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Alexia Putellas at Spain’s official team welcome in Palmerston North.
Spain superstar Alexia Putellas walked out of training early on Monday night, casting doubt over her involvement in the team’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup fixture against Costa Rica in four days’ time.
The two-time world player of the year has been working her way back from a long-term knee injury and a Spain spokesperson said her premature departure, just 30 minutes into the team’s open training session, was pre-planned and not of major concern.
Putellas tore her anterior cruciate ligament on the even of Spain’s European Championships campaign last year, but she has made it back in the nick of time to secure a place in the squad for the World Cup.
The Barcelona midfielder started Spain’s warm-up matches against Panama and Denmark before travelling to New Zealand, but she sat out their most recent hit-out, a 9-0 rout of Vietnam last Friday, after reportedly experiencing some discomfort in her knee.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Some of football’s biggest names mix with the Football Ferns in an official welcome at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
Putellas participated in basic pass and move drills, and appeared to be running freely during the first 30 minutes of Monday’s training session at Massey University in Palmerston North before heading inside with a trainer.
She did not return as the rest of Spain’s squad ramped up training by playing a game using just one half of the pitch, before they finished up with a penalty shootout — which was a treat for the 100-odd locals that came to watch.
Aitana Bonmati, another one of Spain’s most gifted players, saw her attempt saved during the shootout.
Speaking after training, midfielder Irene Guerrero remained hopeful Putellas would be ready for game one.
“The most important thing is she feels OK. We are happy to have her because she’s a key player on and off the pitch, but she’s training really hard to reach the game with the best feeling,” Guerrero said.
“She’s a key player, as are all the other 22 players. We are all important. All the team is important.”
Spain kick off their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica at Wellington Regional Stadium on Friday.
Although they have the talent to go all the way, Guerrero, a central midfielder from Atletico Madrid, said the sixth-ranked Spain were not looking further than their opening match.
“We have to go step by step to reach our goal. We are thinking about Costa Rica and we want to win each game,” she said.
Spain were formally welcomed to Palmerston North by Rangitāne O Manawatū on Monday morning.
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