Fiamma Benítez is not just any young woman. The Dianense player, at only 19 years old, has already accumulated four victories with the Spanish Women's Soccer Team; the most recent, last February in the UEFA Women's Nations League. The champion, who is governed by the values of effort and work, still has not assimilated her achievements.
Soccer came into his life through a family hobby. He soon began training at the Dénia Municipal Football School and managed to join Valencia CF and the National Team, with which he has already managed to become champion in the European Under-19 Championship (2022 and 2023) and the Under-20 World Cup (2022). ). Fiamma reflects on her career and the role of women's football in this interview for Dénia.com.
ASK. How do you feel when you think that at 19 years old you have already achieved all these achievements?
ANSWER. It is something that is still difficult for me to assimilate, in the end you go day by day and you are not thinking about it much. But, when you are already cold, you are quite excited to see that reward for all the work.
Q. How did you experience that last victory in the Women's Nations League?
R. It was something amazing. I remember running out to the field with my teammates to celebrate and, obviously, I have the image of showing the medal to my parents.
Q. Your parents are Argentine, does the passion for soccer run in the family?
R. Yes, I think that descent has something to do with it. In the end my family has always been very football fans. My mother, my father, my brothers too... well, my sister not much, but my older brother yes. I always remember to have a ball at home and play at all hours.
Q. You started at the Dénia Municipal Football School, what memories do you have?
R. I started playing indoor soccer at school and I did it for a year. Then I went to play with the Dénia men's team until I was 13, it was a very nice stage. What I remember about playing with my teammates is being a bit "the protected one", because she, like her, was the only girl... and the truth is that I have good memories, both of coaches and players. When I left, I think it took them two years to form the women's team.
Q. What do you think of people who only like men's football?
R. No one should be forced to watch anything, but I believe that more and more fans are also watching women's football. In the end, if you like sports, I think you can perfectly like women's soccer, regardless of whether they are women or men. Anyone who likes football will enjoy a women's football match just the same.
Q. Do you think there are differences between women's and men's soccer?
R. Well, there may be a difference, but at a tactical and technical level I don't think there is any between one game and another. I also played with boys and you can play perfectly, but hey, in the end those people who try to undermine women's football a little are because they have nothing better to do; If you don't like it, then don't look at it.
Q. Do you think that among female players there is more pressure in the sense that in addition to playing well they must be beautiful?
R. If people want to have that image, it's the people's problem. We only dedicate ourselves to playing and that's it, we don't care about the ponytail and so on.
Q. You supported Jenni Hermoso when the famous Rubiales kiss case occurred, do you think the situation has changed for female soccer players since then?
R. Yes, after the World Cup, Spain also partly won in its society, because an event happened that obviously should not have happened and I think people became quite aware of that.
Q. What have you learned from your teammates on the national team?
R. I have learned both at a personal and football level. They are older players, they have more experience than me, they know more about the elite... I could learn those tactical and technical issues, that game, the speed and also being able to develop myself even more as a person and how to be a better athlete, to be able to reach to be a person and a professional out of ten, or get closer to that excellence.
Q. I take it you have your fans, how do you handle that?
R. Naturally. It's cool to be a reference for girls, boys or people in general, who ask you for a photo or whatever, it's something that we also like and we do it obviously delighted.
Q. Do you perceive that the public that is interested in women's football is made up mostly of women or is it equal?
R. Well, I think it's pretty even. Yes, it is true that we see girls who like football, but I also see many boys or adults with families. In the end, they are people who just want to go see a football match.
Q. Soccer players in general often receive insults. In women's football, have you ever heard anyone because of being a woman?
R. Insults, comments... when I played with boys it is true that I received from rivals. Now obviously the opposing fans try to get the most out of you as they can, just like the men; We get comments, but not because we are girls, but because we are the rival.
Q. This world has always focused on men's football, do you think that in recent years the panorama has changed?
R. Yes, now the approach is very different, especially in Spain, I think it is partly as a result of those titles. The importance of women's football is also being perceived in the world, the media impact is growing; That attracts the public, the masses, because people are seeing that it exists and they like it.
Q. Having already achieved so many achievements, what is your next dream?
R. My goal is to work day by day. The achievements, which luckily I have achieved, have been the result of that daily work. So, as for the future, I obviously think about my club; I think about those possible Olympic Games, or the U-20 World Cup. But it is still something far away and I plan to work constantly so that this can be achieved.
Q. What is your day to day like?
R. It is training and I also study Law. It practically consists of being an elite athlete, taking care of rest, nutrition, training with my club and personal training outside as well to be able to continue improving.
Q. And is it difficult for you to combine everything?
R. With studies it is true that it is a bit complicated, but hey, you try to find free time for everything. I divide the subjects a bit, I try to take them not all together. In the morning I train and in the afternoons I try to study, go to the gym or with my personal trainer, or rest, because it is also important for us.
Q. What would you say to girls who want to dedicate themselves to football?
R. Well, if that's what they like, let them move forward. It is sacrificial, because what is valuable in this life always costs, but right now to have a good time, you have to enjoy what you do, I continue to do it. Keep fighting, they will surely succeed.
