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Montse Tomé: "We’re heading off with confidence and are really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead"

The Spain coach spoke to the media following the team’s victory against Japan
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Sat, 28/06/2025 - 01:12

After defeating Japan 3-1 in the final match before beginning their Euro 2025 campaign, Montse Tomé appeared in the Butarque stadium press room and shared her thoughts on the match:
"We’re heading off with good feelings, it was our final test and we wanted to put in a good performance and get the win, which wasn’t easy to do. We placed importance on our defending as a unit, bearing in mind Japan’s quality passing combinations, and I think the team put in a good performance. A shame about the goal we conceded. It was the kind of mistake that can happen, but we need to try to correct it."

She also spoke about Vicky, who was playing in Madrid, her hometown. She said: "She has a natural talent, she’s a player who deserves more minutes and with some more work, more time on the pitch. We’ve always trusted her, today, she started, just like she did against Belgium. Vicky has experienced what it means to be in and around a top-level national team, and under pressure she performed well and managed to score a goal. Playing in Madrid was a motivation for her, it’s her city and I’m happy for her. We have to be patient with her, she’s happy."

The Head Coach also confirmed what Aitana had asked her to share from the hospital regarding her absence: "She couldn’t train yesterday due to a slight fever, and throughout the day she didn’t feel any better, she was tired and this morning she was taken for tests. Initially, all the tests came back fine, but in the last one, and she’s authorised me to say this, confirmed she has viral meningitis. It’s under control – the word is scary but the doctor tells me it’s under control. She will remain hospitalised; we don’t know the timeline of her recovery. If she wants it to be made public, I’ll communicate it as I’m doing now. That’s the information I can share right now. She’s an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to."

After the match, the Spain players and coach signed many autographs and took numerous photos with their supporters, receiving lots of love from the fans:  "I´m happy for all of the fans. The affection we feel whenever we go to different cities around Spain, feeling their warmth. It’s something we appreciate deeply. If we can stop and take a photo with them, it’s no bother to us and we truly appreciate how they make us feel and what they give the group– especially to the players, who are the important ones."

Once again today Claudia Pina found the net, and Montse is running out of superlatives to describe the forward: "Pina is a penalty-area player, she has that talent, she wants to finish chances, when you see her with the ball you sense danger."

And not only was she effusive in her compliments on an individual level – she also praised the whole team: "What I love most about this squad is their professionalism on a daily basis. Their ability to switch on and off. They are a really professional working group – they go into the gym and get straight down to it, no fuss, no distractions, no loss of focus... On the pitch we’ve being doing tough two-hour sessions, long ones, and they keep going until the very end. During work time they’re 100% committed, and afterwards they can switch off, play and enjoy themselves. It’s a pleasure to be around them. There are many positive aspects to highlight about this group."

Watch Montse Tomé’s post-match press conference after the match against Japan

Women's Euro 2025

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