World footballer Alexia Putellas (29), young star Salma Paralluelo (19) & Co. finally put Spain in a collective football frenzy by reaching the World Cup final in Australia.
There is a real fever going on ahead of Sunday’s final against England, radio station Cadena Ser noted. Municipalities are announcing the installation of giant screens across the country. “We have already made history,” said 33-year-old striker Jenni Hermoso in an interview with the specialist newspaper “Marca”.
In the cafés in Madrid, La Roja’s entry into the World Cup final in Sydney, which surprised many, has been one of the main topics, if not the main topic, for days. Among those looking forward to it is Vicente del Bosque, who coached the men to their first World Cup title in 2010. “I’m very happy. It makes our football even bigger,” he told the AS magazine.
Hermoso: “We know England very well”
In the capital, four large screens alone are to show the final in a multi-purpose hall. The 6000 tickets are to be distributed free of charge on the Internet. Due to the high demand, each person can only order a maximum of four. There will also be a fan zone there. In addition, the Cibeles fountain in the center of Madrid will be illuminated with the Spanish colors red and yellow on Sunday night, the city hall announced.
Hermoso has already dreamed of Spain becoming world champions. “Hopefully this dream will come true,” she told “Marca”. She doesn’t want to promise winning the title, but said: “We know England very well.”
In an interview with the “Sport” newspaper, association boss Luis Rubiales said that the success of Hermoso, Putellas & Co. is no coincidence: “When I came five years ago, less than three million euros were spent on women’s football. Now are we at 27. (…) These girls had practically no rights when they started playing. They thought football was a man’s sport. They are breaking through this concrete ceiling now and we have to thank them. They are all role models for society .”