With this month’s international window of Women’s Football now over, we take a look at who should be named in Great Britain’s 2021 Olympic Women Football squad.
Next month will see Hege Riise name her Team GB Women Football squad containing various players from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Olympic rules however means that only 18 players can be named in the squad list, meaning that competition is fierce throughout all areas of the pitch in order to secure a place in this squad with versatility a key factor in selection.
We therefore have taken a look at which 18 players deserve to be named in Team GB squad for Tokyo this summer, along with four alternate players in event of injury or illness.
Goalkeepers
Across all home nations, there is just one clear first-choice goalkeeper in England’s Ellie Roebuck because she has simply been outstanding for club and country all season, delivering consistently strong performances which no other homegrown keeper could match.
As for back-up keeper, none of England’s substitute goalkeepers have covered themselves in glory in recent months, whilst Sandy Mclver doesn’t offer extensive experience which should offer hope for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s goalkeepers.
I however am going to plump for Scotland’s Lee Alexandra because unlike the likes of Jacqueline Burns and Laura O’Sullivan, Alexander has the experience of major tournaments after playing at Euro 2017 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Either way, this is probably the most easiest section of the squad that Riise will have in terms of choice.
Defence
Based on how England fared in their recent friendlies, I genuinely can’t see Demi Stokes getting into this squad, alongside the inexperienced Esme Morgan and Millie Turner.
Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Rachel Daly and Leah Williamson however should be guaranteed bets given their versatility in positions, whilst Steph Houghton should be selected given her leadership quality.
I however would look to the smaller home nations to fill two further defensive spots, with Scotland’s Jennifer Beattie and Wales’ Sophie Ingle all looking better equipped to deliver defensively than the likes of Millie Bright and Abbie McManus.
Midfield
With various teams at the 2016 Olympics having often named five to seven midfielders, this is the toughest section which Riise will likely struggle with in terms of selection.
England’s Jordan Nobbs however is surely a guaranteed bet after delivering two strong performances in this month’s friendly defeats, in which she was able to create several opportunities and make key runs to open up the opposition.
Fran Kirby and Georgia Stanway have also shown strong quality to justify possible selection with Kirby’s versatility also meaning she can be used in attack, whereas Stanway can drop deep into defence or higher up the pitch if needed so will be a useful squad player to have in Tokyo.
Niamh Charles should also receive a call-up because with the squad limited to 18 players, Charles’ versatility is something which Riise and Team GB could reap reward from in terms of formation and tactics depending on position.
As for the final midfield position, it is a toughie between Scotland’s Caroline Weir and Wales’ Jess Fishlock but I would personally go for Weir because she like Charles has that extra versatility to her play which will provide wider tactical options in games.
Forward
Like midfield, there isn’t many places available in attack but England’s Beth Mead deserves to be selected because she has excellent versatility on the flanks, whilst proving influential in creating opportunities which is an important consideration in the selection process.
Form will however be just as crucial as versatility in central forward selection and on that basis, Scotland’s Erin Cuthbert surely has to be in contention because she has shown for Chelsea this season that she is capable of contributing towards goals as well as playing in midfield when required.
As for that key central forward role, there is one clear contender in England’s Chloe Kelly, who has shown this season that she can be relied on to provide both assists and goals when required and would be an importantly positive asset in attack given her wider versatility in this position.
As for the final position in this squad, England’s Bethany England would be my pick ahead of fellow compatriot, Ellen White simply because she has a stronger tactical versatility which will benefit the team in terms of runs and pressing compared to White.
Alternate Players
Riise will be permitted to name four alternate players who can replace main squad players in event of injury, so here are are four players who could well make the alternative list.
With one spot reserved for a goalkeeper, I feel that this could well boil down to whether Riise opts for youth or experience although I would be tempted to name Carly Telford due to her superior experience which could be beneficial in training for Roebuck and Alexander.
Defence has often been England’s weakness so I would look elsewhere with Wales’ Hayley Ladd the strongest alternate because she can play in both defence and midfield.
In midfield, I would be tempted to take Jill Scott as the alternate midfielder because although she lacks versatility in position, she is a box-to-box midfielder who can also track back to cover defence which would be key if Stanway dropped out of the squad.
Up front, it is impossible to not name Ellen White as the alternate striker because she has proven that she is a reliable player in major tournaments, yet her lack of versatility up front is what I think will cost her a spot in the main squad.
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