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Fans were relishing some potential knockout-phase games as soon as the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025™ draw was made. Spain-Brazil topped the list. It’s now set. The teams guided by Claudia Pons and Wilson Saboia will collide on Friday for a place in the final.
Personally I feel up for it, and the squad has worked hard in the build-up. We came here feeling confident about who Spain are, what we want to do and how far we want to go. The mood is upbeat, with everyone raring to go for the match. We knew that if everything worked out, we would meet Brazil in the semi-finals. However, we didn’t want to think about it. Instead we focussed on each match individually. Now the time has come, I think it’s important to show our confidence and belief to reach our target of playing in the final.
I think that each player contributes their best on an individual basis at their clubs, so when we’re together, we have that solidity in both defence and attack. It shows what Spain is all about, why we’re here, and gives us the confidence to keep pushing forward.
Although we haven’t seen much of them, we already know who they are. Some of them play in Spain and while others don’t, we’ve already come up against them. We know they are a tough team to play against and that they are going to make us work hard, both physically and mentally, so we need to be really focussed. Even the slightest slip-up could prove decisive when it comes to the outcome of the match.
It’s a very emotional memory for me. The team came out full of ambition and determination. It felt like the whole of Spain scored that goal because it was one of the few times we beat Brazil, which meant we were on top of the world. We felt that everything we were building was working well and we were growing. It’s been three years since then, but Spain have grown stronger and we’re really looking forward to it.
We have faced setbacks, with two last-minute injuries to two key players. But I think we are very mindful about how we adapt to everything, whether it’s the players’ condition or things during the game. The nerves come less from playing against them and more from being in the semi-finals of a World Cup, because you know you’re just one step away from the final. Our task is to do what we have always done, which is to play futsal. It’s about keeping calm and believing in everyone’s collective efforts. The key is composure, so we can show who we really are.
I think it will be a very hard-fought match, with both teams having their moments. We’ll both put a lot of pressure on each other. It will be decided by small details, by how confident and strong we are. I think it will be one of the most beautiful matches you can watch. We hope the crowd enjoys it, that they discover what women’s futsal is all about.
I’ve only got good things to say about her. Even though she’s my opponent, she’s also a professional sportswoman and a role model for me. It’s not just about her individual quality, but what she shows on and off the court. I can only say positive things about her. We’ll have to keep an eye on what she does because she makes a big difference.
It’s not just about this World Cup, but about everything she has done over the years. I’ve come up against her and she’s something special. I need to be sharp to defend against her because we know she is their main attacking threat. I’ve also put in a lot of work, and I’m feeling confident that I can stop her or at least limit whatever she might try to do. It’s not so easy to be 100 per cent effective, but I think I’m ready to try to stop her.
If this were our first match, we’d have no idea what to expect. However, I know the players and how they play. They can catch me off guard, but there are things I know about them and they know about us. They know how we compete, how organised we are, our strengths. It would be better for us if we were more of an unknown, but they know all about us too. We have to take advantage of that and find ways to unsettle them.
It’s hard to explain. We’ve been together our whole lives, for 22 years. We’ve never been apart. This is normal for us. From the outside perspective, it looks special, and it is, but it’s normal to us. I’m really enjoying myself. I’ve been nervous during some matches, I can’t lie, but having her and my parents by my side keeps me grounded. It makes me realise everything I’ve been through and how much I enjoy being with her and my family. They make me feel supported and appreciated. We’re really looking forward to the game, to showing what we can do, and we’ve had a great time here. I think we’re showcasing ourselves, and that fills me with pride for my sister, for myself, my family and all my friends.
We’re not a family that talks about things a lot. I know they put their complete trust in me, and just seeing them gives me all the support I need. Just by coming all the way here, they have gone through a lot and made some real sacrifice, in terms of work and money. We show our support through affection, by always being there. They follow us everywhere, which reassures us enormously. It makes me feel safe and I know that whatever I need, they’ll be there.
