Team GB still has a chance compete in women’s soccer at the 2024 Olympics after England’s come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Netherlands in the Nations League group stage.
The England women’s national team is seeking Olympic qualification on behalf of Team GB. The Olympic team could include players from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well, though England likely would provide most of the roster.
Those Olympic dreams almost were cut short Friday in front of a home crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium. The Netherlands took an early lead on two first-half goals from Lineth Beerensteyn.
But England tied the game in the second half with goals from Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp, then completed the comeback with a stoppage time strike from Ella Toone.
Now England needs to win its final group-stage match Tuesday against Scotland and either better the Netherlands in goal differential or root for a Netherlands loss or draw against Belgium to stay alive in the quest for UEFA Olympic qualification.
The Lionesses entered Friday’s match amid a run of poor form for the 2023 World Cup runners-up, as they had lost three of their last five games starting with a 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final.
That stretch included a 2-1 loss to the Oranje in September. The Lionesses had allowed six goals in four Nations League matches entering Friday.
Sweden will not qualify for the Olympics after its loss Friday to Switzerland. The third-place finisher at this summer’s World Cup, Sweden has a 2-1-2 (W-D-L) record through five Nations League group-stage matches, which knocked the team out of Olympic contention.
Team Great Britain announced its final roster for the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.
BREAKING: Team GB women’s football squad announced
— Molly Hudson (@M0lly_Writes) May 27, 2021
Jordan Nobbs and Alex Greenwood notable omissions. Karen Bardsley a surprise inclusion
11 of the 18 formed by Manchester City players
Kim Little, Caroline Weir (both 🏴 ) and Sophie Ingle (🏴) non English representation pic.twitter.com/TIhsqVeGEl
Notably, Jordan Nobbs and Alex Greenwood were left off of the squad. It will be Nobbs’ second consecutive major tournament miss after she suffered an ACL injury that left her out of the World Cup in 2019. Meanwhile, Manchester City defender Greenwood is coming off of a particularly strong season with City who placed second in the league table.
The defender took to Twitter Thursday to express her “devastation” and wish the team well. “It’s such an amazing opportunity for the girls,” Greenwood wrote. “I’ll be fully supporting them from back home.”
🇬🇧💙 pic.twitter.com/v7VFWNcolw
— Alex Greenwood (@AlexGreenwood) May 27, 2021
11 of the 18 total players come from Manchester City while Kim Little (Scotland), Caroline Weir (Scotland) and Sophie Ingle (Wales) are the only non-English representation on the team.
Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley may have been the most surprising inclusion. Bardsley has only made one appearance since the 2019 World Cup, a game against Canada in April that saw the England women lose 2-0.
Team Great Britain is set to begin the round table in Group E alongside Japan, Canada and Chile.