How Abelleira established herself as the heartbeat of Spain's World Cup quest

At just the third time of asking, Spain has reached a first World Cup final in the women’s game. 

Having won just one of their previous seven matches across tournaments in 2015 and 2019, their squad of talented world class players has finally fulfilled the expectations put on them, against a backdrop of 12 months of turmoil amidst disagreements between players, head coach Jorge Vilda and a lack of support from the RFEF in general. 

The end product of that was Vilda being unable to call upon 12 of the initial 15 players who co-wrote letters to the federation after last summer’s disappointing Euro 2022 expressing they wouldn’t be playing for the national team again until changes were made and more support was given. 

One of those missing is Barcelona’s Patri Guijarro, one of the best holding midfielders in the world when it comes to both reading and dictating the game. Even with the presence of double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas back from injury and potential heir to her throne Aitana Bonmati marshalling the La Roja midfield, there was a fear for Spain that a lack of Guijarro holding down the fort would be terminal for their tournament chances. 

Step forward 23-year-old Teresa Abelleira. 

The rumour was when ‘Las 15’ as they became known stepped away from the national team, the list didn’t include any Real Madrid due to pressure put on them by the club not to get involved in the internal disputes, which largely centred around players from rivals FC Barcelona, as well as a handful of players from around clubs, including Manchester’s City and United. 

Real Madrid denied this, but however it came about, it gave a prime opportunity for some of their players to usurp Barcelona’s when it came to national team selection, and Abelleira is certainly one of those who has taken that opportunity over the past 12 months. 

Abelleira had racked up just 14 senior caps coming into the tournament, but was well-known to Vilda as someone who had been part of his Under 19 European Championships winning side in 2018. 

Four years ago, when Spain were knocked out at the second round stage by eventual champions USA, Abelleira was still playing in Spain’s second division, having just won promotion to the top division with Deportivo La Coruna, and after an impressive 12 months at the top level was signed by Real. 

It’s a testament to whatever issues Spain has faced over the years, they still have a knack for developing unbelievable players, and most definitely unbelievable depth, given Abelleira likely wouldn’t have been a starter in this World Cup had Guijarro chosen to return to the squad. 

That she isn’t, along with others such as Barcelona teammates Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina leaves a rightfully bitter taste for many, but Abelleira has taken full advantage and is a prime contender for team of the tournament, potentially even player of the tournament should Spain finish the job against European champions England on Sunday. 

While others in the attack have received the plaudits, the defensive midfielder – as they so often are in any successful side – has been the unsung hero of the team. 

From an attacking point of view, she has created 23 chances, that more than attacking players such as Lieke Martens, Sophia Smith, Aoba Fujino and Linda Caicedo, plus her own teammate Mariona Caldentey. 

She’s fourth for passes across the whole tournament with 492, behind only teammate Irene Paredes and England’s own duo Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, and has completed an impressive 86.8% of them. 

Defensively, she’s been more than sound too. Abelleira’s made 12 tackles, made nine interceptions and managed 59 recoveries, which is joint third with Ona Batlle and behind only fellow defensive midfield duo Yui Hasegawa and Katrina Gorry. 

She’s ranked third by WhoScored for player of the tournament where stats are concerned so far with a game to go, and the highest rated player left in the tournament just ahead of England’s Greenwood. 

The fact Abelleira is starting at this tournament is a constant reminder of what Spain has left behind through their own negligence and a lack of support over the years, but she has appeared out of the shadows to ironically help them towards a trophy few believed they had a chance of coming into the World Cup without 12 of their biggest names. 

Without a doubt, Abelleira has emerged as one of the best in her position, and you can only credit her for that.