Spain national team coach Sonia Bermúdez has named her squad for the upcoming double-header against the United States, bringing seven forwards into camp while leaning toward Edna Imade and Alba Redondo as her primary pure central-striking options. as.com reported that La Roja enters the fixture without a fixed, irreplaceable number nine, continuing a modern tactical identity that spreads goalscoring duties across multiple positions rather than depending on a single focal point.
Sonia Bermúdez Selects Seven Forwards for United States Friendlies
For the matches against the United States, Bermúdez assembled an attacking roster featuring Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina, Edna Imade, Ainhoa Marín, Ornella Vignola, Athenea del Castillo, and Alba Redondo, who replaced the injured Vicky López. Within that group, Imade and Redondo stand out as the squad’s primary central options. Imade enters camp with three goals in eight matches for Bayern Munich, while Redondo has contributed seven goals and one assist in 13 appearances since moving to Juventus.
Imade has established herself as a regular option for Bermúdez since securing her nationality in November 2025, recording five goals in eight appearances. Redondo, a World Cup champion and historical figure for La Roja, returns to the fold after previously falling out of favor under the current coaching staff, seizing a fresh opportunity to prove her value on the international stage.
Tactical Demands Outweigh Traditional Position Profiles
Spain’s recent success—including a World Cup title in Sydney three years ago, a Nations League triumph in December, and a strong run at the European Championship in Switzerland—was built without relying on a static, irreplaceable center-forward. Claudia Pina finished as the team’s top scorer during World Cup qualifying despite operating outside the traditional number nine role, underlining the squad’s collective scoring depth.
Addressing her tactical criteria after naming her initial squad, Bermúdez emphasized that defensive work rate matters just as much as finishing ability in her system. “De una 9 no solo espero goles, tiene que orientar presión, ser intensa en duelos,” Bermúdez explained, as reported by as.com. “Por eso nos hemos decantado por Ornella. No solo destacamos los goles, entonces me preguntaréis por Alba y por Lucía. Vicky y Pina no son 9 y llevan muchos goles.”
Questions Surround La Roja’s Starting Lineup in New Era
With a new era underway for the national team, the vacant center-forward role remains the squad’s primary question mark. Every forward in the current camp holds a realistic chance of securing regular minutes as Bermúdez evaluates her options ahead of the high-profile tests against the United States.
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