Defending World Cup champion Spain gets off to a smashing start at the Euros. Can La Roja win it all?

There was the forced kiss assault, followed by the eventual resignation, three-year ban and conviction of federation president Luis Rubiales, and the dismissal of problematic coach Jorge Vilda. All of which sadly overshadowed what was an incredible moment for women’s football in Spain.

But La Roja kept on winning. Early last year, Spain claimed the trophy for the first-ever UEFA Nations League competition, beating France 2-0 in the final. That qualified the team for its very first Olympics.

Spain was steady in France, coming out atop a difficult group that included Japan, Brazil and Nigeria without a loss. But after advancing to the semifinals on penalties against Colombia, La Roja fell 4-2 to Brazil in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match, Spain lost to Germany to surprisingly go home empty-handed.

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Despite the Olympics disappointment, Spain’s overall talent is simply staggering, with stars Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, Gotham’s own Esther Gonzalez, Olga Carmona, Salma Paralluelo and Ona Battle. One absence at the Euros is all-time leading scorer Jenni Hermoso, now 35, who was not named to the squad by coach Montse Tome.

Spain’s best finish at the Euros was the semifinals in 1997, when the team fell 2-1 to Italy. At the 2022 Euros, La Roja lost to England 2-1 in extra time in the quarterfinals.

There was drama before the opening match when two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmati was hospitalized with viral meningitis, but she miraculously announced that she intended to play. Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll was also ill with what the Spanish media said was tonsillitis.

Spain prevailed in the opener with a 5-0 rout of Portugal. Esther scored the first of her two goals in the second minute as La Roja pounced. Putellas, who had an ACL injury and didn’t play for Spain in the 2022 Euros, scored in the 41st minute and was named player of the match. Putellas celebrated her goal by bowing to the crowd.

Speaking in Spanish at the post-game press conference following the victory, Putellas said the best way to mark her return to the Euros was not to score, but to get the team win. The 31-year-old is playing in her third European Championship.

“Well, the best way has been to start off winning. I think we’re all leaving here very happy with the result, with the match itself, knowing that we have room for improvement as there always is,” she said. “Let’s enjoy it. Tomorrow we’ll recover and the next one and think about Belgium. The reality is that, well, we only won the first match.”

Despite that reality, there’s no question that Spain is probably the clear favorite, now that defending champion England dropped its first match and Germany captain Giulia Gwinn was knocked out of the remainder of the tournament because of a knee injury in the opener against Poland.

Putellas understands why there are lofty expectations, but that doesn’t guarantee success.

“We come from winning a World Cup, from being champions of the Nations League, we have the patches on our shirts, and I suppose it’s normal in the world of football,” she said. “We have to continue as we did today. It doesn’t matter if [the media] considers us the favorites or not. We show the utmost respect for our opponents by giving 100 percent in every match, regardless of the rival that is in front of us, always giving the best version of ourselves.”

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After the match, Putellas swapped jerseys with Barcelona teammate Kika Nazareth, who plays for Portugal.

“Well, obviously. Especially knowing that she’s coming off an injury and that’s probably why she hasn’t had any playing time. I always love playing against the best, which she’s undoubtedly one of the best on her national team. … I really appreciate her, that she’s a great teammate, and that she has a great future ahead of her,” Putellas said.

Since writing, Spain has already won its second match of the group stage 6-0 against Belgium.

“Spain are fortunate to have many players with a lot of talent and the ability to adapt to different positions. Any one of the 23 who takes the pitch gives us guaranteed quality and complete peace of mind,” coach Tome said on Sunday as the team looked ahead to the second match.

Links

Iceland is out, but hosts Switzerland lives on

Norway becomes the first team to reach the knockouts.

England disappointed by France

The Athletic with a great story on Wales’ growth

The Financial Times (!) with a feature on the Booters of West London. Weirdly a fashion spread too.

Feature on Spain’s Vicky Lopez

How the unwanted kiss transformed Spain football

The BBC’s profile of Rhian Wilkinson

Don’t forget WAFCON is happening too

ESPN Profiled Pernille Harder

The 2026 NWSL schedule footprint is out, with the league taking a break for the men’s World Cup.

The Boston Legacy sign their first play, Annie Karich

The NWSL free agents list is out. Chaos incoming.