Jorge Vilda, Spain’s manager, is urging his squad to draw motivation from their crushing group-stage defeat to Japan as they prepare to take on Switzerland in the round of 16.
Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites, initiated their World Cup journey with easy victories over Costa Rica and Zambia.
However, they landed second in Group C after suffering a significant 4-0 loss to the 2011 champions, Japan.
“Defeats like these make a significant impact on us,” stated Vilda on Friday.
“But they are also essential for the team’s evolutionary progression and growth process.
“We haven’t overlooked it, and we won’t.”
Spain’s next challenge comes in the form of Switzerland, the Group A victors, who are one of the three teams – alongside Japan and Jamaica – yet to allow a goal in the tournament.
“Switzerland possesses something incredibly valuable, the fact that in three matches no team has scored against them. This speaks volumes about their strong defence,” Vilda observed.
However, the Swiss, ranked 20th, only managed to score twice as they dominated their group, keeping Norway and New Zealand at bay with scoreless draws and triumphing over the Philippines 2-0.
Switzerland’s manager, Inka Grings, acknowledged that finding the back of the net has been a focus in this week’s training sessions before they confront Spain in the first knockout game at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
“We’ve thoroughly examined this aspect, discussed it with the team, and plan to integrate more offensive players, decisive players, into the squad,” said Grings.
“Obviously, we need to be more decisive in our approach towards the goal.”
The victorious team from Saturday’s match will proceed to the quarterfinals, where they will face either the Netherlands or South Africa on Friday, 11th August.
Key statistics
Spain will compete in just their second last-16 game at a Women’s World Cup, having played their first in 2019 when they fell 2-1 to the eventual champions, the USA.
Despite not letting in a goal so far, Switzerland has faced more on-target shots this year (eight) than they did in the 2015 group stage (seven, with four goals conceded).
Spain’s 4-0 setback against Japan was their most substantial loss in a Women’s World Cup, conceding as many goals in that single game as they did in their previous six games combined.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Spain vs Switzerland Women’s World Cup
Who will Spain face in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup?
Spain is set to face Switzerland in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
How did Spain perform in the group stages of the tournament?
Spain started their World Cup campaign strongly with victories over Costa Rica and Zambia. However, they finished second in their group following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan.
Who is the manager of the Spanish women’s team?
The manager of the Spanish women’s team is Jorge Vilda.
How did Switzerland perform in the group stages?
Switzerland topped Group A despite scoring only twice. They held Norway and New Zealand to goalless draws, and beat the Philippines 2-0.
Who is the manager of the Swiss women’s team?
The manager of the Swiss women’s team is Inka Grings.
What lessons does Spain’s manager, Jorge Vilda, take from the team’s defeat to Japan?
Vilda believes that such defeats are significant and leave a deep mark, but they are essential for the team’s development and growth process.
When and where will the last-16 match between Spain and Switzerland take place?
The last-16 match between Spain and Switzerland will take place at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.
Who will the winners of the Spain-Switzerland tie face in the last eight?
The winners of the Spain-Switzerland tie will face either the Netherlands or South Africa in the quarterfinals.
More about Spain vs Switzerland Women’s World Cup
- Spain’s Women’s World Cup campaign
- Switzerland’s Women’s World Cup journey
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
- Profile of Jorge Vilda
- Profile of Inka Grings
2 comments
Switz’s defense has been solid. Still, they need to be more aggressive on attack. Just 2 goals? Need more if they wanna win the World Cup.
hey, don’t underestimate the Swiss! They haven’t let a single goal in yet. This game’s gonna be a tough one for Spain for sure.