The victory of the Spanish team in the world has set a new milestone in the history of Spanish sports and has focused on the sporting, economic and social future of Women’s Football, which has developed at a dizzying rate in the last eight years, but which continues to have shadows. How to make the triumph profitable to make it sustainable is the challenge now facing the RFEFthe F League and the players themselves. Success creates a circle that feeds back and connects success with social interest, which generates an economic return that in turn feeds success again. In Sydney, with the goal of Olga CarmonaSpain went through the first and second steps and now has to consolidate it.
The 23 players decided to “focus” on the championship and put aside all the noise generated by the confrontation of some of them with the coach, and technical director, Jorge Vilda. Raising the trophy has helped, but the scars exist and have been evident in some gestures. How united this group is going to stay is anyone’s guess. Firstly, because it remains to be confirmed whether a rapprochement with the rebels is possible, both those who stood firm in their position, and Mapi Leon o Lola Gallardolike those that ended up giving in and were seen outside, like Sandra Cloths o patri pebble. The World Cup, in which there have been changes with respect to the Euro Cup, can serve to make a clean slate or to collect invoices.
In addition, to this debate has been added the irruption of young players such as Salma Paralluelo, round dawn o Olga Carmona, with a place in the national team until the next decade led by Aitana Bonmatí or Mariona. They are called to take the flag that they have held since 2015 Ivana Andres, Irene Paredes, Jenny Beautiful o Alexia Putellaswhose serious knee injury has condemned her to have a lower profile in this World Cup than a player with a double Ballon d’Or is presumed to be.
Digesting success is essential when there is a challenge just around the corner. Spain has never disputed the Olympic Games since Atlanta 96 included the women’s teams. And now it will be more difficult. Until 2019 the World champion had a guaranteed place, but now he will have to achieve one of the two European places (France is classified as organizer) through the new Nations League, which starts in September. With four groups of four teams, Spain (in the frame with Sweden, Italy and Switzerland) needs to be first to play the final four and try to be at least a finalist, the only way to play the Olympic tournament next summer.
The following of this World Cup has broken all audience records for women’s matches. The final offered by TVE brought together more than five million viewers, with a 65.7% audience share. This has been the most watched girls party in Spain. That shows an interest that has not yet transferred to the stadiums in the F League. Last season only two games exceeded 20,000 spectators: Atlético-Barcelona and the Basque derby between Athletic and Real Sociedad. Below 10,000 was Valencia-Levante. Not even Barcelona has reached these records in the F League, although it has broken all possible records in the Champions League, with more than 90,000 fans in the stands of the Camp Nou to watch the duels against Real Madrid or Wolfsburg. To make this World Cup profitable, the F League has to retain the public.