Montse Tomé presented his list. Fifteen of the 23 Spanish world champions, on strike after the Rubiales affair, were called on Monday September 18 to participate in the next Nations League matches by the new coach who left Jenni Hermoso aside.

“The players are professionals and I am sure they will do their job well, they have been doing it for a long time,” said Montse Tomé while unveiling his first list. “I know they will be with us tomorrow,” she assured, without being able to give additional guarantees. The Spanish women have still not publicly declared that they are ending their strike, despite the resignation of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized.

In a video published by the Spanish women’s football team, on X (formerly Twitter), we can see that Alexia Putellas has been summoned. On Friday, the holder of the Women’s Ballon d’Or estimated in a press release that the changes made at the head of the federation following the forced kiss scandal were “not enough” to bring them back to the selection.

“The best way to protect her.”

The former FC Barcelona player also retained Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, not selected for the World Cup and part of the “fifteen rebels” who had already demanded changes in the working methods of the national team a year ago year. Concerning the absence of Jenni Hermoso, Montse Tomé declared having spoken to her, without revealing the content of their discussion, before ensuring that it was, according to her, “the best way to protect her”. “We rely on Jenni, I’ve worked with her for five years,” she added.

Earlier today, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) reiterated its intention to make “structural changes” after the Rubiales affair, urging the 39 internationals who refuse to return to the national team to “participate in this change” and guaranteeing them a safe environment. “It is clear that the federation, society and the players themselves are aligned on the same objective: renewal and the start of a new stage where football is the great beneficiary of this whole process,” said the RFEF in a press release.

The RFEF says it is “aware of the need to make structural changes”, after having taken “difficult decisions in recent days, which will continue to be taken given the conviction that renewal is necessary”. The Spanish federation “guarantees a safe environment for players and is committed to building a climate of mutual trust so that we can work together and ensure that women’s football continues to progress much stronger.”

The Spaniards must face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland next week in the Nations League, the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.