Fifteen of the 23 Spanish world champions, the majority on strike since the affair RubialesDespite everything, the new coach called them up on Monday to participate in the next Nations League matches. Montse Tomé who left Jenni Hermoso.
The players have not yet publicly declared that they agree to return to the national team, despite the resignation of former Spanish soccer coach Luis Rubiales after his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso and the dismissal of the coach Jorge Vildawhose methods they criticized.
“The players are professionals and I am sure they will do their job well, they have been doing it for a long time.“, declared Montse Tomé when presenting her first list. “I know they will be with us tomorrow.“, he assured, without being able to give additional guarantees.
The former FC Barcelona player also kept Mapi León and Patri Guijarro, who were not called up for the World Cup and who are part of the “fifteen rebels“, who had already requested changes in the working methods of the national team a year ago.
In total, 39 players, including 21 of the 23 Spaniards crowned in Sydney, announced in a statement on Friday that the conditions were not met to play with the national team again and called for a total reform of the Spanish football authorities.
Among the signatories is the double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. They demand more changes at different levels of the federation, including the resignation of several members who were part of Luis Rubiales’ team.
Regarding the absence of Jenni Hermoso, Montse Tomé declared that she had spoken with her, without revealing the content of their conversation, before assuring that it was, according to her, “the best way to protect it“.”We have Jenni, I have worked with her for five years.“she added.
The Spanish face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland next week in the Nations League, the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The players called:
Guardians: Mass. Rodríguez, Cata Coll, Enith Hall
Defenders: Irene Paredes, Laia Alexandri, Oihane, Olga Carmona, Ona Batlle, Mapi León, María Méndez
Milieux: Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, María Pérez, Tere Abelleira, Rosa Márquez.
Attacuantes: Athenea de Castillo, Esther González, Eva Navarro, Inma Gabarro, Mariona, Lucía García, Amaiur Sarriegi, Mariona Caldentey
