The injury-related end of world footballer Alexia Putellas shortly before the start of the European Championship caused great dismay in German group opponents Spain.
“Drama Alexia!” was the headline in the specialist newspaper “Sport” about the star from FC Barcelona. The rival newspaper “AS” spoke of a “broken dream”. The newspapers judged that the hopes of coach Jorge Vilda’s players of winning the European Championship for their country for the first time had dropped considerably.
Photos showed the 28-year-old limping on crutches and leaving the EM quarters with tears in her eyes. The Spaniards will play their first game on July 8 (6:00 p.m. CEST/ZDF and DAZN) in Milton Keynes against Finland. On July 12th it’s against the DFB women.
“This is of course very, very bad news for every player who hits it. I can say from my own experience that nobody wants something like that,” said German defender Giulia Gwinn on Wednesday. The 23-year-old from FC Bayern Munich suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in September 2020. “She’s a key player, that will change the Spanish game,” said Gwinn of Putella’s absence.
Coach Jorge Vilda, who already has to do without national team record scorer Jennifer Hermoso, was inconsolable. “I’m stunned and shocked after such a serious setback,” the coach told radio station Onda Cero.
