“Soccer continues to give me life,” Spain's Jenni Hermoso said six months after winning the World Cup, where she was kissed by former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales.
Hermoso spoke at the first international press conference since the incident, which she said was not consensual.
Spain will play France in the first Women's Nations League final on Wednesday.
“I'm lucky to be back in the finals after six long months,” Hermoso said.
“Today we are enjoying soccer and competing with Spain to win another tournament.”
Hermoso, 33, filed a legal complaint against Rubiales. It came after he kissed her on the lips after Spain's victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, in August.
Mr. Rubiales was forced to resign following this incident; Banned from soccer-related activities for 3 years by FIFAthe ruling was upheld last month when the 46-year-old tried to appeal.
The incident sparked a wave of global outrage over sexism at the highest levels of women's sport. Boycott of national team by Spanish players They called for changes in women's football in this country.
“A lot has happened since then,” Hermoso said Tuesday.
“It's been a difficult process to understand a lot of things. I'm still playing football and the only thing I want is to keep wearing this shirt and having fun.”
Hermoso, who plays domestic soccer for Tigres in Mexico, returned to the national team in October and scored the winning goal in the 89th minute against Italy in the Nations League group stage.
“For me it is very important to play in the final again and to continue here. I feel good. Football continues to give me the life I need. I want to continue to enjoy the game with the national team and the Tigres team. , I'm going to continue to enjoy this sport,'' Hermoso said.
“If we win tomorrow, Spain will make history again.”
By advancing to the final tournament, Spain also qualified for the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“From hosting the World Cup to the Olympics, we're making a lot of history in a short amount of time. There's nothing better than having a team feel like champions in every sense of the word,” she said.
“Tomorrow we have another chance to show that Spain is here and is doing very good things.”
But while the events at the World Cup sparked international outrage, Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bommatti of Spain said her country's victory in winning the trophy was “a big win” in terms of changing the landscape for the women's international team. It's not serving its purpose.”
“Unfortunately, I can't say that many things have changed,” Bommati told French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
“There is the example of England, when they won the Euros we saw a real change following their success at national level.
“There has been a positive response and investment has increased in the domestic league. Stadiums are full when England play. I can't say the same thing is happening here, so I'm jealous.”
“I have the impression that there is still a lot of work to be done here and the World Cup is not serving any purpose.”
World Cup-winning manager Jorge Virda was also sacked in September, and the investigation is still ongoing as part of the criminal case against Rubiales.
