She Kicks a Beat: When the Vero Rhythm Starts to Play (Veronica Boquete)

Spain captain Vero Boquete, fresh from winning the Champions League with Frankfurt, prepares to lead her country into their first World Cup. The 28-year-old has played club football in five countries and returned to the United States in 2014 to win Portland Thorns’ Supporters’ Player of the Year and a place in the NWSL Best XI. She uses music to improve her English, seeking out lyrics by Coldplay, U2 and James Blunt. It was her goal deep into extra time in Madrid that broke Scottish hearts and sent Spain to Euro 2013, and after a qualifying campaign of nine wins and a draw she describes a dressing room that cannot function without loud reggae and Spanish music, and dancing when they win.