England’s Lionesses; World Cup Journey
Written by Jareth Mills
Well, England finds itself in another final, and rare are the times you’d be forgiven for wondering which of the many sports I am talking about, let alone which gender in the football but these heady days are glorious!
Alas I won’t specify, kickball is kickball and I’ll let you work it out from here.
England have been all shades and all shapes on their road to the final of the first fully international football tournament held jointly by New Zealand and Australia (and haven’t they embraced it!), sometimes Sarina Weigman’s hand being forced by pre existing injuries, some by injuries along the way. And by some moments of pure frustration, bubbling over in to petulance.
Lauren James’s moment of madness could have cost England dearly. But as an elite sportsperson and one of England’s best, she knows this more than I or indeed most of the vociferous haters out there, ever ready to belittle and demean a person for impinging on their perception of this “perfect” sceptred isle.
I am more concerned about how to reintegrate this generational talent back in to a team that in its tightest and most important games, has battled through. Sometimes on the purest of luck and the misfortune of another team (only the cruelest of Divine Creators would set that ball loose from the gloved clutches of Columbia’s Perez) and sometimes through fantastic teamwork and moments of skill and endeavour.
James’ record speaks for itself, she has the same amount of goals as both Beth Mead and Alessia Russo in less games and less overall minutes. James also has more assists than both put together, arbitrarily suggesting she is also a more important team player. But what does it say to Hemp and Russo, who have stepped up when James only stepped on, if they are unceremoniously and instantly dumped for a player who’s actions could have been seen, if not for such hard work, to dump the whole team entirely out of the World Cup?
I believe had an action of equal actual and potential damage had happened at any other time earlier in the tournament, it would have ilicited a 3 game ban. Alas, if it had happened one game after I think it rightfully would have got a 3 game ban as well. But an event so big on the world stage, being used as both a carriage and a platform to yes I’ll admit, grow the game but “more importantly” make huge amounts of money for stakeholders who have seen an opportunity to make stacks of loot for themselves, will absolutely not allow a star with such marketing potential to miss the final and stifle the flow of dosh in to their already fat pockets. I digress, sort of.
I find myself wanting the England team to hold themselves to a higher moral standard, to be the bigger team and take the decision in to their own hands. ‘James deserved a 3 match ban and we will impose it even if you morally bankrupt arbitrators of a morally bankrupt sport haven’t got the stones yourselves.’ (At least until the 60th minute when I think the message will have been both received by James and broadcast to the world).
And this is the only time you will hear me mention the game by its gender divide; would I hold the English men’s team to the same moral standard? Do I really feel about women’s football the same as I feel about men’s football? And if I don’t, it shouldn’t be a race to the bottom of the oil-igarchs barrel, but to the highest of prideful places I feel when watching England in yet another final, ‘The kids are alright’, c’mon you chariots of fire, bring it home!
