OneFootball
Padraig Whelan·8 July 2022
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Padraig Whelan·8 July 2022
Spain’s players put on a touching show of support for stricken midfielder Alexia Putellas ahead of their Euro 2022 opener.
They face Finland in Milton Keynes in their first game, and fell behind inside a minute, and prior to kick-off her team-mates held the Ballon d’Or winner’s jersey aloft.
Putellas suffered a cruciate ligament tear in training on Tuesday which not only rules her out for the tournament but is set to sideline Putellas for the remainder of the year.
The rest of the squad gathered around Putellas, on crutches on the field, while holding her number 14 jersey aloft.
It is also a number that holds extra significance for the 28-year-old, who wears it as a show of support for her close friend and fellow Spain international Virginia Torrecilla.
The usual holder of that jersey underwent brain surgery two years and Putellas chose to wear her jersey until she returns for the national side.
After Spain turned their early deficit around, the Barcelona midfielder then must have had her medical team worried even more as she danced and charged around in celebration following Aitana Bonmatí’s goal.
Be careful on that knee!