Spain was up against the ropes. The Women's European Championship final against England demanded composure, experience, talent, and leadership. It had everything... except Alexia Putellas on the field.
Montse Tomé made one of the most surprising—and criticized—decisions of her tenure as head coach: she benched the two-time Ballon d'Or winner at the most delicate moment of the match. It wasn't due to injury or discomfort. It was a technical decision.
Alexia wasn't having a great match, that's true. But she's the kind of footballer who, even if she doesn't shine for 89 minutes, can change the result in the 90th.
"You can't be this criminal"
Reactions didn't take long to arrive. The press, social media, and even voices close to the locker room have made it clear: Montse Tomé has signed her own sentence.
"You can't be this criminal," cried a viral user on social media. "What they've done to Alexia is disgusting," wrote another.
The wave of outrage has grown throughout the day. Not only because of the final result, but because of the widespread feeling that Tomé betrayed its own survival with a senseless decision.
It also didn't seem like the Spanish players were well advised in the penalty shootout. The note the English goalkeeper stuck to her arm about how the Spanish players took their penalties was striking.
Alexia oversees the sentence
Inside the locker room, nobody says it publicly. But Alexia's presence is significant. Very much so.
The Barça legend didn't make incendiary statements, but her face said it all. She didn't greet Tomé when leaving the field. Her icy look toward the bench made clear what she thought.
Those around her are certain: there won't be any turning back. The fracture is total.
Montse Tomé will stop being head coach. Not because the press says so, but because Alexia has already decided.
End of an era in August
The situation was already fragile before the European Championship. Montse Tomé arrived knowing her position depended on winning the title. She hasn't achieved it.
Her contract expires on August 31. Nobody in the Federation intends to renew it. The replacement is underway.
The feeling is that the defeat against England was the final straw. The problem started earlier: lack of leadership, controversial decisions, absence of harmony with several key figures in the locker room.
Alexia didn't sentence her with words. She did with her influence. In this team, that's enough.
The Olympic Games precedent
The women's national team bench will be vacant in the coming weeks. There are several names on the table. The important thing is that the next profile fits with a locker room led by a player who doesn't stay silent.
Montse Tomé leaves without credit and without the support of its stars. History will say she subbed her out when she was needed most.
Moreover, the controversial substitution isn't new. She already did something similar in the Olympic Games semifinal against Brazil.
She took Patri Guijarro and Alexia out of the starting line-up. She subbed the Mallorcan at the start of the second half. She subbed the Catalan with ten minutes left, when Spain was losing 2-0 (2-0) and there was no time left to react.