Montse Tomé speaks highly of her players: "Defensive weakness? We're the team that concedes the fewest goals and the one that scores the most."

Montse Tomé had yet to speak out since becoming coach, and in the run-up to the quarterfinals against Switzerland , she came to the defense of her players in the purest style of Luis Enrique when he was in charge of La Roja. The Asturian, in a calm tone, spoke out in a debate she herself outlined after the match against Belgium: defensive weakness. On two occasions, the Belgians managed to catch Spain on a counterattack and a set piece. "I don't know what having defensive weaknesses means to you; we are one of the lowest-scoring teams and the highest-scoring team. We want to improve in all aspects; it's not just a matter of defense; we have top-level defenders. It's not a weakness," she asserted.

" We're the professionals , and we've always believed that defense and offense are a joint effort. The goalkeeper has to initiate the play, and the forwards, you see how they press. I defend the players because they give their all," he added.

They do so just as the tournament ramps up, and they're shedding some of the caution that has guided them in the weeks leading up to it. "This team is destined to make history, and we're going to compete to do so. It's a wonderful challenge," he warned. To achieve this, they'll have to ignore the stadium that's against them. "We've talked about it. One of the things we have to do is escape from that noise ; it's going to demand the most from us mentally. When there's a lot of noise, we have to be able to focus on the plan and enjoy the game," he warned.