Winning where it never won. Spain storms Europe with favoritism (and a few traumas).

The Spanish national team begins its fifth appearance at the European Championship with the aim of confirming the growth that led them to winning the World Cup in 2023. Their best result in this tournament came in 1997, reaching the semifinals of that edition. With a consolidated squad , international experience, and a recognizable style, Montse Tomé 's team faces the tournament with ambition, unprecedented pressure, and some issues to solve.

Spain arrives at this European tournament with the new status of reigning world champions, achieved two summers ago in Australia and New Zealand, which changed their perception both domestically and internationally. That success marked a turning point, not only in terms of sporting events, but also in everything surrounding the dressing room: institutional conflict, demands for change, and renewal within the RFEF's governing bodies. That unwanted kiss by Luis Rubiales, then president of the Federation, on Jennifer Hermoso ended with the leader leaving the organization and, subsequently, being convicted of sexual assault.

Recent falls and pressure from Tomé

Setbacks have also been part of Montse Tomé's journey in these nearly two years in charge. The coach took over after serving as Jorge Vilda's deputy, who also ended up leaving Las Rozas after the World Cup scandal broke. A crushing defeat at the Olympic Games, with the defeat to Germany in the bronze medal match, and that dramatic moment when Alexia missed the equalizing penalty in the final moments of the match, marked her first experience as a national coach.

Montse Tomé was also recently involved in a controversy after leaving Jenni Hermoso out of the squad for the European Championship in Switzerland. The decision sparked debate, both in the media and within the locker room, due to the symbolic nature of her exclusion after everything she's experienced over the past year. This is even more so given the difficult relationship Tomé has had, and continues to have, with several of the players.

Tomé justified the absence of the national team's all-time leading scorer with these words: "After evaluating her year, my conscience is clear. " Jenni Hermoso's response was quick to arrive on social media: "I honestly also have a very clear conscience, and even more so when I remove environments with such bad energy from my life." On a sporting level, Hermoso was instrumental in winning the World Cup.

Experience and youth

He does so with a squad that combines experience, youth , and many Barça players, a common trait in the national team's locker room. A recognizable unit, with automatic movements and a clear idea of ​​combination play . But also with nuances: physical concerns, new additions, and necessary adjustments in certain areas of the field.

Irene Paredes will miss the first match of the competition due to suspension. The Barça player received a straight red card with Spain on July 12, 2024, in the 70th minute of the penultimate Euro qualifier against the Czech Republic, following an unintentional strike on Katerina Svitkova's head with her studs almost a year ago.

With his main 4-3-3 formation, a solid back line, control of the midfield, and several forward options, he plays a style of play based on high possession, pressing after losing possession, and attacking play on the flanks .

Main rivals for the title

Spain's group is made up of Italy, Belgium and Portugal , and on paper they are the favourites, although an early slip-up could affect their quarter-final tie with teams to avoid such as Germany and France .

The teams in Spain's group are still developing, but have seen significant growth in recent years. Portugal has climbed to 22nd in the FIFA rankings , but has never made it past the group stage of the European Championship. Italy is in 13th place and has caused Spain considerable trouble in recent matches. Finally, Belgium , in 20th place in the aforementioned rankings , is a team with barely any international experience that will look to continue developing for the future.

Spain comes prepared , with tactical arguments, international experience, and a solid group. The objective is not only to compete, but to confirm that the World Cup title was the beginning of a new era , not an exception. The European Championship will determine the true level of this team against the continent and will measure its ability to determine its limits .

Aitana, the big doubt

The Ballon d'Or winner and best player at the last World Cup had just been hospitalized with meningitis a few days earlier. She's already been discharged and has begun training with the group , but her competitive fitness remains a mystery . Tomé is confident she'll be available, but the doctors will decide.

José Luis San Martín , Real Madrid's fitness trainer for 37 years, warns about the risks of rushing a return to competition after an illness: "A player who has suffered an injury or illness typically loses between four and five kilos of muscle mass. For optimal recovery, progressive training is essential," he explains.

“ If you're not in good health, you can't compete. The responsibility for whether a player plays or not rests, first and foremost, with the doctors and, secondly, with the physical trainers. They're the ones who must determine how long she can play ,” she adds.

San Martín compares Aitana Bonmatí's situation with that of Kylian Mbappé at the last Club World Cup: "The ailments are very similar. We've seen how Mbappé has tried to exert himself as little as possible in the first matches. In the last one, he barely played a few minutes and did so at a very slow pace. I imagine something similar will happen with Aitana ."

Her absence would affect the Spanish national team , as she is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and the player with the most impact on the team . Despite her recovery, her physical condition raises doubts about whether she will be able to compete at the highest level after being hospitalized days earlier. Fortunately, there is talent available to fill her gap. At 9:00 PM, the ball will be rolling against Portugal.