SPAIN: THE TEAM WHO JUST WANT TO PLAY FOOTBALL

La Roja's stars won their first ever major trophy two years ago, only for glory to be overshadowed by controversy; this time, they hope for no distractions

- Words Chris Flanagan

Five days after defeating England to win the World Cup, Spain's squad made their stance clear.

“After everything that happened during the delivery of medals and the Women’s World Cup, we want to state that all the players who sign this letter will not return to a call for the national team if the current leaders continue,” read a Futpro union statement signed by 81 players, 23 of them squad members. They had just been crowned world champions, yet felt they had no choice but to withdraw from playing for Spain until Luis Rubiales, the president of the country’s football federation, resigned. The greatest moment of their careers had been overshadowed by the events of the medal ceremony, when Rubiales kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent.