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Women’s National Team

Irene Paredes: "We are a mature team, with great quality and very talented players"

The captain of the Spanish National Team took questions from the media ahead of the final
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Sat, 26/07/2025 - 18:26

There are 24 hours left before a match for the ages. Spain are set to play in a European Championships final for the first time in their history, with the clash taking place tomorrow at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, against England. Ahead of the match, an emotional captain, Irene Paredes, spoke to the media, expressing her excitement about the opportunity the team has. “We are becoming a more mature team, with more resources, and we’ve been proving that. But what we’ve done up until now counts for nothing tomorrow. It’s another match against a great team that we respect a lot. We’re ready for it and we’ll try to give our best version and get a positive result,” the captain reflected.

Respect for England was something the player from Gipuzkoa highlighted: “They’re one of the best teams in the world, they’ve earned their place in the final just like us. We have players who even share a dressing room with them and know them well. They’ve made us suffer and we’ve made them suffer. It’ll be a tight match.”

As a centre-back, she analysed England’s attacking threat: “England have a very complete team, they have different options up front, Russo hasn’t scored yet but there are others who, as soon as they come on, get a chance and take it well, so we can’t take anyone complacently. We have to defend and attack well.”

For the captain, the team’s talent is undeniable: “I’ve enjoyed every one of our major competitions, but I’m really enjoying this one. The team arrived at this tournament at a really mature stage in every way, with a great mix of players, lots of quality, resources and a wealth of experience playing in matches like tomorrow’s. I’m enjoying this tournament— I don’t know if more than others, but possibly. We can enjoy our football, and we are doing just that.”

When it comes to a big final, the team turns pressure into opportunity: “We have a team that’s played in big matches and tournaments, and everyone knows how to manage the tension and emotions that that brings. We’re a team and we don’t see it as pressure, but as an opportunity to make history and do something great, to show who we are, to enjoy it and make others enjoy it. In the group, there is no talk of being the favourites.”

This Spain team and the Euros have become a sensation back in Spain over the course of the tournament: “I don’t think we are fully aware of how many people are following us in Spain. It’s trickling through, but what I can say is that we feel the love and we are thankful and excited for everything that’s happening. Such support was unthinkable not so long ago. So many towns are gathering around big screens to watch us and send their support.”

Since the World Cup win in 2023, many things have changed in women’s football and for this team: “I felt it way back then, and since then, solid steps forward have been taken. I still believe we have to keep opening doors and normalising things. After the win, many barriers came down, we’ve become even bigger role models for boys and girls — but there’s still more to do.”

 

 

 

 

Watch Irene Paredes’ press conference ahead of the Euros final against England again.

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