Spain coach Jorge Vilda faced a player rebellion last year. Now his team is in World Cup final

Coach Jorge Vilda said the turmoil that had threatened to torpedo Spain's Women's World Cup "made all of us stronger" after they beat Sweden 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the final for the first time.

Spain's preparations were thrown into disarray in September last year when 15 players sent an email to their football federation saying they did not want to be considered for selection.

Their protest was aimed chiefly at Vilda and his methods, including complaints that he was too strict.

Vilda held on to his job and only Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Ona Batlle were among the rebels who ended up returning for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Others including Barcelona stars Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro stuck to their positions and are missing from the squad.

Now Spain are just one step away from Women's World Cup glory after their dramatic win over Sweden on Tuesday.

"The support of Luis Rubiales, the president of the federation, and everyone at the federation, means so much and will always stay with me, as well as that of my family because they have suffered this year," said Vilda after Olga Carmona's late goal secured a dramatic 2-1 win at Eden Park in Auckland.

"At the end of the day it has been a learning process, and I think it has made all of us stronger.

"Now we can file it away and put it behind us and think about the future, and think that we deserve to be where we are."

Goalless for 80 minutes, a cagey affair at Eden Park looked to be drifting towards extra time but sparked to life when substitute Salma Paralluelo put Spain ahead with nine minutes left.

Sweden equalised shortly after through Rebecca Blomqvist before Spain captain Olga Carmona struck an 89th-minite winner.

Spain's players were in tears at full-time and celebrated wildly on the pitch after reaching the final for the first time.

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