With Lionesses' Paris 2024 dreams crushed, some may question their Olympic dream
England had thought it was all over. Lucy Bronze had just cleared a Martha Thomas header off the line to preserve their 5-0 lead over Scotland.
Suddenly, Arjan Veurink, Sarina Wiegman’s assistant, rushed out of the dug-out to tell his boss that the Netherlands had scored. England needed another goal. Wiegman shouted the message to Bronze.
Thirty seconds later, the defender had sprinted from her own half to get on the end of Ella Toone’s cross to head home the goal England needed. Wiegman, who is so rarely animated, turned around and clenched her first.
The Netherlands still had two minutes left to play when the full-time whistle went at Hampden Park. It has been suggested the Dutch had deliberately made sure their game was behind England’s so they knew what they needed to do.
Wiegman’s players huddled around waiting for confirmation of the Netherlands result. Then the news came through. ‘They’ve scored,’ a member of the Lionesses staff said. Bronze sank to her knees. She knew her last chance of playing in another Olympic Games was over.
To have a chance of qualifying on behalf of Team GB, England needed to finish top of their group.
Bronze, 32, was part of the squad who went to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. She will be 37 by the time the next tournament comes around in 2028. Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, who also went to Tokyo, will both be 35.
‘I'm really disappointed for the girls who won't get a chance to go,’ Kirby said.
‘It was an amazing experience being out there and being able to call yourself an Olympian. This team has enough character to bounce back.’
While Bronze and Kirby have had the experience of playing at an Olympics, there are many in this England squad who have not - and will now wonder if they will get the
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