Spain squad locked in for the Cup of Nations

Spain's coach Jorge Vilda has named a 25-player squad for the upcoming Cup of Nations, set to kick off in February! 

The squad sees the return of veteran forward Jennifer Hermoso, with 93 appearances for her country she is the most experienced Spanish player coming to the tournament. 

We take you through the side that will be travelling to Australia for the upcoming tournament. 

Goalkeepers

Elena Lete, Misa Rodríguez, Enith Salón

Three shot-stoppers have been named to the squad, all playing their club football in Spain. Rodríguez, playing for Real Madrid, is the most experienced of the three keepers with nine appearances for her country. 

Rodríguez featured in Spain's last game of the year, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Japan. The 23-year-old keeper also kept a clean sheet against the USA late last year, holding the reigning Women's World Cup champions to a 2-0 loss. 

Salón made her first appearance for Spain in their 7-0 win over Argentina, while Lete is yet to make an appearance for Spain at the senior level. 

Defenders

Ivana Andrés, Olga Carmona, Laia Codina, Rocío Gálvez, Sheila García, Oihane Hernández, María Méndez, Berta Pujadas and Paula Tomás

Three of the defenders named to the squad ply their trade alongside one another at Real Madrid, with two uncapped players in Schulze and Tomás named to the squad.

Ivana Andrés is the most experienced defender named to Vilda's squad, making 42 senior appearances for Spain with her debut coming back in 2015. 

Codina, Gálvez, Hernández and Méndez have a handful of senior appearances between them, with Méndez part of the Spanish team that claimed the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.

Berta Pujadas is a late inclusion to the squad, replacing Athletic Bilbao's Bibiane Schulze who has been ruled out with a groin injury confirmed by her club. 

Midfielders

Teresa Abelleira, Fiamma Benitez, Marta Carro, Irene Guerrero, Maite Oroz and Claudia Zornoza

Guerrero is the most experienced midfielder named to the squad, playing for Atlético de Madrid alongside Czechia's Andrea Stašková.

The midfielder found the back of the net twice in our last meeting with Spain, coming off the bench at the half-time break and finding the back of the net in the final minutes of the game. 

Forwards

Marta Cardona, Athenea del Castillo, Esther González, Jennifer Hermoso, Eva Navarro, Salma Paralluelo and Alba Redondo

Jenni Hermoso returns to the Spanish national team for the Cup of Nations, with the 93-capped forward missing the last two call-ups. The forward last appeared for Spain in their 5-0 win over Ukraine, scoring from the penalty spot to help La Roja secure a spot in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

After three years with FC Barcelona, helping them to a first-ever UEFA Women's Champions League title, the forward has made the move to Mexican side Pachuca in the Liga MX Femenil.

Another exciting player to watch is youngster Salma Paralluelo. The forward helped Spain to the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup title, then made her debut for the senior team in late 2022. Paralluelo's debut was one to remember, scoring a hat-trick against Argentina to seal a 7-0 win.