Putellas reduced to supporting role
ISLAMABAD: Spain’s chances of reaching the Women’s World Cup appeared to hinge on the fitness of Alexia Putellas, but despite their star player struggling to make an impact, they remarkably made it to the final.
Instead, Salma Paralluelo, Aitana Bonmati and unsung heroine midfielder Teresa Abelleira stood out for Jorge Vilda’s side, who beat Sweden 2-1 on Tuesday to secure a place in the hall. Sunday Mistress in Sydney. Putellas had to fight for a place in the squad after spending more than nine months out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee suffered on the eve of last year’s European Championships.
The player, who has won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best award in the last two years, started just three times for Spain until their first World Cup final.
His longest appearance was 62 minutes in the final group game against Japan, which ended in a 4-0 hammering that didn’t bode well for the Round of 16. After short substitute appearances against Switzerland and the Netherlands, Putellas returned to the starting line-up against Sweden.
However, he was removed before the hour mark to make way for Paralluelo, the 19-year-old winger who is one of the most exciting prospects to reach the World Cup. Vilda later admitted that his strategy was to use Putellas to wear down Sweden before releasing the game-changing Paralluelo.
The teenager, who gave up his athletics career just a year ago to focus on football, scored the extra-time winner in the quarter-final against the Netherlands. At Eden Park, it was Paralluelo in the middle who grabbed the opener before Olga Carmona grabbed the winner.
Published in EDP BLOGS on August 17,2023.
