Spain coach: 'I suffered all the pain to win the Women's World Cup 2023'
In the middle of last year, 15 Spanish female players sent a letter to the Football Federation of this country (RFEF) with a statement that they would refuse to play if Jorge Vilda was still the head coach. They think that Vilda has too strict management. However, the RFEF did not fire the coach, but asked the players to apologize.
In the end, only three of these people went to Australia and New Zealand, including Aitana Bonmati - who later won the 2023 Women's World Cup Golden Ball, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle.
At the tournament, Spain was often questioned about cohesion. For example, no player celebrated with coach Vilda after the victory over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Even so, Vilda's army still made history. After defeating England 1-0 in the final yesterday, they became the fifth country to win the Women's World Cup after the US (four times), Germany (two), Norway and Japan (one). Vilda is the first male coach to win the Women's World Cup.
"I've always said that I'm ready to take any pain if it helps to win the World Cup," coach Vilda said. "It's been difficult to manage individually, but we've achieved something unprecedented at a sporting level."
On the way to the throne, Vilda and his students respectively defeated Costa Rica 3-0, Zambia 5-0 before suddenly losing 0-4 to Japan in the group stage. Then, they defeated Switzerland 5-1 in the round of 16 and then won the runner-up Netherlands in the quarter-finals with Sweden in the semi-finals with a score of 2-1.
At times, coach Vilda showed his toughness when he was ready to reserve the World Golden Ball Alexia Putellas when he was not in good form after injury, or replaced seasoned goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez after the defeat to Japan. with a 22-year-old Catalina Coll. The Spanish military leader affirmed that these things are not difficult.
"We were individuals but quickly became a great team, a family," the 42-year-old said. "The only way to achieve success is to work, work and work".
REFE President Luis Rubiales feels vindicated after winning the Women's World Cup. He argued that Spaniards must understand the value of positive things. "The few people who are constantly frustrated and frustrated must learn to let others do the work," he told Reuters.
