Can the Lionesses roar back?
The pressure of success may weigh on a wounded England, but debutantes Wales can play without fear, says Simon Barnes
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- Simon Barnes
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What would you rather be: a swaggering champion trying to prove your greatness all over again, or a plucky contender with nothing to lose? Underdog or overdog? It looks like a no-brainer. Everybody wants to be a champion, that’s what you’re there for. But the underdog has a freedom from expectation and a joy just in stepping onto the pitch. The cares of a champion are known only to a privileged few, but they can weigh the world.
England will perhaps feel a tiny hint of envy as they keep the closest of close eyes on Wales in the next few days. The two are drawn in the same group at the Women’s Euros: the defending champions against the first-timers. England carry the burden of expectation; have Wales already exceeded theirs? If the idea of going into a tournament is to have fun, being Welsh has a lot going for it.
The rise of the England women’s football team has been one of the great national adventures, creating joy after Covid. England won the Euros in 2022 – Ella Toone’s perfect chip and Chloe Kelly’s shirt-whirling celebration in extra time took them to a sensational 2–1 triumph against Germany.
The following year England reached the final of the World Cup. They lost 1–0 to Spain, but goalkeeper Mary Earps saved a penalty, won BBC Sports Personality of the Year and was awarded an MBE. The Lionesses had become part of national life.
Head coach of Wales Rhian Wilkinson. Getty
But it’s not always easy to be a champion and teams are horribly complicated things. You always plan to go into a major tournament looking serene, but England are having a hard job convincing us they’re not a team in crisis. And Mary Earps is part of that crisis.
She announced her retirement from international football just days before England beat Portugal in the Women’s Nations League at the end of May. She was no longer England’s first choice keeper, having lost her place to Hannah Hampton. England head coach Sarina Wiegman has overseen the age of England’s success – and seemingly doesn’t have a sentimental bone in her body. Opinions vary as to whether Earps was nobly sacrificing herself or walking off in pique.
Centre-back Millie Bright has also stepped away, saying her physical and mental health required a break, and had immediate knee surgery. Midfielder Fran Kirby has also retired with injury problems.
As a textbook example of how not to go into a major tournament, this could hardly be bettered. Group D will be difficult for England, with matches against France and the Netherlands before they meet Wales in what could be a must-win game.
England's head coach Sarina Wiegman. Getty
Back in 2003, the Football Association of Wales pulled their team out of the qualifiers for the 2005 Women’s Euros as part of a cost-cutting exercise. But they have come back from this 21st-century rock bottom, and last year triumphantly qualified for the Euros by beating Ireland. Euro 2025 will be their first major tournament.
Sport is full of fairy stories like this – it’s one of the reasons we watch. But such tales are usually followed by less comfortable experiences. Wales have just been beaten 4–1 by Italy and the team, under Rhian Wilkinson, are aware that qualification could be followed by three very chastening matches in the actual competition.
There are two good omens, though. The first is that Jess Fishlock, their all-time record goalscorer with 162 caps and 47 goals, is back after injury, perhaps avoiding the exhaustion that follows so many players into these summer tournaments. The second is that their last group match is against England, and England may well be desperate to win it. It’s a situation that could inspire a Welsh team. Especially if England go into the match thinking “Well, it’s only Wales...”
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England are learning that the only thing harder than achieving success is doing it all over again. As for Wales, they’ve already won.
Authors
Simon BarnesAuthor and journalist
Simon Barnes is a sports and wildlife writer, and is the author of a number of books including the recently published The Green Planet
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