While there is still no clash between Jorge Vilda and the ’15’ of the Spanish team, Damaris Egurrola (born in Orlando, 1999) became the first to depart from the Red. His father is Basque, his mother Dutch. He grew up with a soccer dream that led him to a youth academy in Spain, gained prominence at Athletic, and was on the verge of signing with Barça before moving to Everton and then Lyon. His mixed heritage—an American birthplace paired with a Basque father and a Dutch mother—defines his nationality choice when selecting a senior team, a decision many players face in this era of globalized football.
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In the past, Egurrola had already represented Spain at youth levels, shining as the European Under-19 champion in 2017 and finishing as the Under-17 World Cup runner-up in 2018. He grew up alongside notable teammates such as Aitana Bonmatí and others who would later become pillars for the national squad. A long wait for a call from the senior setup influenced his career choices, and he debuted for Spain at the age of nineteen in a friendly against Cameroon, logging less than ten minutes on the pitch.
Before publicly declaring his allegiance to the Dutch national team, Vilda addressed the press to say that “we tried to call him twice” and “we attempted to reach him by phone.” In an interview with El Confidencial, Egurrola contested that memory: “This is not true. I was last called up for friendlies before the 2019 World Cup, and there were no further attempts to call the Spain national team. No one contacted me.”
The conversation continued: “I understand that a coach has a right to select players, but that does not grant the right to misrepresent. Like every player, I wish to compete in European and World Cups, so waiting for a call from the National Team was not a viable option. When Spain offered limited opportunities, the decision became clear for a fresh start,” he explained. The remarks concluded with a note about a meeting with the Under-23s during a period when the sport faced a Covid outbreak—an event he said highlighted the challenges that influenced his decision to switch allegiances.
Fate, in its unpredictable fashion, brought Vilda and Egurrola to face each other again on the world stage. On the field, with a World Cup quarterfinals at stake, the Netherlands and Spain prepared for a decisive clash. The Basque midfielder appeared likely to return to the starting lineup as Danielle Van de Donk faced a suspension of matches, and the tactical decisions from both sides were keenly watched as the teams vied for a semi-final berth.