Sunday 09 June 2019, 14:50

From twins to a trio for Correa

  • Goalkeeper featured at the 2003 and '07 tournaments

  • Retired in 2012 and gave birth to twins

  • She explains the reasons why she returned to the game

By Diego Zandrino with Argentina

Vanina Correa might be a little reserved off the pitch, but she is nothing like that on it, where she imposes herself between the posts for Argentina, both through her physique and her experience. Now 35, she is about to appear at her third FIFA Women’s World Cup™.

The first was 16 years ago, when she watched all three of her side’s matches at USA 2003 from the substitutes' bench. She began China 2007 in the starting line-up, only for a heavy defeat to Germany in Argentina’s opening match to relegate her to the sidelines again.

When Argentina failed to qualify for Germany 2011 the player they call La Flaca (The Skinny One) felt she would never have another opportunity, especially when she chose to retire the following year to have a baby.

As it turned out, Correa had twins – Luna and Romeo – who have now seen their mother go on to become the only Albiceleste player to go to three Women’s World Cups.

There was no indication Correa would ever keep goal for her country again, not even when she started playing football with her friends again. Then, in 2017, Argentina coach Carlos Borrello bumped into her at a domestic tournament and persuaded her to make a comeback. Suddenly, she went from being “retired in every sense of the word” to playing in all seven of Argentina’s matches at the Copa America, and in their two France 2019 play-off games against Panama. So how is it going?

“I’m enjoying it,” the quietly-spoken Correa told FIFA. “I was very young at my previous World Cups and I didn’t enjoy them, perhaps because I was too hard on myself. I’m living things differently now. Every experience is unique and has something about it.”

The only thing that Correa has on her mind right now is Japan: “We are totally focused on our opening match. We don’t even go out for a walk. We know that it’s going to be hard, but just like every other team we want to do well.”

What does doing 'well' mean? “Getting out of our group,” she answered without a moment’s hesitation. “We’ll just have to wait and see how the games go, how we play them, and how we come out of them. That’s the objective, though.”

Vanina Correa of Argentina catches the ball during a training session
  • Comparison with the 2003 and '07 teams

“It’s hard to compare them. There are players in the team we have now who play abroad, which wasn’t the case with the previous two, when we were all from the national or regional leagues. This team has more experience. It’s more battle-hardened.”

  • Qualification explained

“It’s a process of growth. Things started to change, we started getting support, and then there were our overseas-based players. Now we’ve got to support the players in the domestic leagues so that they can prepare better and make it to the World Cup too.”

  • Borrello’s role

“He’s one of the national team’s biggest supporters. He’s always looking, demanding and moving. After a long, long wait, he finally to managed to get us to play on a FIFA international matchday. He got the whole thing started.”