Paredes: WC win, Euro final altering Spanish views

Spain's women's national football team, captained by Irene Paredes, is preparing for the Euro 2025 final against England on Sunday. This match is a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0, and marks Spain's first appearance in a European Championship final as reigning world champions.

Paredes stated that attitudes towards women's football in Spain are changing following their World Cup victory, noting that "steps forward have been taken" and that outdated ways of thinking are disappearing. She emphasized the team's role as societal role models and believes they are "on the right track," acknowledging that the World Cup win helped break down barriers, though continued efforts to normalize women's football are needed.

The article references that Spain's 2023 World Cup win was overshadowed by the incident involving former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. Rubiales was subsequently found guilty of sexual assault in a legal battle, a verdict upheld by Spain's High Court on June 25.

Paredes expressed that she is "really enjoying" the current Euro 2025 tournament, highlighting improvements in facilities, staffing, and planning compared to the 2023 World Cup. Head coach Montse Tomé echoed this sentiment, praising the team's "spectacular" day-to-day work and stating that the players are now fully able to focus on football, feeling well-prepared for the final against England. Tomé emphasized that the players deserve the opportunity to concentrate solely on the sport after their hard work and effort.