Jenni Hermoso absent from Spain's Euro 2025 squad amid competition
- Jenni Hermoso has been excluded from Spain's Euro 2025 squad despite her pivotal role in the team's World Cup victory.
- Coach Montse Tome stated that the decision was based on performance evaluations and competition for positions.
- The absence of Hermoso has prompted discussions regarding team selection and the implications of her past experiences.
In June 2025, Spain's national women's football team announced its squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 tournament taking place in Switzerland, and notably, Jenni Hermoso, the country’s leading goal scorer and a significant contributor to Spain's World Cup victory in 2023, was excluded. Hermoso, who currently plays for Mexican club Tigres, had reduced participation in recent matches for the national team, raising questions about her role moving forward. Coach Montse Tome justified Hermoso's absence as a sporting decision, emphasizing the stiff competition for places in her position. There is a total of eleven players from the victorious 2023 World Cup squad included in the Euro 2025 lineup, highlighting the consistency in team selection. Following the World Cup win in Sydney, Hermoso was unfortunately embroiled in a high-profile scandal concerning former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales. Rubiales had been fined for sexually assaulting her, which has resulted in significant media attention surrounding both his actions and their implications for the women's team. Despite this situation, Hermoso’s omission from the squad is being framed as an evaluation of her recent performance rather than a consequence of the scandal. The decision has sparked debates regarding the management of players within the squad and raises questions about the dynamics of team selection. Montse Tome indicated that they had to make tough choices based on the evaluation of players, which included consultations with club coaches regarding their players' performances during their club seasons. Additionally, fellow players such as Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas, and Aitana Bonmati were highlighted as capable of filling Hermoso's role, enforcing the idea of a competitive environment for roster spots. As Spain gears up for Euro 2025, they will kick off their campaign against Portugal in Bern on July 3, with group matches against Belgium and Italy to follow. The team's performance in this tournament will be closely watched, especially in the context of increased scrutiny following Hermoso's exclusion and the surrounding circumstances.