WWC Day 27/28 - It's complicated
Spain win but no one really feels good about it. Tillies and Lionesses the World Cup Calpol
In this issue:
How to process Spain reaching a World Cup Final
England-Australia - joyful relief
Anyone watching Tuesday night’s semi final between Sweden and Spain would have noticed that the reaction on Twitter to Spain reaching their first ever World Cup Final wasn’t the usual fan fare and celebrations of such a historic occasion.
A quick look on my social media timeline showed an endless stream of disappointed and frustrated fans.
Last year, several Spanish players tried to bring about the end of head coach Jorge Vilda’s tenure after an unsuccessful Euros campaign and various tensions around the squad around working conditions, standards and coaching. Players expressed their frustrations to RFEF president Luis Rubiales but nothing was done. Then in September, there was further action as 15 players signed an email stating they would refuse call ups to the national team until there was a change in coaching structure.
Vilda refused to stand down at the time and the RFEF were unphased. Vilda’s father Angel is a former women’s national youth team coach with a lot of influence at the federation. Jorge Vilda’s role also includes being sporting director of the women’s programme which mean he oversees the appointment of head coaches.
Vilda said last September: “I have never considered resigning at any time. I still have the energy to create a new team. I don’t think stepping away is the right thing to do.”
This is not the first time Spain’s women’s team have protested a head coach. In 2015, the team demanded that Vilda’s predecessor Ignacio Quereda was removed and after a successful protest which led to his resignation several players never played again. Later, several players would accuse him of using sexist and homophobic language towards them during his 30-year tenure.
As time went on, slowly but surely most of the 15 that signed the email demanding change over Vilda returned to the set up. This included Ona Battle, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey. Alexia Putellas had not officially signed the letter but had shown support for the cause on social media while being injured. As she came closer to fitness she quietly put herself back in contention for the national team.
A committed group of players refused to return including Barcelona’s Mapi Leon, Claudia Pina and Patricia Guijarro.
As soon as this World Cup came around there was a murkiness around Spain’s participation, an uncomfortable feeling about the fact that a head coach that the team had openly protested against was still there and several key players were missing, sacrificing one of the biggest opportunities of their careers for what they believed to be for the greater good. Unfortunately that support hadn’t been reciprocated by their teammates.
Spain have talented players and had the potential to have success at this World Cup but I think many hoped and thought that a World Cup Final wasn’t likely. This run that they’ve been on has been full of awkwardness. As Spain continued to win an awful feeling of dread started to sweep over many of us watching this tournament. Now there is a real prospect that Vilda will be holding up a World Cup trophy on Sunday alongside a squad of players who, some but not all, had tried to dismiss him.
It’s hard to really enjoy any of Spain’s performances or the results because of everything that is lingering in the background. It has also made me actively root against them because of what their success represents.
There is a vague hope that success for Spain could create more opportunity for change but that seems optimistic given the hold that Vilda and co have on the federation.
Let’s see what happens.
England-Australia, nothing but good vibes
In more positive news, England’s semi final against Australia will be a recipe for good vibes as the host nation will take over Sydney with green and gold and basically 75,000 backing the team.
I’m expecting the noise to be something else, matching the atmosphere and energy that I saw at Wembley for the Euro 2022 Final. Regardless of the result might be, I’m excited to be a part of it, to soak up the atmosphere before kick off, bag some merch and experience history, even if I will be absolutely gutted if England lose.
This has been such an amazing World Cup and the Matildas are a very likeable team so I will happily back them in a final against Spain, if that happens.
Whatever happens the vibes should absolutely immaculate and a welcome antidote to the negative energy of Spain.
I cannot wait.