Absolute anthem of the last major women’s football tournaments, the Sweet Caroline will it hover around French stadiums at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? The trend is clearly negative for the 2022 European champions and finalists of the 2023 World Cup, until now mistreated by the Netherlands in their Nations League group. Before the final day of the competition this Tuesday (8:45 p.m.), the Dutch and English have 9 points, but the goal average, which promises to be decisive, is clearly to the disadvantage of Sarina Wiegman’s players (+1 against +4). Because a quick reminder: apart from the French team as the organizing country, no European nation has currently qualified for the Olympic tournament through its performances at the World Cup.
Even the Spanish world champions, winners of group 4 and already assured of being part of the Final Four of this new Women’s Nations League, will have to reach the final of the event in February 2024 to be certain of obtaining one of the two qualifying tickets for Paris 2024. And yes, big European pieces will go by the wayside among Spain, Germany, and therefore the Netherlands and England (Sweden is already out). The draw and the calendar are really teasing with the Lionesses this year since they can be eliminated this Tuesday by Scotland. However, this neighbor, usual historical rival of the English, has a special status when an Olympiad approaches, unlike the UEFA and Fifa competitions: its players can in fact be integrated into the Great Britain team, just like the Welsh and the North -Irish.
“A great historical rivalry between Scotland and England”
Fourth in this group 1 (with 2 points), the Scots held their rank as “Olympic allies” by obtaining two draws (1-1) against Belgium (3rd with 8 points), which would be at the top of the hen to everyone’s surprise without these poor performances. There will be a very special scent in the legendary Hampden Park in Glasgow this Tuesday evening, when we know that a shower of goals in favor of England would certainly send them to the Final Four. Before, why not allow a few Scottish players to join Sarina Wiegman’s group for the Paris 2024 Olympics? “Everything is going to be a bit weird at Hampden on Tuesday,” summarizes the BBC.
“This will be the first time that there will be such a configuration of a match between England and Scotland, but it is mainly outside Great Britain that this scenario of a large voluntary defeat of the Scots is mentioned,” explains Richard Laverty, an English freelance journalist specializing in covering women’s football. There is a great historic rivalry between Scotland and England and no one here expects Scotland to even allow England to win this match. »
Three Scottish women selected for Great Britain’s two Olympic Games
It should be noted that in Great Britain’s only two appearances at the Olympics in women’s football so far, there have respectively been 16 out of 18 English women in London in 2012 and 15 out of 18 in Tokyo in 2021. The exceptions: the Scottish Kim Little (present in these two campaigns), Ifeoma Dieke (in 2012), Caroline Weir (in 2021), as well as the Welsh Sophie Ingle. “We must see that the best potential candidates for the British selection, on the Scottish side, will probably not play on Tuesday,” explains Richard Laverty. Caroline Weir is suffering from a serious knee injury and even Erin Cuthbert is doubtful. » The Chelsea midfielder, who scored on Friday in Belgium, is undoubtedly the one who would have the best chance of joining the British selection.
“In fact, Scotland and Wales have several very good players but in attacking positions like Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa) and Martha Thomas (Tottenham), there is already a lot of squad depth in the English ranks , notes Richard Laverty. Sarina Wiegman would probably prioritize the players she knows best, who she works with. » The Lionesses coach knows she is miraculous after the comeback on Friday against the Netherlands at Wembley, from 0-2 at half-time to 3-2 thanks to a final goal from Ella Toone in added time (90th +1 ).
“It is absolutely scandalous to question our integrity”
The kind of epic scenario, combined with Scotland’s unexpected draw in Belgium (1-1), which makes you believe in your lucky star with a view to qualifying. “We cannot control what the Netherlands will do against Belgium, but we will do our best to get a good victory and we will see what happens”, summarizes the Dutch coach of England (that adds a history to history). In any case, we advise you not to question the Scottish players about their possible demobilization, in order to favor an English qualification for the Final Four of the Nations League.
Colleagues have tried at their expense. The sober version is for Glasgow City player Hayley Lauder: “Tuesday’s match means a lot to us.” Its captain Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa) had less taste for media insinuations: “It’s so disrespectful. It’s absolutely outrageous to question anyone’s integrity, and it’s a huge insult to us.” Meet at 10:40 p.m. to make sure the Hampden Park DJ hasn’t planned a Sweet Caroline of British communion after an English recital with eight goals on the line.