Women's Euro 2022: Spain cut provisional squad to final 23

Prolific forward Amaiur Sarriegi has been cut from Spain's final Euro 2022 squad
Prolific forward Amaiur Sarriegi has been cut from Spain's final Euro 2022 squad / Aitor Alcalde Colomer/GettyImages
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Spain coach Jorge Vilda has cut impressive emerging talent Amaiur Sarriegi from La Roja’s final Euro 2022 squad as one of five players who will miss out on the tournament this summer.

Vilda had initially named a 28-player provisional squad for a pre-Euros training camp and warm-up friendly against Australia, which finished an emphatic 7-0 statement win.

The final 23 left in the squad will now go on to face Italy in a last warm-up match on Friday, before Spain’s tournament begins for real against Finland a week later on 8 July.

Sarriegi plays her club football for Real Sociedad and burst onto the scene with the senior national team last year, scoring more than a goal per game to date. But she wasn’t the only surprise cut, with clubmate Nerea Eizagirre also missing out despite a strong season.

The pair hit 33 league goals between them as Real Sociedad qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the history of the women's team.

Real Madrid forward Claudia Zornoza, initially called up as a replacement when Jenni Hermoso was forced to withdraw through injury, defender Teresa Abelleira and Athletic Club’s Ainhoa Vicente also suffered the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final squad.

However, uncapped 18-year-old Salma Paralluelo did make it into Vilda’s list of 23.

The majority of those called up are based at home in Spain – nine of the 23 play at club level for Barcelona, including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and exciting youngster Claudia Pina, with another six at Real Madrid. But there is WSL representation through Manchester United’s Ona Batlle and Manchester City-bound pair Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri.

23-player Spain squad - Euro 2022

Goalkeepers: Sandra Panos (Barcelona), Lola Gallardo (Atletico Madrid), Misa Rodriguez (Real Madrid)

Defenders: Irene Parades (Barcelona), Mapi Leon (Barcelona), Leila Ouahabi (Man City), Andrea Pereira (Barcelona), Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Man Utd), Laia Aleixandri (Man City), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Sheila Garcia (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Irene Guerrero (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Lucia Garcia (Athletic Club), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Marta Cardona (Real Madrid), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Claudia Pina (Barcelona), Salma Paralluelo (Villarreal)



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