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Women’s National Team

María Méndez: "We’re full of excitement, it’s a great challenge"

The defender spoke to the media ahead of the friendly match against Japan
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Thu, 26/06/2025 - 15:16

María Méndez sat in the press room at La Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas to answer journalists’ questions ahead of the friendly match against the Japanese at the Butarque stadium. The Real Madrid player reflected on her season and her young age, and on what she looks for in her teammates: "Individually, I’m happy with my progress, with the change of club, playing more matches in more competitions. That’s what we want — to play, play, and play, and at a very big club that demands the best of you, and when you come away with the National Team, it’s the same. It’s true that I’m one of the youngest, but in the end it’s about gradually gaining experience and learning from the more experienced ones. The day-to-day routine is very important, and it’s the small details that add up most. Our group of captains are an example."

Although most of the questions focused on the team’s imminent departure to Switzerland to play in the Euros: "This is a challenge, we haven’t won it, we’re hugely ambitious about wanting to win it and we’re very excited about this upcoming challenge." She referred to the work being done over the past few days and months: "This team’s quality is based on working hard everyday and on each of us giving our best in our role. We’re working to make sure everything goes well. The work is put in daily, and the results will come."

 

 

And among those possible results, in a hypothetical final, she wouldn’t care who scores the goal, referring to the goal by defender Olga Carmona in the World Cup final: "In the end, hopefully it’ll be a defender. I don’t care who scores or how they score, it’s about the team. We’ll all celebrate it even if it’s the goalkeeper in the final minute. The goal belongs to the team, just like a good defensive performance does."

 

Regarding Japan, tomorrow’s opponent, she highlighted the high level of their opponents: "They’re a very competitive side, 7th in the FIFA rankings, with a very team focused style of play and players operating at a very high level. We’re putting a lot of work in, and that will bring results."

Lastly, in a nod to the promotion of "her" Oviedo, she said: "My team won, I’m very happy. I’ve been an Oviedo supporter since I was little, my brother played there, so did I, my grandmother too. I was sad not to be there, but it’s all for a good cause — being with the National Team and fighting for the European Championships."

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Listen again to María Méndez’s words

 

Women's Euro 2025

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