None of the 15 internationals concerned appears in the list retained by Jorge Vilda to face Sweden on October 7, then the United States four days later, within the framework of the preparation matches for the World Cup-2023, organized jointly by Australia. and New Zealand.

"Wearing Spain's jersey is the greatest honor there is," assured Vilda as she unveiled the 23 names.

In open conflict with some of his players, the coach is supported by the Spanish Federation (RFEF).

This list does not include Barça players Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, Sandra Panos and Aitana Bonmati, those of Manchester United Ona Batlle and Lucia Garcia, and the two Manchester City footballers Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri.

Also absent from the list are team executives Jennifer Hermoso and Irene Paredes, who were not among the 15 rebel players but who gave their support to the movement.

According to the Federation, the 15 players explained in an email that the conflict between them and Vilda affected "their emotional state" and "their health" in a "significant way".

"Ridiculous"

These fifteen Spanish internationals announced last Thursday that they were giving up wearing the famous red jersey as long as Vilda was in office.

This decision was denounced by Jorge Vilda, but also by the Federation, which said that it did not allow "the players to question the situation of the national coach and the coaching staff", this decision not falling "in their field of skills".

"I am deeply touched, it is an unfair situation that we do not deserve," Vilda insisted to the press on Friday.

"The greatest pain is to see what it has cost us to get here and to see that due to vested interests, all this mess has been put together," he said.

"It's not good for anyone, it's ridiculous on a global level," he added.

During the last rally of the "Roja", in September, the three executives Irene Paredes, Patri Guijarro and Jenni Hermoso had called a press conference and recognized a "general malaise" by questioning Vilda, in office since 2015.

Jorge Vilda, who succeeded Ignacio Quereda, landed under pressure from players after a failed 2015 World Cup, had for his part declared to have been "hurt by the way of proceeding", claiming to be a person "who favors dialogue and who always willing to talk."

"I don't understand what they are asking for (...) I would have liked them to speak to me with clarity and I am sure that we would not be in this situation", he assured Friday, asking to be able to concentrate on his new project without the 15 rebels.

"I have the strength to create a new team, a selection that we can all be proud of and that is competitive," he added.

© 2022 AFP