Classy Bonmati sends five-star Spain into World Cup quarters

Spain players celebrate thir third goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup round of 16 football match between Switzerland and Spain at Eden Park in Auckland on August 5, 2023. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Jorge Vilda said he had “the 23 best players in the world” after Aitana Bonmati starred in a 5-1 demolition of Switzerland on Saturday to send Spain into the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Bonmati scored twice and got two assists in front of 43,217 at Auckland’s Eden Park — a record for a football match in New Zealand — with Spain playing the Netherlands or South Africa in the last eight.

Bonmati’s early opener in the last-16 tie was cancelled out by a spectacular Laia Codina own goal, but Alba Redondo restored Spain’s lead and Bonmati scored again to make it 3-1.

Codina then made up for her error by getting a fourth before the interval and Jennifer Hermoso made it 5-1 in the second half.

It was a defiant response to Spain’s 4-0 defeat by Japan in their last group game and justified coach Vilda’s decision to leave Alexia Putellas out of his starting line-up.

The reigning Ballon d’Or winner is still recovering her fitness following a serious knee injury and made just a cameo off the bench.

Instead it was her Barcelona teammate Bonmati who took centre stage, and Vilda was asked if the 25-year-old might now be a candidate to win the next Ballon d’Or.

“I think I have the best 23 players in the world,” he said.

“Aitana played very well today, she scored goals and was player of the match, but the rest of the team played very well too. We have 23 Ballons d’Or.”

Vilda made five changes to Spain’s line-up, including dropping goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez to make way in goal for Cata Coll, a