It All Began at Son Moix: Irene and Alexia Reflect

On 28 November 2017, Spain faced Austria in Palma de Mallorca. It was far more than just another match. That evening bears remarkable similarities to the fixture that will once again bring the national team to Estadi Mallorca Son Moix nine years later.

At the time, Spain were competing in qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup in France. Their opponents, Austria, had knocked them out of the previous UEFA Women's European Championship, providing plenty of motivation for the occasion. What followed proved to be a turning point in the history of the Spanish national team.

"It was when we started to believe," and "that was the moment we realised what we were capable of" are among the reflections shared by two of the current team's captains, Irene Paredes and Alexia Putellas, both of whom were part of that squad.

They are not the only players returning to Son Moix. Patri Guijarro also featured that night, while Aitana Bonmatí made her senior international debut, playing the first fifteen minutes of what would become an extraordinary career. The match also marked Alexia's 50th appearance for Spain.

Much has changed since then. The team has grown, women's football has continued its remarkable development, and Spain has gone on to reach unprecedented heights. Yet the foundations were already visible that evening in Palma.

Spain defeated Austria 4–0 in a memorable performance that helped establish many of the principles and ambitions that define the team today. Three of the four goals were scored by players who could once again feature prominently when Spain face England on Friday. Alexia opened the scoring after just two minutes, Patri Guijarro added a second in the 15th minute, and Irene Paredes found the net shortly before half-time.

Bringing together two friends, two teammates, two icons and two of the most influential figures in the history of Spanish women's football to revisit that night can only produce something special. Listening to them recall their goals and memories with remarkable detail offers a unique insight into a pivotal chapter in the national team's journey.

Their growth, both as footballers and as leaders, mirrors the rise of Spanish women's football itself. Yet despite all they have achieved, the enthusiasm, humility and determination remain unchanged as they continue to pursue new milestones and further history-making moments.

On Friday, another major challenge awaits. England stand in Spain's path in another World Cup qualifying campaign, at the same stadium and with some of the same protagonists who helped spark a transformation all those years ago.

For the rest, we will let them tell the story themselves.

The floor belongs to Irene and Alexia.