Since Montse Tomé excluded Jenni Hermoso from the squad last November, she has consistently assured in press conferences that the door to the national team remains open for everyone. Just two months ago, in late March, she stated that the level of the Madrid player, who plays for Tigres and is 35 years old, had improved and acknowledged her hard work to rejoin the team. However, last week, the Asturian coach again left Hermoso out of the squad for the fourth consecutive time. This decision was a clear signal, given that it was the last selection before the Eurocup in Switzerland and also for the team playing against Belgium this Friday and England on Tuesday for a spot in the final four of the Nations League. Hermoso expressed her frustration on Twitter: "Tired of hearing my name among so many falsehoods. Saying things directly and as they really are shouldn't be so hard. No need for roundabouts when you can go straight."

The relationship between the coach and Hermoso seems irrevocably severed. Tomé decided to exclude Spain's all-time top scorer after reducing her influence during the 2024 Olympics, realizing she wasn't adapting to her new role. This decision coincided with the ongoing Rubiales case. The National Court sentenced former RFEF president Luis Rubiales last February for sexual assault after kissing Hermoso without consent right after Spain's 2023 World Cup victory. Despite attending the trial as a witness along with several players, Tomé remained steadfast in her sporting decisions, unaffected by the media frenzy, and refrained from commenting on the verdict during the press conference even as team captain Irene Paredes and other players showed solidarity with Hermoso.

The Asturian coach has consistently prioritized sporting performance and team harmony. In November, when she first left Hermoso out, Tomé stated her intention to "move past the past" and "readjust the locker room." She emphasized her preferences for players both on and off the field, highlighting "camaraderie" and "the right attitude," drawing a parallel with the men's national team as an example, which seemed to be a subtle jab at Hermoso and Misa Rodríguez, Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper.

Jenni Hermoso, who was the second-best player in the World Cup won by Spain in Australia and New Zealand in August 2023, will miss what would likely have been her last major tournament with the national team, given her age. The coach has consistently included her in preliminary lists, which consist of around 70 players, making it nearly impossible for the Tigres striker not to be included. Her ability to turn, combine, and filter passes against deep defenses is exceptional. However, the current squad only features five midfielders—Maite Zubieta, Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, and Vicky López—for the three midfield positions in Spain's usual 4-3-3 formation, where Hermoso excels, yet she still was not included. Tomé, whose contract expires after the Eurocup, will play her cards to extend her tenure with the RFEF without Hermoso or Misa (25 years old), another former regular under ex-coach Jorge Vilda and her own tenure.

The Canary Islands goalkeeper, aged 25, has missed five consecutive calls to the national team following her benching at the last summer's Olympics, where starter Cata Coll had performances that left many doubts. Misa is among the top shot-stoppers in Liga F—saving 76% of shots faced, only behind young Adriana Nanclares (81%), veteran Lola Gallardo (78%), and Portuguese Inês Pereira (77%), according to sports analytics company Hudl Statsbomb. Nevertheless, Tomé chose Nanclares (23 years old, Athletic) and Esther Sullastres (32, Sevilla), who lack experience in the Champions League and major international tournaments, to join Coll in goal.

The exclusion of Hermoso and Misa are the most significant decisions made by the coach since taking over the national team in September 2023, having been the right-hand of Vilda. The coach also left out captain Irene Paredes from two call-ups last October and November but reinstated her in February after her outstanding performances again this season with Barça, the team dominating national competitions. Tomé's mini-revolution has so far involved sidelining the national team's all-time top scorer and Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper. Without them, Tomé's future as national team coach will be determined over the next two months in the Nations League and the Eurocup in Switzerland, where Spain will arrive in July as one of the major contenders for the trophy.