Warwick Smith/Stuff
An ESPN reporter claimed the Spanish Football World Cup team left Palmerston North due to boredom – a claim the team denied.
A reporter says he “may have caused an international incident’’ by claiming Spain had moved their FIFA Women’s World Cup base to Wellington because they found Palmerston North too boring.
According to the initial ESPN report, the city’s “lack of things to do” had “taken its toll” on the players of La Roja and their families, and they decamped early to a training base in Wellington.
The comment, published on ESPN, led to Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith telling Stuff that he would invite Spain back to see “the true highlights’’ of Manawatū.
“I’d be quite happy to show the Spanish team a night out in Palmy.” He later clarified over text that he’d be happy to host them “for free”.
Spain’s media officer Patricia Pérez previously said it was “definitely not true” that the team were bored in Palmerston North.
“We have felt like home in Palmy and we are extremely grateful. We have moved to be closer to the [Wellington] stadium [where Spain will play Japan on Monday].”
Now, ESPN reporter Samuel Marsden, who wrote the initial report, has spoken out on social media:
“So, I may have caused an international incident. Be kind,” he wrote.
“I published a line on ESPN on Friday about Spain’s move from their training base in Palmerston North to Wellington.
”The information was based on reports from reliable sources. However, it does not reflect Spain’s official reason for moving which is to do with logistics ahead of possible KO [knockout] games.”
He then repeated Pérez’s quote about the move being aimed to be closer to Wellington stadium.
Marsden – who shares the same name of a 19th century New Zealand missionary – is a football writer based in Barcelona, working for ESPN and Diario Sport.
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Jennifer Hermoso thanks Alexia Putellas for handing her an easy goal in Spain’s World Cup match against Zambia in Auckland.
Meanwhile Spain’s coach Jorge Vilda has also expressed satisifaction with the Manawatū team base.
“First of all I would like to say we were very pleased with Palmerston North. We were very pleased with the treatment we received inside and outside of the hotel, the Copthorne. They have treated us as a real family and I believe it was an excellent situation to give our best. The family members that travelled were able to be there as a group which also helps the team.
“Now we’re in Wellington for logistics and to get used to Wellington and I am sure we will also be quite comfortable here.”
Spain have been anything but boring on the pitch. They put up a World Cup record 46 shots in their 3-0 win over Costa Rica in their first match, before routing Zambia 5-0 in their second match.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Alexia Putellas of Spain controls the ball against Katherine Alvarado of Costa Rica.
Monday’s clash against Japan will pit together two of the tournament’s most technically-talented teams. Japan also smashed Zambia by five goals before beating Costa Rica 2-0.
“It’s the most complicated match [of the group],” Vilda added. “They are a very good team that interprets the game well, has high quality players, tactically they are very well trained and it’s a team that can exert pressure so I’m expecting a game not like the previous two.
“They’re going to have their moments and we’re going to have ours, and the difference could be the team that is better in the final third.”
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