With only days left until their European Championship premiere, Spain has suffered several setbacks.
During the day, the news came that Spain's first goalkeeper Cata Coll has been infected with tonsillitis. The player therefore missed the team's first training session on site in Switzerland – and risks being forced to miss Spain's premiere match against Portugal on Thursday.
Coll has been the Spanish national team coach Montserrat Tomés' first choice since he took office last autumn.
The goalkeeper issue may therefore become a headache for Tomé during the European Championship.
And it's not the only thing.
”Scary diagnosis”
Over the weekend, the news came that Aitana Bonmatí had been hospitalized after being diagnosed with meningitis.
The midfield star has been discharged from the hospital, but has not traveled with the team to Switzerland. The Spanish Football Federation believes that Bonmatí will join the team within a few days, depending on her progress in recovery.
It's a scary diagnosis, but it's under control. Aitana is a very important player and we will wait for her until the very end, said Tomé at a press conference.
It is clear, in any case, that she will not start against Portugal on Thursday.
Even before these tough setbacks, there has been unrest in the Spanish national team.
World Championship scandal
After the World Championship gold in 2023, Jennifer Hermoso was kissed by the Spanish Football Federation's former chairman Luis Rubiales without consent.
81 players, including the entire World Championship squad, then came out and said that they will not play for Spain until changes are made in the federation's leadership.
Rubiales was forced to leave the federation and was convicted of sexual assault earlier this year.
The Spanish Football Federation's and the judicial investigation has been a long-running saga that has hung over the Spain players' heads since the late summer of 2023.
The European Championship in Switzerland will be played from July 2–27.
