When Alexia Putellas debuted for Spain in June 2013, she was doing so for a nation that was ranked 18th in the world; one that had never qualified for a World Cup in six attempts, and were only just about to embark on their second major tournament ever.
At that summer’s European Championship, Spain exited in the quarter-finals after a limp 3-1 defeat to Norway. When it came to their first World Cup two years later, they picked up their only point against a Costa Rica side that finished above them in a miserable group stage. The 2017 Euros were no better: after blanking for a third
