Spain women's national football team


The Spain women's national football team has represented Spain in international women's football competition since 1980, and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.
Spain have qualified two times for the FIFA Women's World Cup and three times for the UEFA Women's Championship, reaching the semifinals in 1997. Contrast to its lackluster senior side, Spain's youth teams are one of the most successful and have enjoyed a great success in 2018, getting the two continental titles, and reaching the two worldwide finals, winners in the U-17 World Cup and runners-up in the U-20 World Cup.

History

Early years

After underground women's football clubs started appearing in Spain around 1970 one of its instigators, Rafael Muga, decided to create a national team. It was an unofficial project as football was considered an unsuitable sport for women by both the Royal Spanish Football Federation and National Movement's Women's Section, which organized women's sports in Francoist Spain. When asked about the initiative in January 1971 RFEF president José Luis Pérez Payá answered I'm not against women's football, but I don't like it either. I don't think it's feminine from a esthetic point of view. Women are not favored wearing shirt and trousers. Any regional dress would fit them better.
One month later, on 21 February 1971, the unofficial Spanish national team, including Conchi Sánchez, who played professionally in the Italian league, made its debut in Murcia's La Condomina against Portugal, ending in a 3–3 draw. The team wasn't allowed to wear RFEF's crest and the referee couldn't wear an official uniform either. On 15 July, with a 5-days delay for transfer issues, it played its first game abroad against Italy in Turin's Stadio Comunale, suffering an 8–1 defeat. It was then invited to the 2nd edition of unofficial women's world cup, but RFEF forbid them to take part in the competition. Despite these conditions Spain was entrusted hosting the 1972 World Cup. RFEF vetoed the project, and the competition was cancelled and disbanded. The unofficial Spanish team itself broke up shortly after.

1980s: Officiality of the team

After the transition to democracy in the second half of the decade RFEF finally accepted women's football in November 1980, creating first a national cup and next a national team, which finally made its debut under coach Teodoro Nieto on 5 February 1983 in A Guarda, Pontevedra. The opponent was again Portugal, which defeated Spain 0–1. The team subsequently played 2-leg friendlies against France and Switzerland drawing with both opponents in Aranjuez and Barcelona and losing in Perpignan before it finally clinched its first victory in Zürich. On 27 April 1985 it played its first official match in the 1987 European Championship's qualification, losing 1–0 against Hungary. After losing the first four matches Spain defeated Switzerland and drew with Italy to end third. The team also ended in its group's bottom positions in the subsequent 1989 and 1991 qualifiers. After the former Nieto was replaced by Ignacio Quereda, who has coached the team since 1 September 1988.
Teodoro Nieto left the most International Footballer Conchi sanchez out of the Spanish Team even when the player was the first Capitain during the 70s, She was playing in Italy at the time winning championships and Italian Cups, there was not substantial reasons to leave such extraordinary player out at the peak of her career, the damaged was done to such brilliant player who loved to play for her country and fully deserved more respect and recognition.

1990s and 2000s: Growing up

The 1995 Euro qualifying marked an improvement as Spain ended 2nd, one point from England, which qualified for the final tournament. In these qualifiers Spain attained its biggest victory to date, a 17–0 over Slovenia. In the 1997 Euro qualifying it made a weaker performance, including a record 0–8 loss against Sweden in Gandia, but the European Championship was expanded to eight teams and Spain still made it to the repechage, where it defeated England on a 3–2 aggregate to qualify for the competition for the first time. In the first stage the team drew 1–1 against France, lost 0–1 against host Sweden, and beat 1–0 Russia to qualify on goal average over France to the semifinals, where it was defeated 2–1 by Italy. All three goals were scored by Ángeles Parejo.
This success was followed by a long series of unsuccessful qualifiers. In the 1999 World Cup's qualifying Spain ended last for the first time, not winning a single game. In the 2001 Euro's it made it to the repechage, where it suffered a 3–10 aggregate defeat against Denmark. In the 2003 World Cup's it again ended last despite starting with a 6–1 win over Iceland. In the 2005 Euro's, where a 9–1 win over Belgium was followed by a 5-game non scoring streak, it ended 3rd behind Denmark and Norway. In the 2007 World Cup's the team again ended 3rd behind Denmark and Finland despite earning 7 more points.
In the 2009 Euro's Spain made its better performance since the 1995 qualifiers, narrowly missing qualification as England clinched the top position by overcoming a 2–0 in the final match's second half. Spain had to play the repechage, where it lost both games against the Netherlands. In the 2011 World Cup's Spain again ended 2nd, with no repechage, after England again overcame a half-time 2–0 in their second confrontation.

2010s: First World Cups

Spain achieved 16 years later a place for the final stage of a European Championship. The team qualified for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, after beating Scotland in the qualifiers playoff. In the group stage, a win over England and a draw against Russia was enough to qualify for the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by Norway.
Two years later, Spain qualified for the first time ever to a World Cup, winning nine of its ten matches of the qualifying round. In the group stage of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Their campaign, however, ended up being a disaster. Spain managed only a 1–1 draw into the weakest team in the group, Costa Rica, before losing 0–1 to Brazil. In the last match with South Korea, they still lost 1–2 after an initial lead, becoming the worst European team in the tournament. After the World Cup, the 23 players on the roster issued a collective statement for the end of Ignacio Quereda’s reign as head coach. Later that summer, Quereda stepped down and was replaced by Jorge Vilda, who had previously coached the U-19 team, and was on the shortlist for the 2014 FIFA World Coach of the Year.
Spain has achieved to qualify for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 by winning all the matches and ahead in 11 points to the second classified.
In 2017 the national team participated for the first time in the Algarve Cup winning the tournament.
However, its performance in the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 was very disappointing: only one match won, two defeats against England and Scotland in group stage, Miraculously Spain advanted to the quarter-finals, where losing against Austria in a quarter-final finishing 0–0 after extra time, then 3–5 in penalty shoot-out. Eventually, the national football team was eliminated after more than 345 minutes without scoring a single goal.
At the 2019 Women's World Cup, Spain were in Group B with China PR, South Africa, and Germany. They finished second in the group to progress to the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time in their history. However, the team was eliminated in the round of 16 by the eventual champions United States.
In October 2019, the federation announced the creation of España Promesas, a team for players too old for younger age groups but not in the latest full squad, to provide training and occasional match experience for those in consideration for the future.

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

UEFA Women's Championship

Friendly tournaments

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2020 SheBelieves Cup.
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#FFDEAD" align="left" | Goalkeeper
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" | Defender
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#BBF0C9" align="left" | Midfielder
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#FFACB3" align="left" | Forward

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a squad in the last twelve months.

Previous squads

;World Cup
;European Football Championship
;Others
PositionName
Head coachJorge Vilda
Assistant coachMontserrat Tomé
Goalkeeping coachCarlos Sánchez
Fitness coachKenio Gonzalo
Video assistantRubén Jimenez
DoctorJoan Molera
PsychologistJavier López Vallejo

List of Spain women's national football team managers

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2019

2020

Overall official record

CompetitionStageResultOpponentPositionScorers
1987 EC QSRegular stage0–1, 1–2 Hungary3 / 4
1987 EC QSRegular stage0–2, 3–0 Switzerland3 / 4
1987 EC QSRegular stage2–3, 1–1 Italy3 / 4
1989 EC QSRegular stage1–1, 1–0 Bulgaria4 / 5
1989 EC QSRegular stage0–1, 0–2 Czechoslovakia4 / 5
1989 EC QSRegular stage1–0, 0–1 Belgium4 / 5
1989 EC QSRegular stage1–3, 0–0 France4 / 5
1991 EC QSRegular stage0–0, 1–2 Switzerland4 / 5
1991 EC QSRegular stage1–3, 0–5 Denmark4 / 5
1991 EC QSRegular stage1–0, 0–1 Belgium4 / 5
1991 EC QSRegular stage1–3, 0–0 France4 / 5
1993 EC QSRegular stage0–4, 1–1 Sweden2 / 3
1993 EC QSRegular stage0–1, 1–0 Republic of Ireland2 / 3Bakero
1995 EC QSRegular stage0–0, 4–0 Belgium2 / 4Pascual, Bakero + 1 o.g.
1995 EC QSRegular stage0–0, 0–0 England2 / 4
1995 EC QSRegular stage17–0, 8–0 Slovenia2 / 4
1997 EC QSRegular stage 0–1, 0–2 Denmark3 / 4
1997 EC QSRegular stage 5–1, 2–2 Romania3 / 4
1997 EC QSRegular stage 1–1, 0–8 Sweden3 / 4
1997 EC QSRepechage2–1, 1–1 England1 / 2
1997 EuroGroup stage1–1 France2 / 4Parejo
1997 EuroGroup stage0–1 Sweden2 / 4
1997 EuroGroup stage1–0 Russia2 / 4Parejo
1997 EuroSemifinals1–2 Italy4 / 8Parejo
1999 WC QSRegular stage 1–2, 1–2 Ukraine4 / 4
1999 WC QSRegular stage 1–2, 1–3 Sweden4 / 4
1999 WC QSRegular stage 0–0, 1–1 Iceland4 / 4
1999 WC QSPromotion3–0, 4–1 Scotland1 / 2Monforte, Auxi, Cabezón, Gimbert, Marco, Mateos
2001 EC QSRegular stage 2–5, 0–7 Sweden3 / 4Mateos, Rodríguez
2001 EC QSRegular stage 0–1, 1–2 France3 / 4Mateos
2001 EC QSRegular stage 1–1, 2–1 Netherlands3 / 4"Chola", Fuentes, Gimbert
2001 EC QSRepechage1–6, 2–4 Denmark2 / 2Cabezón, Gimbert, Mateos
2003 WC QSRegular stage 6–1, 0–3 Iceland4 / 4Auxi, Del Río, Ferreira, Gimbert
2003 WC QSRegular stage 0–2, 2–1 Russia4 / 4Auxi, Del Río
2003 WC QSRegular stage 0–3, 0–1 Italy4 / 4
2003 WC QSPromotionCancelled Hungary–
2005 EC QSRegular stage 1–0, 0–0 Netherlands3 / 5Del Río
2005 EC QSRegular stage 0–2, 0–2 Norway3 / 5
2005 EC QSRegular stage 9–1, 0–2 Belgium3 / 5Del Río, Vázquez, Castillo, Gurrutxaga
2005 EC QSRegular stage 0–1, 0–2 Denmark3 / 5
2007 WC QSRegular stage 2–3, 7–0 Poland3 / 5Del Río
2007 WC QSRegular stage 1–0, 0–0 Finland3 / 5Cabezón
2007 WC QSRegular stage 3–2, 4–2 Belgium3 / 5Adriana, Cabezón, Gimbert, Gurrutxaga, Del Río + 1 o.g.
2007 WC QSRegular stage 2–2, 0–5 Denmark3 / 5Adriana, Vilanova
2009 EC QSRegular stage3–0, 6–1 Belarus2 / 5Vázquez, Romero, Azagra, Cuesta, Auxi, Pérez
2009 EC QSRegular stage2–2, 4–1 Czech Republic2 / 5Boquete, Adriana, Gimbert, Torrejón, Vilanova
2009 EC QSRegular stage0–1, 2–2 England2 / 5Bermúdez, Boquete
2009 EC QSRegular stage4–0, 3–0 Northern Ireland2 / 5Vázquez, Bermúdez, Boquete, García, Del Río, Vilas
2009 EC QSRepechage0–2, 0–2 Netherlands2 / 2
2011 WC QSRegular stage13–0, 9–0 Malta3 / 5Adriana, Bermúdez, Boquete, Romero, Ibarra, Casado, Meseguer + 1 o.g.
2011 WC QSRegular stage2–0, 1–0 Austria3 / 5Adriana, Bermúdez
2011 WC QSRegular stage5–0, 5–1 Turkey3 / 5Adriana, Bermúdez, Boquete, Olabarrieta, Torrejón
2011 WC QSRegular stage0–1, 2–2 England3 / 5Adriana, Bermúdez
2013 EC QSRegular stage10–1, 4–0 Turkey2 / 6Adriana, Boquete, Bermúdez, Borja, Corredera, Olabarrieta, Vilas + 1 o.g.
2013 EC QSRegular stage3–2, 3–4 Switzerland2 / 6Adriana, Boquete, García, Vilas
2013 EC QSRegular stage4–0, 13–0 Kazakhstan2 / 6Vilas, Bermúdez, Boquete, Borja, Adriana, Meseguer, Torrejón
2013 EC QSRegular stage4–0, 0–0 Romania2 / 6Boquete, Adriana, Bermúdez
2013 EC QSRegular stage2–2, 0–5 Germany2 / 6Boquete, Romero
2013 EC QSRepechage1–1, 3–2 Scotland1 / 2Adriana, Boquete, Meseguer
2013 EuroGroup stage3–2 England2 / 4Boquete, Hermoso, Putellas
2013 EuroGroup stage0–1 France2 / 4
2013 EuroGroup stage1–1 Russia2 / 4Boquete
2013 EuroQuarter-finals1–3 Norway7 / 8Hermoso
2015 WC QSRegular stage6–0, 5–0 Estonia1 / 6Natalia, Bermúdez, Vicky, Hermoso, Torrejón, Paredes
2015 WC QSRegular stage2–0, 0–0 Italy1 / 6Bermúdez, Natalia
2015 WC QSRegular stage1–0, 2–0 Romania1 / 6Natalia, García
2015 WC QSRegular stage3–2, 1–0 Czech Republic1 / 6Bermúdez, Corredera, Boquete
2015 WC QSRegular stage12–0, 10–0 Macedonia1 / 6Natalia, Bermúdez, Hermoso, Boquete, Calderón, Losada, Torrejón
2015 World CupGroup stage1–1 Costa Rica4 / 4Losada
2015 World CupGroup stage0–1 Brazil4 / 4
2015 World CupGroup stage1–2 South Korea4 / 4Boquete
2017 EC QSRegular stage2–1, 5–0 Finland1 / 5Paredes, Hermoso, Putellas, Sampedro, Torrecilla, Torrejón
2017 EC QSRegular stage3–0, 3–0 Republic of Ireland1 / 5Boquete, Hermoso, Losada, + 1 o.g.
2017 EC QSRegular stage2–0, 4–1 Portugal1 / 5Bermúdez, Boquete, Losada, Putellas, Sampedro, Torrecilla
2017 EC QSRegular stage7–0, 13–0 Montenegro1 / 5Boquete, Bermúdez, Losada, Putellas, Sampedro, Corredera, Hermoso, Torrecilla
2017 EuroGroup stage2–0 Portugal2 / 4Losada, Sampedro
2017 EuroGroup stage0–2 England2 / 4
2017 EuroGroup stage0–1 Scotland2 / 4
2017 EuroQuarter-finals0–0 Austria8 / 8
2019 WC QSRegular stage6–0, 2–0 Israel1 / 5Hermoso, Paredes, Latorre, Putellas, Sampedro, Vilas
2019 WC QSRegular stage2–1, 3–0 Serbia1 / 5Hermoso, Guijarro, Sampedro
2019 WC QSRegular stage4–0, 1–0 Austria1 / 5Guijarro, Paredes, Putellas, Torrecilla
2019 WC QSRegular stage2–0, 5–1 Finland1 / 5Corredera, O. García, Hermoso, León, Nahikari, Paredes
2019 World CupGroup stage3–1 South Africa4 / 4Hermoso, Lucía García
2019 World CupGroup stage0–1 Germany4 / 4
2019 World CupGroup stage0–0 China4 / 4
2019 World CupEighth-finals1–2 United States11 / 16Hermoso
2021 EC QSRegular stage4–0, Azerbaijan1 / 5Bonmatí, Guijarro, Torrecilla
2021 EC QSRegular stage5–1, Czech Republic1 / 5Bonmatí, Caldentey, Hermoso, Paredes + 1 o.g.
2021 EC QSRegular stage Moldova1 / 5
2021 EC QSRegular stage Poland1 / 5

Honours

Titles

Most caps

is the most capped player in the history of the Spanish national team.
#PlayerCareerCapsGoals
1Marta Torrejón2007–2019909
2Marta Corredera2013–785
2Jennifer Hermoso2011–7832
4Alexia Putellas2013–7714
5Irene Paredes2011–728
6Arantza del Puerto1990–200571??
7Silvia Meseguer2008–2019675
8Virginia Torrecilla2013–657
9Victoria Losada2010–6413
10Mar Prieto1989–20006227

Most goals

is Spain's all-time scorer with 38 goals.
#PlayerCareerGoalsCapsAverage
1Verónica Boquete2005–20173856%
2Sonia Bermúdez2005–20173461%
3Adriana Martín2005–20153337%
4Jennifer Hermoso2011–3278%
5Mar Prieto1989–20002762%
6María Paz Vilas2008–20181525%
7Alexia Putellas2013–1477%

Hat-tricks

PlayerCompetitionAgainstHome/AwayResultDate
Mar Prieto71995 EURO Q SloveniaHome17–020 3 1994
Itziar Bakero1995 EURO Q SloveniaHome17–020 3 1994
Laura del Río52005 EURO Q BelgiumHome7–029 2 2004
Adriana Martín52007 WC Q PolandHome7–030 3 2006
Adriana Martín42011 WC Q MaltaAway0–1319 9 2009
Sonia Bermúdez2011 WC Q MaltaAway0–1319 9 2009
Ana "Willy" Romero2011 WC Q MaltaAway0–1319 9 2009
Adriana Martín2011 WC Q TurkeyAway0–521 11 2009
Adriana Martín42011 WC Q MaltaHome9–024 6 2010
Verónica Boquete2013 EURO Q TurkeyAway1–1017 9 2011
María Paz Vilas72013 EURO Q KazakhstanHome14–05 4 2012
Natalia Pablos52015 WC Q MacedoniaHome12–013 2 2014
Sonia Bermúdez2015 WC Q MacedoniaAway0–1010 4 2014
Jennifer Hermoso2015 WC Q MacedoniaAway0–1010 4 2014
Sonia Bermúdez 52017 EURO Q MontenegroHome13–015 9 2016
Verónica Boquete42017 EURO Q MontenegroHome13–015 9 2016

holds the Spanish record for most international career clean sheets
4 Player scored 4 goals
5 Player scored 5 goals
7 Player scored 7 goals

Clean sheets

#PlayerCareerClean SheetsCapsAverage
1Ainhoa Tirapu2007–20152046%
2Sandra Paños2011–1839%
3Dolores Gallardo2012–1631%
4Roser Serra1991–199810?33%
5Ana Ruiz1984–1988417%
5Elixabete Capa1997–20054????

Rankings

FIFA Women's World Rankings
SeasonMarchJuneAug/SepDecember
200319th '19th '20th '20th '
200420th '21st '21st '20th '
200520th '20th '20th '20th '
200620th '20th '20th '20th '
200720th '20th '20th '20th '
200821st '19th '19th '20th '
200920th '20th '20th '20th '
201020th '20th '19th '19th '
201118th '18th '18th '17th '
201217th '16th '17th '18th '
201318th '18th '17th '15th '
201415th '16th '16th '15th '
201514th '19th '18th '14th '
201615th '14th '14th '14th '
201713th '13th '17th '13th '
201812th '12th '12th '12th '
201913th '13th '13th '13th '
202013th '

UEFA Women's National Team Coefficient Ranking
DateRankPoints
9 March 201112th32,679
25 October 201212th32,999
17 September 20147th35,941
8 June 20166th37,363
21 September 20166th37,655
28 November 20175th39,340
13 June 20186th39,139
4 September 20185th39,181
8 July 20196th22,335

;Ziaian Women's Football Rankings
Season199619971998199920002001200220032004
Rank15th16th16th16th28th23rd26th24th24th

Season2014201520162017201820192020
Rank'15th14th11th8th8th8th8th*

*12 March 2020''

Youth teams

Under-20

Under-19

Under-18

Under-17

;FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup
;UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship

Under-16

There is also a women's national team that represents Spain in international football in under-16 categories and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
This team usually participates each year in UEFA Women U-16 Development Tournament with remarkable success