Spain women's national football team

This article is about women's team. For the men's team, see Spain national football team.
Spain
Nickname(s) La Roja (The Red [One])[1]
Association Royal Spanish Football Federation
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Ignacio Quereda
Captain Verónica Boquete
Most caps Arantza del Puerto (70)
Top scorer Laura del Río (40)
FIFA ranking 14 Increase 1 (27 March 2015)
Highest FIFA ranking 14 (March 2015)
Lowest FIFA ranking 21 (June 2004)
First colours
Second colours
First international
Unofficial
Spain Spain 3–3 Portugal Portugal
(Murcia, Spain; 21 February 1971)
Official
Spain Spain 0–1 Portugal Portugal
(Pontevedra, Spain; 5 February 1983)
Biggest win
Spain Spain 17–0 Slovenia Slovenia
(Palamós, Spain; 20 March 1994)
Biggest defeat
Spain Spain 0–8 Sweden Sweden
(Gandía, Spain; 2 June 1996)
World Cup
Appearances 1
Best result 2015
UEFA Women's Championship
Appearances 2 (First in 1997)
Best result Semifinals (1997)
Spain national team in 2012

The Spain women's national football team (Spanish: Selección femenina de fútbol de España) represents Spain in international women's football.[2] Although not considered a powerhouse like most of the other famous European nations, it has achieved some success like reaching the European Championship's semifinals in 1997. Its youth division has enjoyed some big success in recent times, like their two consecutive wins at the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship in 2010 and 2011, as well as their third place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, which brought hope to the women's senior team.[3]

In October 2012 the senior team qualified for the European Championship for a second time sixteen years later, after beating Scotland in repechage in the extra time's overtime.[4]

History

After underground women's football clubs started appearing in Spain around 1970 one of its instigators, Rafael Muga, decided to create a national team. It was an unofficial project as football was considered an unsuitable sport for women by both the Royal Spanish Football Federation and National Movement's Women's Section, which organized women's sports in Francoist Spain. When asked about the initiative in January 1971 RFEF president José Luis Pérez Payá answered I'm not against women's football, but I don't like it either. I don't think it's feminine from a esthetic point of view. Women are not favored wearing shirt and trousers. Any regional dress would fit them better.[5]

One month later, on 21 February 1971, the unofficial Spanish national team, including Conchi Sánchez, who played professionally in the Italian league, made its debut in Murcia's La Condomina against Portugal, ending in a 3–3 draw. The team wasn't allowed to wear RFEF's crest and the referee couldn't wear an official uniform either. On July 15, with a 5-days delay for transfer issues, it played its first game abroad against Italy in Turin's Stadio Comunale, suffering an 8–1 defeat. It was then invited to the 2nd edition of unofficial Women's World Cup, but RFEF forbid them to take part in the competition.[6] Despite these conditions Spain was entrusted hosting the 1972 World Cup. RFEF vetoed the project, and the competition was cancelled and disbanded. The unofficial Spanish team itself broke up shortly after.

After the transition to democracy in the second half of the decade RFEF finally accepted women's football in November 1980, creating first a national cup and next a national team, which finally made its debut under coach Teodoro Nieto on 5 February 1983 in La Guardia, Pontevedra. The opponent was again Portugal, which defeated Spain 0–1. The team subsequently played 2-leg friendlies against France and Switzerland drawing with both opponents in Aranjuez and Barcelona and losing in Perpignan before it finally clinched its first victory in Zürich (0–1).[7] On 27 April 1985 it played its first official match in the 1987 European Championship's qualification, losing 1–0 against Hungary. After losing the first four matches Spain defeated Switzerland and drew with Italy to end third. The team also ended in its group's bottom positions in the subsequent 1989 and 1991 qualifiers. After the former Nieto was replaced by Ignacio Quereda, who has coached the team since.

The 1995 Euro qualifying marked an improvement as Spain ended 2nd, one point from England, which qualified for the final tournament. In these qualifiers Spain attained its biggest victory to date, a 17-0 over Slovenia. In the 1997 Euro qualifying it made a weaker performance, including a record 0–8 loss against Sweden in Gandia, but the European Championship was expanded to eight teams and Spain still made it to the repechage, where it defeated England on a 3–2 aggregate to qualify for the competition for the first time. In the first stage the team drew 1–1 against France, lost 0–1 against host Sweden, and beat 1–0 Russia to qualify on goal average over France to the semifinals, where it was defeated 2–1 by Italy. All three goals were scored by Ángeles Parejo.

This success was followed by a long series of unsuccessful qualifiers. In the 1999 World Cup's qualifying Spain ended last for the first time, not winning a single game. In the 2001 Euro's it made it to the repechage, where it suffered a 3–10 aggregate defeat against Denmark. In the 2003 World Cup's it again ended last despite starting with a 6–1 win over Iceland. In the 2005 Euro's, where a 9–1 win over Belgium was followed by a 5-game non scoring streak, it ended 3rd behind Denmark and Norway. In the 2007 World Cup's the team again ended 3rd behind Denmark and Finland despite earning 7 more points.

In the 2009 Euro's Spain made its better performance since the 1995 qualifiers, narrowly missing qualification as England clinched the top position by overcoming a 2–0 in the final match's second half. Spain had to play the repechage, where it lost both games against the Netherlands. In the 2011 World Cup's Spain again ended 2nd, with no repechage, after England again overcame a half-time 2–0 in their second confrontation.

Results and fixtures

For all past match results of the national team, see single-season articles and the team's results page

The following matches were played or are scheduled to be played by the national team in the current or upcoming seasons.

      Win       Draw       Loss

Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
October 27, 2013 Spain Collado Villalba, Spain Estonia  6–0 2015 World Cup qualifying
October 31, 2013 Spain Madrid, Spain Italy  2–0
November 23, 2013 Spain Aranjuez, Spain Romania  1–0
November 27, 2013 Spain Fuenlabrada, Spain Czech Republic  3–2
January 14, 2014 Spain La Manga, Spain Norway  1–2 Friendly
February 13, 2014 Spain Logroño, Spain Macedonia  12–0 2015 World Cup qualifying
April 5, 2014 Italy Vicenza, Italy Italy  0–0
April 10, 2014 Republic of Macedonia Skopje, Macedonia Macedonia  0–10
May 8, 2014 Estonia Tallinn, Estonia Estonia  0-5
September 13, 2014 Romania Iaşi, Roumania Romania  0-2
September 17, 2014 Czech Republic Písek, Czech Republic Czech Republic  0-1
February 10, 2015 Spain San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain Austria  2–2 Friendly
February 11, 2015 Spain San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain Belgium  2–1
March 3, 2015 Spain Guadalajara, Spain New Zealand  2–2
March 5, 2015 Spain La Roda, Spain New Zealand  0–0
April 8, 2015 Spain Gijón, Spain Republic of Ireland  1-0
May 30, 2015

Players

Current squad

RFEF announced the following preliminary squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup on 23 April.[8]

Caps and goals as of 23 April 2015.

Head coach: Ignacio Quereda

# Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
GK Dolores Gallardo June 10, 1993 6 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
GK Sandra Paños November 4, 1992 3 0 Spain Levante UD
GK Sara Serrat September 15, 1995 0 0 Spain Sporting de Huelva
GK Esther Sullastres March 20, 1993 0 0 Spain CD Transportes Alcaine
GK Ainhoa Tirapu September 4, 1984 42 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao
DF Ivana Andrés July 13, 1994 1 0 Spain Valencia CF
DF Ane Bergara February 3, 1987 3 0 Spain Real Sociedad
DF Miriam Diéguez May 4, 1986 29 0 Spain FC Barcelona
DF Ruth García April 26, 1987 43 3 Spain FC Barcelona
DF Elixabet Ibarra June 29, 1981 40 2 Spain Athletic Bilbao
DF Celia Jiménez June 20, 1995 3 0 United States Alabama Crimson Tide
DF Leire Landa December 19, 1986 18 0 Spain FC Barcelona
DF Paula Nicart September 8, 1994 0 0 Spain Valencia CF
DF Irene Paredes July 4, 1991 21 1 Spain Athletic Bilbao
DF Melanie Serrano October 12, 1989 8 0 Spain FC Barcelona
DF Marta Torrejón February 27, 1990 46 7 Spain FC Barcelona
MF Nagore Calderón June 2, 1993 10 2 Spain Atlético Madrid
MF Marta Corredera August 8, 1991 24 2 Spain FC Barcelona
MF Irene Del Río October 6, 1991 0 0 Spain Oviedo Moderno CF
MF Carolina Férez June 26, 1991 0 0 Spain Valencia CF
MF Débora García October 17, 1989 4 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
MF Jennifer Hermoso May 9, 1990 22 9 Spain FC Barcelona
MF Maitane López March 13, 1995 0 0 Spain UD Collerense
MF Victoria Losada March 5, 1991 21 3 England Arsenal Ladies
MF Silvia Meseguer March 12, 1989 33 4 Spain Atlético Madrid
MF Alexia Putellas February 4, 1994 23 4 Spain FC Barcelona
MF Amanda Sampedro June 26, 1993 4 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
MF Virginia Torrecilla September 4, 1994 13 0 Spain FC Barcelona
FW Sonia Bermúdez November 18, 1984 45 26 Spain FC Barcelona
FW Verónica Boquete (c) April 9, 1987 43 29 Germany 1. FFC Frankfurt
FW Priscila Borja April 28, 1985 20 5 Spain Atlético Madrid
FW Adriana Martín November 7, 1986 35 26 Spain Levante UD
FW Natalia Pablos October 15, 1985 21 19 England Arsenal Ladies
FW Erika Vázquez February 16, 1983 43 7 Spain Athletic Bilbao
FW María Paz Vilas February 1, 1988 7 12 Spain Valencia CF

Competitive record

World Cup record

Year Round Position MP W D L GF GA
China 1991Did Not Qualify
Sweden 1995
United States 1999
United States 2003
China 2007
Germany 2011
Canada 2015Qualified-––––-

Olympic Games record

Year Round Position MP W D L GF GA
United States 1996Did Not Qualify
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016To be determined––––––-
Total0/5– – –– – –-

European Championship

UEFA Women's Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA
Denmark 1984Did Not Enter
Norway 1987Did Not Qualify
Germany 1989
Denmark 1991
Italy 1993
Germany 1995
Norway Sweden 1997Semi-Finals3rd411234
Germany 2001Did Not Qualify
England 2005
Finland 2009
Sweden 2013Quarter-Finals7th411257
Total2/117th8224811

Overall official record

Competition Stage Result Opponent Position Scorers
1987 EC QS Regular stage 0–1 1–2 Hungary Hungary 3 / 4
0–2 3–0 Switzerland Switzerland
2–3 1–1 Italy Italy
1989 EC QS Regular stage 1–1 1–0 Bulgaria Bulgaria 4 / 5
0–1 0–2 Czech Republic Czechoslovakia
1–0 0–1 Belgium Belgium
1–3 0–0 France France
1991 EC QS Regular stage 0–0 1–2 Switzerland Switzerland 4 / 5
1–3 0–5 Denmark Denmark
1–0 0–1 Belgium Belgium
1–3 0–0 France France
1993 EC QS Regular stage 0–4 1–1 Sweden Sweden 2 / 3
0–1 1–0 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland
1995 EC QS Regular stage 0–0 4–0 Belgium Belgium 2 / 4
0–0 0–0 England England
17–0 8–0 Slovenia Slovenia
1997 EC QS Regular stage (Class A) 0–1 0–2 Denmark Denmark 3 / 4
5–1 2–2 Romania Romania
1–1 0–8 Sweden Sweden
Repechage 2–1 1–1 England England 1 / 2
Norway Sweden 1997 Euro Group stage 1–1 France France 2 / 4
0–1 Sweden Sweden
1–0 Russia Russia
Semifinals 1–2 Italy Italy 3 / 8
1999 WC QS Regular stage (Class A) 1–2 1–2 Ukraine Ukraine 4 / 4
1–2 1–3 Sweden Sweden
0–0 1–1 Iceland Iceland
Promotion 3–0 4–1 Scotland Scotland 1 / 2
2001 EC QS Regular stage (Class A) 2–5 0–7 Sweden Sweden 3 / 4
0–1 1–2 France France
1–1 2–1 Netherlands Netherlands
Repechage 1–6 2–4 Denmark Denmark 2 / 2
2003 WC QS Regular stage (Class A) 6–1 0–3 Iceland Iceland 4 / 4 Jiménez 2, del Río 2, Ferreira, Gimbert
0–2 2–1 Russia Russia Jiménez, del Río
0–3 0–1 Italy Italy
Promotion Cancelled Hungary Hungary –
2005 EC QS Regular stage (Class A) 1–0 0–0 Netherlands Netherlands 3 / 5 del Río
0–2 0–2 Norway Norway
9–1 0–2 Belgium Belgium del Río 5, Vázquez 2, Castillo, Gurrutxaga
0–1 0–2 Denmark Denmark
2007 WC QS Regular stage (Class A) 2–3 7–0 Poland Poland 3 / 5 del Río 2
1–0 0–0 Finland Finland Cabezón
3–2 4–2 Belgium Belgium Adriana 2, Cabezón, Gimbert, Gurrutxaga, del Río + 1 o.g.
2–2 0–5 Denmark Denmark Adriana, Vilanova
2009 EC QS Regular stage 3–0 6–1 Belarus Belarus 2 / 5 Vázquez 3, Romero 2, Azagra, Cuesta, Jiménez, Pérez
2–2 4–1 Czech Republic Czech Republic Boquete 2, Adriana, Gimbert, Torrejón, Vilanova
0–1 2–2 England England Bermúdez, Boquete
4–0 3–0 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Vázquez 2, Bermúdez, Boquete, García, del Río, Vilas
Repechage 0–2 0–2 Netherlands Netherlands 2 / 2
2011 WC QS Regular stage 13–0 9–0 Malta Malta 3 / 5 Adriana 8, Bermúdez 3, Boquete 3, Romero 3, Ibarra 2, Casado, Meseguer + 1 o.g.
2–0 1–0 Austria Austria Adriana 2, Bermúdez
5–0 5–1 Turkey Turkey Adriana 5, Bermúdez 2, Boquete, Olabarrieta, Torrejón
0–1 2–2 England England Adriana, Bermúdez
2013 EC QS Regular stage 10–1 4–0 Turkey Turkey 2 / 6 Adriana 4, Boquete 3, Bermúdez 2, Borja, Corredera, Olabarrieta, Vilas + 1 o.g.
3–2 3–4 Switzerland Switzerland Adriana 2, Boquete 2, García, Vilas
4–0 13–0 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Vilas 7, Bermúdez 3, Boquete 2, Borja 2, Adriana, Meseguer, Torrejón
4–0 0–0 Romania Romania Boquete 2, Adriana, Bermúdez
2–2 0–5 Germany Germany Boquete, Romero
Repechage 1–1 3–2 Scotland Scotland 1 / 2 Adriana 2, Boquete, Meseguer
Sweden 2013 Euro Group stage 3–2 England England 2 / 4 Boquete, Hermoso, Putellas
0–1 France France
1–1 Russia Russia Boquete
Quarter-finals 1–3 Norway Norway 2 / 2 Hermoso
2015 WC QS Regular stage 6–0 5–0 Estonia Estonia 1 / 6 Natalia 3, Bermúdez 2, Vicky 2, Hermoso 2, Torrejón, Paredes
2–0 0–0 Italy Italy Bermúdez, Natalia
1–0 2–0 Romania Romania Natalia 2, García
3–2 1–0 Czech Republic Czech Republic Bermúdez 2, Corredera, Boquete
12–0 10–0 Republic of Macedonia Macedonia Natalia 6, Bermúdez 5, Hermoso 5, Boquete 2, Calderón 2, Vicky, Torrejón
Canada 2015 World Cup Group stage Costa Rica Costa Rica ? / 4
Brazil Brazil
South Korea Costa Rica

Youth teams

U-20

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
2002: Did not qualify 2004: 1st round 2006: Did not qualify
2008: Did not qualify 2010: Did not qualify 2012: Did not qualify
2014: Did not qualify

U-19

UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
2002: Final Round 2003: Final Round 2004: Champion
2005: Second Round 2006: Second Round 2007: Final Round
2008: Final Round 2009: Second Round 2010: Final Round
2011: Final Round 2012: Runner-up 2013: Did not qualify
2014: Runner-up

U-18

UEFA Women's Under-18 Championship
1998: Did not qualify 1999: Did not qualify 2000: Runner-up
2001: 4th (last edition)

U-17

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA
New Zealand 2008Did Not Qualify
Trinidad and Tobago 2010Third Place3rd6501136
Azerbaijan 2012Did Not Qualify
Costa Rica 2014 Runners-up 2nd6402155
Total2/45th place129032811
UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship
Year Round Position MP W D L GF GA
Switzerland 2008Did Not Qualify
Switzerland 2009Runners-up2nd210127
Switzerland 2010Champions1st5320101
Switzerland 2011Champions1st220050
Switzerland 2012Did Not Qualify
Switzerland 2013Third Place3rd210162
England 2014Runners-up2nd5320101
Total5/72 Titles179423311

References

  1. ↑ "Spain's women add to La Roja euphoria". FIFA. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  2. ↑ "Why Spain is absent from the World Cup". Fox Soccer. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  3. ↑ "Equalizer Soccer – Laura del Rio enjoying new found freedom". Equalizersoccer.com. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  4. ↑ Spain 3 Scotland 2 (4–3 on agg): Last minute agony for Anna Signeul's women in Euro qualifier . Daily Record, 24 October 2012
  5. ↑ The underground origin of the women's national team. Marca, 23 April 2013. David Menayo
  6. ↑ Conchi Amancio's national team shook up the 1970s Spain. As Color, 17 July 2012
  7. ↑ The official baptism of the women's national team. Marca, 14 May 2013. David Menayo.
  8. ↑ "Esta es la lista provisional de convocadas para el Mundial femenino". sefutbol.com. RFEF. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2013.

External links

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