21 September 2023 , 09:12
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Liverpool legend and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has praised the Spain women's national team for their ongoing battle to incite change in the country's football federation (RFEF).
The World Cup -winning squad were set to boycott this month's international fixtures following the federation's handling of the fallout from Luis Rubiales kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso during the trophy presentation. Despite the resignations of both Rubiales and former manager Jorge Vilda, Spain's players insisted not enough had been done and demanded structural changes.
However, there was a breakthrough in talks earlier this week as the squad agreed to end their boycott. The progress came following seven hour talks between the players, federation and the Spanish government sports agency.
Alonso, who amassed over 100 caps for Spain during his playing days, highlighted the importance of the player's fight for better working conditions and insisted the progress made this week and the promise for reforms can only be the beginning of greater change.
"Even though I'm here in Germany, it's an important issue. If that happens, it's an international movement," he told the media during his team's pre-Europa League press conference against BK Hacken. “What they are fighting for is good for football. But also for society and equality.
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"My daughters will remember in the future what these women fought for. Everything that is happening at the moment can only be the first step. But it is an important step.
"Sometimes good things can come from bad things if you fight for the right cause. The players are fighting for their rights and they are absolutely on the right path."
Spain's Jennifer Hermoso (C) holds the World Cup with team-mates Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes (Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Newly-appointed Spain head coach Monte Tome will be able to call upon 21 of the initial 23 players she named for this international window, with only Mapi Leon and Patri Guijjaro leaving the camp. 15 of those players were part of the squad who beat England 1-0 in the final last month.
Hermoso was not called up for their Nations League meetings against Sweden and Switzerland, with Tome claiming the omission was to 'protect' the forward. The team take on Sweden in Gothenberg on Friday in what will be their first fixture since the World Cup.
They will then take on Switzerland, who they beat 5-1 in the round of 16 at the tournament this summer, on home soil in Cordoba on Tuesday night.