PREVIEW | The wait for global event is over
Lightning never strikes twice, nor are 2 matches the same, as they say. However, a Spain-Costa Rica match on the first day of the group stage kicked off the Costa Rican and Iberian World Cup adventure on 9 June 2015. Almost three thousand days later the opponents are identical, but the aim is very different.
It is especially important for a women's national team that in the last eight years has made an exponential leap forward in quality, resources and competitive level to become one of the best national teams in the world.
The match can be followed live from 9:30 (Spanish peninsular time) on La 2 on TVE and will be followed minute by minute through this official link.
After finishing in first place in their qualifying group, the team coached by Jorge Vilda arrives at the great showpiece of world football with an impeccable record, which includes a winning record and an unbeaten record in front of goal throughout the qualifying phase and in the three preparatory matches in the lead up to the finals.
The Women's National Team has spent more than a month training and several weeks acclimatising to New Zealand, with the 23 players available for the first match, where they want to clearly show that, in their third consecutive tournament, this will be Spain's World Cup
Click here to listen to Jorge Vilda and Esther González’ comments before the match.
Amelia Valverde's Costa Rica appear this Friday in Wellington hoping to hurdle the first obstacle on the path to glory (9.30am Spanish time with live coverage on La 2 on TVE and minute-by-minute coverage on this official website).
The Ticas have a revamped squad following the departure of legendary players such as Shirley Cruz, with Raquel Rodríguez and Priscila Chinchilla leading a dangerous counter-attacking line-up and one to watch out for in the opening minutes of both halves, as the Spanish coach has already warned.
The match will be refereed by Australian referee Casey Reibelt, assisted on the sidelines by Kyrgyzstan's Ramina Tsoi and China's Xie Lijun with Germany's Marco Fritz as VAR.
Vilda wants a team that is recognisable in its style from the first match and Spain will certainly be that from the moment Australian referee Casey Reibelt blows the whistle, in a match played 20,000 kilometres away from the Spanish peninsula, but in which the talented players of the national team will feel very close to the more than 48 million mouths passionately cheering them on from home.
