a permanent smile on her face, she has the quality of always being there when needed, just as she showed against the Netherlands in the previous round. The manager, Jorge Vilda, put his faith in her when she was not having the same level of impact as before, and his decision was vital in her revival.
“I’m calm because I’ve emptied myself. I’ve given everything. When you finish a game like that there’s nothing than anyone can regret. That is the best feeling. There are days that you’re more or less accurate in your play and I think against the Netherlands it was a great day.”
Mariona played out of position against the Netherlands
With the same calmness she uses to play the piano, one of the ways she often relaxes, she choses her moments on the pitch to make the difference. Mariona didn’t start against Costa Rica but came in against Zambia and Japan, a wait which had it merits, as she built up her level to play a fantastic game against the Dutch, a game which saw Spain make history once again.
Mariona, on her fundamental role in the previous round, simply said that she did what the technical staff told her to do. Despite not playing her favoured role, she was the key that unlocked the Dutch defence: “the plan was to open up the pitch, to get the most out of the wider positions. From there my game is coming inside, but my role changed a little. You have to adapt and do what’s best for the team. It was my day. When you feel good it gives you confidence. The people around you also give you it, that feeling is contagious.”
‘We have different wingers and each one gives us something different’
Mariona had the guts to take a decisive penalty in the second half, saying that she has the “confidence to take them, as well as her teammates and staff. We have been practicing quite a lot. I wanted to take it, I was calm. It went well.”
Vilda took time out to praise her, saying he was “very happy, she’s a very intelligent player, she gave us what we needed. She prefers to play with more freedom. We have different wingers and each one gives us something different.”
The Barça player is also happy with herself, she is fulfilling a dream in Australia and New Zealand by taking part in the World Cup. “We all left very happy, and now we’re thinking that we have to win two more games, however we can. It was good and we celebrated; we had to relieve the tension, to breathe. Now we’re focussed on what’s next, which is huge”. Mariona could well deliver again; as a starter or on the bench, she is a huge luxury for La Roja.