National Team’s Plan and the Damage It Causes to Arrive ‘in Time’ with the Olympics | Relief

To be, you have to be. And the national team faced these last matches in the European classification, with a ticket in its pocket, with its thoughts in France and following a path that does not end here, but much further. It is for this reason that, despite the fact that these matches were perceived as two preparatory tests and were a guarantee of sensations, Spain turns out to be fatter than usual: They lost to the Czech Republic and it took them time to show their worth against Belgium, who they eventually won 2-0. “We are preparing something more important than today’s game. We are calm because we will have a good time in Paris,” said Mariona Caldentey after the victory over Belgium in Riazor.

“We have nine days to prepare and get ready for what is coming. It’s time to get ready and get ready. Surely, with what the coaching staff offers and with what we know, we will arrive at the competition healthy and fresh.

“, – the Balearic woman reassured. Behind her words and the team’s fatigue, there is a plan. A roadmap marked by Montse Tomé and her technical staff, who have developed a complex preparation in these weeks so that the frantic pace of the Olympic Games does not end up physically burdening them.

For each of them, additional and specific work was carried out. Even on this Tuesday, after the game with Belgium, there was an unusual picture: almost all the players, including the starting lineup, were doing additional exercises. “This is part of a plan set to ensure that the players arrive well for the game against Japan. “It was planned,” said Montse Tome, who recently completed a complex roadmap at the training level to ensure her players were ready for the Olympics.

They, the players, know about it. Including the training camp, because there is general fatigue, discomfort (Marion, Salma, and now Aitana) and a lot of fatigue in the locker room. “We have had a few very physical weeks. After all, the Olympic Games will demand a lot from us because we will have to compete every three days. We have had some very difficult weeks and there is physical discomfort.

“I asked for change because I couldn’t take it anymore,” added Eva Navarro.

In this regard, Mariona Caldentey and Teresa Abelleira have shown themselves. “We can do better, but it has been a tough few weeks of work. We don’t have that freshness. We lack a little bit, but that helps us prepare,” said the Balearic, before the Galician said: “It’s extra work that costs a little more, but we know they’re doing it to prepare us for what’s to come. This is a new competition where we have less working time. Of course, it costs money, but we know that it is done for our own good and to achieve the best result.”

It is worth recalling that the players had little rest between their clubs’ competitions and the start of work with the national team. The league ended in mid-June, and on July 1 they were already concentrated in Los Angeles de San Rafael for an intensive week of training. After that, they had a free weekend, and in the coming days they were going to the Czech Republic and La Coruña with two games and hard training. The culmination of all this will come in Nantes this Sunday, July 21, when they land on French soil.

Four days before their debut against Japan, it will be a mecca of demanding preparation that, albeit with collateral damage, is designed to live up to the expectations of the Olympics. Spain is the gold favouritewith the pressure to continue winning and shining after becoming World Cup and Nations League champions. The plan continues and it remains to be seen if everything works as expected. As Eva Navarro emphasized: “It’s a tough week, but we’re looking forward to it.”