Caldentey's Arsenal stint boosting her bid for Euros and Ballon d'Or glory
The reigning world champions looked a cut above the rest of the tournament in Thursday's 5-0 hammering of Portugal, and expectations are high for Spain to win Euro 2025.
"We see it (the pressure) more as a privilege. I think in recent years we've become more accustomed to it. You have to live with it," says the 29-year-old in an interview with AFP.
"We have a lot of weapons... We're a super-complete team."
Caldentey came into Euro 2025 on a high from winning the women's Champions League with Arsenal, beating her old Barca buddies who have dominated Spanish and European women's football in recent seasons in the final.
"The Barca "DNA" is obviously a style of football I love and is more or less similar to what we want to play here (with Spain)," says Caldentey.
"But I knew that leaving would also provide me with a change in style, and that was what I was looking for."
Her first season in England, which she likens to the Erasmus European student programme, could barely have gone better.
Triumph in the Champions League -- her third in as many seasons -- came after she was crowned the Women's Super League's player of the year.
"I see it as an Erasmus because I will go back to Spain. It's a bit of an adventure," says Caldentey.
"I wanted to learn to adapt to a different game... The first year has gone by very quickly -- I've really enjoyed it but I still have a lot to do.
"Getting out of your comfort zone is always a challenge and helps you develop. The English league is a different kind of football, more physical, with lots of turnovers of possession, and open."
Caldentey scored 21 goals and set up 16 more for Arsenal last season and that has led to suggestions that she may usurp compatriots Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati for the women's Ballon d'Or.
Putellas and Bonmati have shared the Ballon d'Or over the past four seasons and are the the main obstacles to Caldentey being honoured at September's gala event in Paris.
"Obviously it's an honour and a privilege to have your name mentioned for such a big award, but right now what I have to do is play well at the Euros," says Caldentey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Alcaraz, Sabalenka headline action in Wimbledon quarter-finals
AFP Sport looks at the match-ups ahead of the last-eight ties. Carlos Alcaraz v Cameron Norrie Carlos Alcaraz has not had it all his own way at Wimbledon but he has stepped up a gear when it matters most. The two-time defending champion has dropped four sets during his run to the last eight, giving his fans palpitations before raising his level each time. The Spaniard produced his best tennis of the tournament so far against Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev in the last 16, rallying from a set down to set up a quarter-final against Britain's Cameron Norrie. Alcaraz is aiming to join an elite group of men who have won the tournament in three straight years in the Open era -- Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The charismatic Spaniard has taken on Federer's mantle as the darling of Centre Court. But he will have competition on Tuesday, when large sections of the crowd will be behind Britain's Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022. "He's going to use the crowd to his side," said Alcaraz, who has beaten Norrie four times in six meetings. "I have to be really strong mentally and focused to play good tennis if I want to beat him." Aryna Sabalenka v Laura Siegemund Aryna Sabalenka looks unstoppable as she chases a fourth Grand Slam title but a first Wimbledon crown. The Belarusian top seed, who has never been past the semi-finals at the tournament, has yet to drop a set as she prepares to take on Germany's Laura Siegemund, ranked a lowly 104th in the world. Sabalenka, who lost in the finals of the Australian Open and French Open, is the only remaining woman left out of the top six seeds. She said she relished the support of the crowd during her last-16 win against Belgium's Elise Mertens, during which she won her 14th consecutive tie-break. "We all dream the same, holding the trophy, that winning moment," said Sabalenka. "It's always been my dream. I mean, I haven't achieved it yet. I had a lot of disappointments here." Siegemund, 37, who has lost both of her previous matches against her opponent, is under no illusions about the task facing her in her second Grand Slam quarter-final. "She's one of the greatest players that we have and one of the most aggressive also. The only good thing about that match is that I have absolutely nothing to lose," she said. Taylor Fritz v Karen Khachanov Taylor Fritz came to Wimbledon with form on grass after winning titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne but he had a gruelling start to his campaign at the All England Club. The US fifth seed was taken to five sets in his opening two matches but he barely worked up a sweat in his last-16 match against Jordan Thompson, with the Australian forced to retire halfway through the second set. His quarter-final opponent Karen Khachanov, ranked 20th, has won both of their previous two meetings, though they have not met since 2020. "We practise all the time, so we're pretty familiar with each other's games," said Fritz. "But I think I have improved a ton and have become a much, much better player since the last time we played." Amanda Anisimova v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had to overcome the distraction of a potentially costly glitch in the electronic line-calling system in her fourth-round match against Sonay Kartal, which became a major talking point at the championships. The Russian, 34, is playing in her 65th Grand Slam -- only Victoria Azarenka, in this year's women's draw, has more appearances (68). She has a tough task against 13th seed and Queen's finalist Amanda Anisimova, with the American beating her on all three occasions they have met.
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Swiss MLS goalie Frei resting at home after on-field collision
The 39-year-old Swiss collided with Crew midfielder Amar Sejdic in the final seconds and went down after being struck in the head by the attacker's knee, prompting medical personnel to race onto the field. Frei was went in an ambulance and taken to a Seattle hospital for evaluation. "Still trying to figure out what happened at the end of the game," Frei posted on X. "I'm incredibly grateful to all the staff that looked after me and happy to be back home resting now. "What resonates is all the messages, calls and love I've received from so many of you. Thank you – truly. It means more than I can put into words. I feel the support and I'm thankful for every single one of you." Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer and Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy asked to halt the contest without playing the last seconds. "Wilfried, I appreciate what he did because the ref wasn't going to stop the game," Schmetzer said. "Everybody knew that the game should have been stopped. Good on him. So thank you, Wilfried." Nancy agreed the game should be stopped. "When you see a situation like that, again, football is not the most important," he said. "We stay positive, and hopefully everything is going to be good for him." Both clubs are fighting for MLS playoff berths.
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Relentless Spain reach Euro 2025 quarters after thumping Belgium
A brace from the magnificent Alexia Putellas and further goals from Irene Paredes, Esther Gonzalez, Mariona Caldentey and Claudia Pina gave Group B leaders Spain a second thumping win. Montse Tome's team will win the group if they avoid defeat to Italy, who are two points behind La Roja in second after being denied qualification late on by third-placed Portugal, on Friday. Few would bet on Spain failing to secure first place after two blistering performances in which they have netted 11 times. "We knew they would try to sit back and hold us off at the beginning, we could have been better, sure, but you need to adapt during the game. We managed to do that and create good opportunities," Tome told reporters. "We have to improve but we did what we planned to do." Belgium, who twice levelled through Justine Vanhaevermaet and Hannah Eurlings, are close to going home after eventually being blown away by relentless waves of attacking football. They acquitted themselves well until Caldentey forced home Spain's fourth in the 61st minute, defending with grit and causing problems with some punchy breakaway football. "It was difficult because I really believed in what we were doing and I loved seeing my players give everything they had," said Belgium coach Elisabet Gunnarsdottir. "I really think we gave them a game for at least 60 minutes, a really good game... I'm proud of them." When Putellas finished off a beautiful spell of quick passing in the 22nd minute it looked like the beginning of a thumping win similar to the 5-0 destruction of Portugal in the opening round. Spain rampant Yet seconds later Vanhaevermaet levelled with the simplest of goals, nodding home Tessa Wullaert's corner. Paredes put Spain back in the lead six minutes before the break with a bullet header from Pina's deep corner. Again Belgium hit back, this time through Eurlings who sprung the offside trap before rifling home in the 50th minute. Gonzalez netted her third goal of the tournament two minutes later after collecting Putellas' neat through ball. The game was up when Caldentey bundled home from a corner just after the hour. Pina smashed in her first goal of the tournament with 10 minutes remaining, and appropriately it was Putellas' deft flick which completed the rout shortly afterwards. On this form Spain look a class above the rest of the tournament and clear favourites to win the country's first ever women's European crown. Italy thought they were joining Spain in the quarters when Cristiana Girelli opened the scoring in Geneva with a brilliant curling effort with 20 minutes remaining. The Azzurre were saved 10 minutes later when Diana Silva was denied a leveller when she was ruled offside by VAR following her rebound finish from a corner. But in the 89th minute Diana Gomes lobbed home a leveller which gave Portugal a point and kept them in the competition moments after Carole Costa headed onto the crossbar. That goal could be huge as Portugal face Belgium while Italy take on Spain. Italy currently have a goal difference which is six better than Portugal but with Spain up next a big swing is not that to imagine. © 2025 AFP
