[ad_1]
“Football is giving me life,” says Spain’s Jenny Hermoso, six months after winning the World Cup, when former Spanish federation chief Luis Rubiales kissed her.
Hermoso was speaking at her first international press conference since the incident, which she says was not consensual.
Spain will face France in the inaugural final of the Women’s Nations League on Wednesday.
“I’m lucky to be back in the finals after six long months,” Hermoso said.
“Today I’m enjoying football, competing with Spain to win another tournament.”
Hermoso, 33, filed a legal complaint against Rubiales He kissed her on the lips after Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney, Australia in August.
Rubiales was forced to resign after the incident and later resigned Has been banned by FIFA from all football related activities for three yearsA decision that was upheld last month when the 46-year-old tried to appeal.
The incident sparked a wave of global anger over sexism at the highest levels of women’s sport and led to Boycott of the national team by Spanish players She called for change in women’s football in the country.
“A lot has happened since then,” Hermoso said Tuesday.
“It’s been a difficult process to understand a lot of things. I’m still playing football and the only thing I want is to keep having fun wearing this shirt.”
Hermoso, who plays her domestic football for Tigres in Mexico, returned to the national team in October and scored an 89th-minute winner against Italy in the Nations League group stage.
“It is very important for me to play in another final, to continue here, I feel good, football gives me the life I need, I want to continue enjoying games with my national team and my Tigres team And I will continue to do so.” Enjoy the game,” Hermoso said.
“If we win tomorrow Spain will make history again.”
By reaching the final of the tournament, Spain has also qualified for the Summer Paris Olympics.
“From winning the World Cup to playing games, we are making a lot of history in a short period of time, and what could be better than feeling like a team that is champion in every sense,” he said.
“Tomorrow we have another chance to show that Spain is here to stay and do very good things.”
But while the World Cup incident sparked international outrage, Spain’s Ballon d’Or winner Etana Bonamati said her country’s trophy win “serves no purpose” when it comes to changing the landscape of the international women’s team. Happened”.
“Unfortunately I can’t say that many things have changed,” Bonamati told French sports newspaper L’Equipe.
“We have the example of the British, when they won the Euros, after their success on a nationwide level we saw a real change.
“It had an impact, and there was more investment in the domestic league. When England played the stadiums were full. It makes me jealous because I can’t say the same thing has happened here.”
“There are still a lot of things to do here and I think the World Cup has served no purpose.”
World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was also sacked in September and is still being investigated as part of a criminal case against Rubiales.
[ad_2]