JUST three of the 15 Spain players who mutinied against head coach Jorge Vilda have been included in his provisional World Cup squad.
Manchester United’s Ona Batlle is among the three aces on Vilda’s long-list having made herself available for selection.
The Red Devils full-back is one of 12 players ready for Spain duty after being among the 15 who stood down last September.
The players stood down amid concerns over conditions at international camps and Vilda’s managerial approach.
Last week sports news outlet Marca claimed the 12 players would no longer stay away having reached a consensus with their country’s football federation the RFEF.
Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati have also been included in Vilda’s provisional group.
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Last September the RFEF claimed 15 players had sent them emails stating their wish to not be selected over conditions at international camps.
The players outlined concerns that the situation had “significantly” affected their emotional state and health.
While Batlle has been recalled, her United and Spain pal Lucia Garcia, who was among the 15 players who had been on strike, has been left out.
Her omission comes almost a year on from her representing Spain at last summer’s Euros and helping them to reach the quarter-final stage.
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And Manchester’s City’s Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi have also been left out.
Spain will be without the services of a trio of Barcelona players who helped their team win this year’s Champions League final with a 3-2 defeat of Wolfsburg.
Barca goalkeeper Sandra Panos, forward Claudia Pina and defender Mapi Leon have not made themselves available for an international call-up.
Midfielder Patri Guijarro, who netted a two-minute brace in the Champions League final, is also unavailable.
And Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Lola Gollardo did not make herself available for Spain duty.
Barca superstar Alexia Putellas has been included on Vilda’s long list.
The midfielder, recently returned to fitness from a knee ligament injury, had been crocked for much of this season
Putellas was not among the 15 players who had stood down from international duty.
However the two-time Ballon d’Or winner shared the concerns flagged by her team-mates regarding training conditions and management of injuries in the national set-up.
Following the squad announcement Vilda told reporters: “I will speak about the players who are here and not the ones who aren’t
“The RFEF has always been open to dialogue. The conflict is practically resolved, a few details would remain.
“We would be delighted if that were the case, but we look at the players who are committed and have shown their commitment.”
Vilda is set to trim his 30-strong squad to 23 on June 30.
The team will play their Group C opener against Costa Rica on July 21 at Wellington Regional Stadium in
It remains to be seen whether the players now available for selection for the world’s sixth best national side will make the final cut.
However the team has been boosted by Putellas recovery from a damaged ACL.
Vilda added: “It’s great news Alexia is back and she’s played minutes with her club.
“In this time we have played 11 games and we have won 9, including the game against the USA that we won for the first time.
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“With the players we have now, I’m sure we’ll continue to rise in the ranking.
“We know that she (Putellas) is going to help us a lot both on and off the pitch because of her leadership and her experience.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
