From Sydney to Basel, Spain is looking to cement its legacy beyond football with the Euros: "They've been fighting with great energy in many places. They deserve it."

When Olga Carmona unleashed a left-footed shot in the 29th minute of the World Cup final that surprised England goalkeeper Mary Earps , Spain was making history again. They were world champions against all odds, thanks to the talent of their players, who had already accumulated three Ballon d'Or awards , and their ability to sweep the slights under the rug. Very little had changed since, a year earlier, a group of them raised their voices against unjustified working conditions. Some were in Sydney , in an exercise of resilience and forced forgetting; others were at home. But what they had put aside to play football was shaken by a kiss, a sexual assault by Rubiales on Jenni Hermoso that scandalized the world. "It's over." A phrase from Alexia Putellas that was the beginning and end of everything.

In Sydney, the champion Spain was born, and today they will once again fight for a title they don't have, the European Championship , once again against England , leaving a trail of praise for their football and their talent. But the legacy surpasses the historical fact. " You know everything we've been through, everything we've fought for , always keeping the focus on football. And that's very complicated. This European Championship has been very calm, which we appreciate, and I think that has also helped us bring out our best version . It's always more difficult to play when you have external factors," reflects Aitana . That resilience, which at times was nothing more than a bitter pill to swallow, made them stronger. "This team is much more mature, has much more experience, and knows how to compete in matches," adds the player.

Montse Tomé is clear about why Spain deserves to win the European Championship, and it goes beyond football. "We are a team, a national team, players who have been fighting, working, and putting in a lot of effort in many places. And now we've been able to make them reflect on what's important, which is football," the coach concluded.

A difficult reconstruction

"This has given us all an incredible background, and all of us who support the national team have been able to enjoy the pure profession. The fact that I can sit here and have all the questions be about football is one of the greatest things that speaks to the change we're achieving. For all their efforts, the team deserves it," he added.

The road to reconstruction hasn't been easy. The dismissal of Jorge Vilda and the disqualification of Luis Rubiales—amid an unprecedented political and social outcry that also ended in a court conviction—didn't heal the wounds. With an interim president, Pedro Rocha , lacking much room for maneuver and with absolute distrust in Montse Tomé , Vilda's deputy, the national team got going after a long night of recriminations and compromises in a hotel lounge in Oliva. Everything was toxic except for Spanish football, which two days later beat Sweden and thrashed Switzerland in the Nations League .

The champion excelled in the new competition, won it, and, for the first time, made it to the Olympic Games . Tomé resisted constant questions about Jenni Hermoso's selections—those she made and those she didn't—and built a team that needed many changes in the staff and some on the field.

The RFEF , immersed in an image crisis, was forced to follow a path that required equality, respect, and attention to its players, whom it needed to provide with every possible means to continue doing their jobs. They had the model in England and, closer to home, in Barcelona . Half a dozen players were moving from a hyper-professionalized club, among the best in Europe, to a precarious national team. The signing of Markel Zubizarreta began to set in motion a change that, even without him, accelerated Rafael Louzán 's arrival as president. All they had to do was keep them company.

Montse Tomé, whose contract expires on August 30 , has been given the opportunity to build a large and well-prepared coaching staff capable of analyzing opponents and conveying to the players their weaknesses, such as Berger's forward movement . Then Aitana , pure intelligence on the pitch, interprets this and leads Spain to a final. Because at the elite level, the details make the difference.

by means of meritocracy

Tomé has managed to navigate a group of players who were wary of her, but whom she has gradually won over. In three years, she has shaped the team, first with the squad selections, revamping the group through meritocracy without subverting the natural order of the locker room. She handed over the captaincy positions, which went back to Irene Paredes and Alexia , and has gradually added new players to the command center to ensure cohesion. The core group hasn't changed much, except for the emergence of young players like Vicky López and Jana and the recognition of veterans like Martín-Prieto .

The legacy on the pitch is so strong that it could be enough to win a title that would complete an unprecedented triple crown : Spain would be the first reigning world champion to also win the Euros, but they also have a Nations title to retain in November. On the pitch, they always want more. "We've made history, but we're ambitious; we want to win and compete at our best," recalls Alexia, who shined once again in this tournament.

Away from the pitch, the impact is almost as profound. Equality , respect, audiences in the millions... women's football has gained visibility and a following in the sport. Although the push for the F League has been limited, these players are national and global icons. Starting with Alexia and Aitana, the two Ballon d'Or winners, and continuing with those who have made the leap to other competitions, such as Esther and Mariona , whose experiences enrich the national team. It's the virtuous circle of a success that was forged in Sydney with a goal and many tears.