Spain have named a preliminary squad for this summer’s Women’s World Cup with three of the 15 players who stood down from the national team returning.
Last September, 15 players indicated to the Spanish FA (RFEF) that they no longer wanted to be considered for selection unless changes were made within the coaching staff with the Spanish FA claiming they had demanded coach Jorge Vilda resign.
The group, which has become known as ‘Las 15’, later insisted they never asked for Vilda’s dismissal.
Vilda has subsequently not selected any of the 15 in the 11 games since but has now recalled Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Manchester United’s Ona Batlle for the tournament that kicks off in Australia and New Zealand next month.
Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina — all part of the Barcelona squad that won the Champions League earlier this month — have all been left out.
Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas — who was not part of the group but publicly supported them — is included following her recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament injury that saw her miss last summer’s European Championship.
“I’m going to talk about the players who are here and not about those who are not here or don’t want to be here,” Vilda said on Monday.
“It…
 that they no longer wanted to be considered for selection unless changes were made within the coaching staff with the Spanish FA claiming they had demanded coach Jorge Vilda resign. The group, which has become known as ‘Las 15’, later insisted they never asked for Vilda’s dismissal. Vilda has subsequently not selected any of the 15 in the 11 games since...){kind=link}