Jorge Vilda: "We have shown that we can be the Spain we want to be against great rivals"

"We have 23 warriors who are going to leave their souls"

   MADRID, 19 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The women's national soccer coach, Jorge Vilda, confessed on Tuesday that the quarterfinal match of the European Championship against England is "historic", a duel that they arrive at "with confidence and motivated", aware that they have already shown that they can be the Spain they want to be "against great rivals".

"That game (against the United States in the last World Cup) we competed very well, but we spent the whole game defending and this team is not made for that, they are specialists in other facets of the game. We have shown that we can be the Spain we want to be against great rivals. They are prepared to show the best version of Spain", said Vilda at the press conference prior to this Wednesday's match (9:00 p.m.) against England with a place in the semifinals at stake.

The coach pointed out that this Wednesday's match is "very exciting", that players and fans "will remember all their lives". "Tomorrow we can make history, it will be difficult due to the rival's level, but we are confident and motivated. It is a challenge to reach the semifinals for the first time," he asserted.

"I have 23 starters in the team. The 'eleven' has been decided, but anyone is ready to face the match with the maximum guarantees," Vilda revealed, adding that the 23 players "will leave their souls" on the pitch.

Thus, the coach insisted that it motivates them to play against England "in a full stadium" that will predictably support the host. "At a game level, we know about the good performance of Lucy Bronze, they have a lot of speed on the left, with great shooters, a lot of quality in midfield and they also defend very well. They are one of the best teams in the world, it is a challenge capital, but we will try to give our best version", he analysed.

"They are favorites for this match and to win the tournament. They have a compact, solid, well-rounded team," he added about a team that Spain has won in two of the last ten meetings between the two and which, according to Vilda, may weigh their status of favorites and hostesses. "We always put the greatest pressure on ourselves, because of that self-demand. I imagine that if the pressure of being a host weighs on them, it can subtract more than add," she predicted.

Vilda reported that the physical condition of the squad is "optimal", taking into account that all the matches are "highly demanding". "You accumulate fatigue, but there are good feelings. They are ready to compete one hundred percent," he commented, before addressing the situation of striker Amaiur, who was finally unable to take the field against Denmark despite waiting on the sidelines.

"It was the change to hurry up the time and we just scored, we didn't see fit for her to come out. For this game, of course she can do it, she's ready, in terms of freshness, dynamism and success," he clarified.

Finally, the coach was optimistic about the effectiveness of the team, something that has been lacking in the first three games, converting 5 goals for the English team's 14. "When you play against teams whose first intention is to defend with the lines very close together, it is very difficult to score a goal. It is a matter of time and success that the goals come in and we can win tomorrow," he said, before celebrating the growth of the football audience female in Spain.