The Spanish Women’s National Team will be looking to seal their qualification to the next round of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup when they take on Zambia on Wednesday.
La Roja beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their opening match to get their campaign off to a good start.
They however face a Zambia side that are desperate for a result after a horrible start which saw them humiliated 5-0 against Japan.
Jorge Vilda will look to maintain the majority of the players who started against Costa Rica.
Two time Ballon D’or winner, Alexia Putellas could again start on the bench again.
Putellas came on as a second-half substitute in Spain’s opening 3-0 win over Costa Rica last Friday as she continues her recovery from a serious knee injury.
Vilda said the 29-year-old was “fine” but would not commit to starting her at Eden Park on Wednesday against the 77th-ranked Africans.
“In the 15 minutes that she played the other day she showed that everything was fine,” he told reporters at the stadium.
“The training sessions, she completed them very well and kept up a very high rhythm. It’s an ongoing process and we’re very happy with her progress.”
“As always, what can I say about the starting lineup? I can’t tell you who’s going to play, or who’s not going to play. We’re not going to give the other team the advantage of knowing that,” he added.
Aitana Bonmati was on target against Costa Rica and expected to be one of the key players again on Wednesday.
Voted fifth in this year’s Ballon d’Or and second in ESPN’s best players at the World Cup, Bonmati will be crucial in the middle of the park.
Upfront,Real Madrid’s Esther Gonzalez Rodriguez will look to add to her tally.
She will lead the attack and Lushomo Mweemba and company will have to be at their best to keep the 30 year old quiet.
On the left wing, U-20 World Cup winner Salma Paralluelo is expected to give Margaret Belemu a tough time.
The FC Barcelona forward played 29 games, producing 13 goals and five assists despite starting just 15 times for the Champions in the Spanish Liga F.
The midfield duo of Teresa Abelleira Duenas and Jennifer Hermoso are also expected to start with Misa Rodriguez between the sticks.
Zambia and Spain will square off on Wednesday morning at the 50, 000 Capacity, Eden Park Stadium.
The match will kick off at 09h30CAT at New Zealand’s National Stadium.
Spain Probable Line-Up: Misa Rodriguez, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Ivana Andres, Olga Carmona Garcia, Aitana Bonmatí, Teresa Abelleira Duenas , Jennifer Hermoso, Salma Paralluelo, Mariona Caldentey, Esther González Rodriguez.
