Spanish coach Jorge Vilda has established Alexia Putellas, winner of the last two Ballons d’Or, for the first time at the Women’s World Cup, in search of rhythm after a serious knee injury, Wednesday against Zambia, in Auckland (2:30 p.m.) . The FC Barcelona playmaker appears in the eleven communicated by Fifa, for this meeting which can send the Spanish, favorites, in the round of 16 in the event of victory.
She was content with about twenty minutes when La Roja entered the fray against Costa Rica (3-0) last Friday. The physical condition of Putellas, who went nine months without playing, until his return to competition last March, prompted questions ahead of the competition. “We are happy, she is happy,” assured coach Vilda before the game against Zambia.
The first Spaniard to have reached 100 caps, the midfielder embodies the new ambitions of La Roja, which has never done better than the round of 16 in a World Cup.