Spain’s female footballers have had to work hard to get recognition, but in qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ they have provided yet more compelling proof that they can shine every bit as much as the boys.
One observer who is greatly impressed by their recent efforts is national men’s team coach Vicente del Bosque, who is expecting the whole country to get behind the women’s side when they step out at Canada 2015.
“I’m sure we’ll all be watching our women and looking to see what they’re capable of,” he told FIFA.com at an event held in Madrid last month to mark the start of the Live Your Goals Tour, which will see the coveted Women’s World Cup Trophy visit the 24 countries taking part in next year’s world finals.
The women’s game is making significant headway in Spain, progress reflected by La Roja’s run to the quarter-finals of UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 and their maiden qualification for the Women’s World Cup.
Those achievements have not gone unnoticed by an appreciative Del Bosque: “It’s the same kind of development that we’ve seen in the men’s game. Success has come because of all the great work being carried out at youth level.”
Competing in a major tournament should help Spain’s women make even more progress in the future, as the veteran coach pointed out: “Just playing in the competition will give them a huge boost.”
The media exposure they will receive in the coming months will only encourage more girls to take up the game .
“They’ve become role models for youngsters because of the success they’ve had and the importance TV attaches to that,” explained Del Bosque. “They’re making their names in the game, and we now have 15 women playing abroad, which is only going to help young people in Spain to get the message.”
Though he has presided over two FIFA World Cup™ campaigns, albeit with very different results, the ever-modest Del Bosque felt he was in no position to give national women’s team boss Ignacio Quereda advice on what he and his charges can expect at Canada 2015.
Nevertheless, he did have a tip for Quereda’s charges on how to handle the nerves they will feel ahead of their world finals debut: “It’s no bad thing to be a little bit anxious, as long as you keep it under control. Football is all about emotions and it’s essential that you live it and feel it.”
Spain’s women will understandably be feeling a little tense at the prospect of taking on Brazil in their second match in Group E, when they will come face to face with the great Marta, five times crowned FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and a finalist again this year.
Prior to that the Spanish will take on fellow debutants Costa Rica before rounding off the group against Korea Republic. A place in the knockout phase seems well within their grasp.
“We often say that we want to go out and enjoy the occasion, which is right, of course, because it’s just a game at the end of the day,” said Del Bosque, assessing the task awaiting Spain in Canada. “At the same time, though, it’s good to feel a little bit of pressure because it makes us perform that bit better.”