Not only is Sunday’s final in Basel an opportunity for Spain to win their first European crown, but it’s also a chance to celebrate achieving a major trophy without a cloud of controversy hanging over them.
“It’s something external that happened at the time,” Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas said.
“Now we’re focused on giving our best to win this title. We’re not thinking about celebrations or non-celebrations; we’re only thinking about being prepared and doing well so that we can get closer to our goal.”
The culture within the Spanish camp also appears to have changed drastically from the World Cup in 2023, when they arrived in New Zealand with a divided squad amid a backdrop of unrest around then head coach Vilda.
“The things have changed,” Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati added. “There’s a very healthy and united group. We can see that on the pitch. We all agree on this.”
Spain’s Euro 2025 squad includes 11 World-Cup winning players, although Hermoso was not selected by Tome.
Balague explained: “They want to move on, and it makes sense,”
“The players I’ve spoken to, they all have mixed feelings. They [Rubiales and the RFEF] took the celebrations away from them, but they changed our society and the way we think about women’s football, and also women in society.
“They have advanced society. Nobody will give them a trophy for that.”
Former Lionesses forward Ellen White was part of Sarina Wiegman’s side beaten by Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, but said this group of Spanish players deserve their moment in the spotlight.
“The controversy was so horrible. I felt for the whole team after the World Cup final,” White told BBC Radio 5 Live. “They weren’t able to celebrate and have that monumental moment.
“This final brings them the chance to create absolute history. Enjoy it, have nothing else to think about and if they were to win to just bask in the absolute joy of winning a tournament together as a group of individuals. And hopefully the whole of Spain will be celebrating what they have done.
“They deserve this. They have worked so hard and it would be an absolutely amazing moment for the whole team.”