With the announcement that midfielder Aitana Bonmati was admitted to the hospital with viral meningitis, Spain’s plans for the upcoming Women’s European Championships in Switzerland have taken a serious hit.
Aitana’s illness was revealed by coach Montse Tome at her post-game news conference. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner was not part of the team that overcame Japan in their last practice game on Friday night.
“She was taken for tests this [Friday] morning and in the final test she was confirmed to have viral meningitis,” he Tome. He further stated that “the word [meningitis] is scary, but in principle, it is under control.”
According to Xinhua, Aitana’s diagnosis makes her a serious doubt for Spain’s opening match against Portugal on July 3 and could cause her to miss the entire tournament, even though the team is scheduled to travel to Switzerland on Sunday.
“We don’t have a return date,” Tome reiterated.
Given that players have been training together for the Euros at the RFEF headquarters just outside of Madrid for a week, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is also concerned that Aitana may have infected other team members.
At a sweltering Butarque Stadium in Leganes, Spain defeated Japan 3-1 on Friday thanks to goals from Claudia Pina, Vicky Lopez, and Athenea del Castillo. Spain responded admirably to a well-behaved Japan team that had grabbed the lead halfway through the first half.
Bonmatí, 27, is a midfielder for both the Spanish national team and Liga F Club Barcelona. She had a significant role in the Spanish team’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, she won the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in 2017 and the UEFA Women’s Nations League with Spain in 2024.
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