The journey of the Lionesses from success to disappointment at the Olympics – and the potential advantages that may come from it.

Sarina Wiegman was at a loss for words. Despite winning the Euros in 2022 and making it to the World Cup final in 2023, the Lionesses will not be participating in the Nations League finals in 2024 and Team GB will not be competing in the Paris Olympic Games next summer. After England’s impressive victory over Scotland, the mood quickly turned sour on the Hampden pitch. Wiegman was instructing right-back Lucy Bronze during the second half, keeping the Lionesses updated on what they needed to do to top Group A1. They believed one more goal would secure their spot, and Bronze delivered with a late header. However, their hopes were dashed when news arrived that the Netherlands had also scored another goal.

The outcome of the Nations League group stage had a major impact, as it prevented England from advancing to the semi-finals and also dashed Team GB’s hopes of competing in Paris. The Lionesses, who had recently experienced the excitement of the Euros and a successful World Cup, were left in a huddle on the Hampden pitch, facing a different kind of disappointment. This was the first time under Wiegman’s leadership that England fell short of expectations. The dramatic finale of the Nations League and the conflicting emotions were difficult to comprehend. Wiegman shared that she was at a loss for words and told the team, “We gave it our all tonight, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”

The harm had already been done before. If England’s Nations League outcomes had occurred in the opposite order, it would have been simpler to justify their inability to qualify for the tournament finals in February. The Lionesses eventually found their groove, ending their year with a remarkable comeback against the Netherlands at Wembley and a dominant victory over Scotland at Hampden. After initially falling behind to the Dutch, the Lionesses went on to score nine unanswered goals; with the Olympics on the horizon and a goal differential to reverse, it had been several months since Wiegman’s team had attacked so boldly and were so effective in scoring.

Previously during the campaign, this was not the situation. Despite their impressive performance in reaching the final in August, England experienced a decline in form during September and October due to a World Cup hangover. The losses to the Netherlands and Belgium were particularly damaging. Some critics felt that England did not display enough urgency throughout the first Nations League, but considering the Lionesses’ success in the past two summers and their lack of rest after the World Cup, it is understandable that they may not have been as sharp when the stakes were not perceived to be as high. Wiegman acknowledged that the players are human and cannot be expected to perform like robots.

Therefore, it can be argued that the Lionesses will reap the benefits of having the summer off. It was evident that Wiegman’s team was determined to qualify for the Nations League finals and compete in the Olympics, as shown by their efforts to score more goals against Scotland and their heart-wrenching loss at the end of the game. For experienced players like Bronze, this may be their only opportunity to win a gold medal. Wiegman stated, “Every player wants to participate in every tournament.” After the disappointment of leading the Dutch team in the Tokyo Games with no spectators due to Covid, Wiegman had also set her sights on Paris.

However, it is important for players to take breaks and rest. Some Lionesses have participated in major tournaments for the past two summers and will continue to do so for three more due to the delayed Tokyo Games. With Tokyo in 2021, the postponed Euros in 2022, the World Cup in 2023, Paris in 2024, and another Euros in 2025, players such as Millie Bright, Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp, and Georgia Stanway could potentially face five consecutive summers of major tournaments. After injuries to Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, and Fran Kirby during the World Cup, it became evident that the workload was unsustainable and possibly risky.

Instead of the Nations League finals, there will be friendly matches in February, giving Wiegman the opportunity to rotate players before a break in the summer. After that, England’s main focus will be defending their European Championship title in Switzerland. Another qualifying campaign is expected to be less challenging for the Lionesses compared to the Nations League. The ultimate goal is to return to the major stage with a fully fit team. “We will continue to push forward,” Wiegman stated. “It may take some time, but I am confident that we will come back stronger. Our growth as a team will not stop.”

Source: independent.co.uk