Team GB footballers aim high despite lack of games in frustrating buildup

The standard of competition at the Olympics is sky high but Hege Riise’s England-dominated side will strive for gold

It may well be an overused phrase, but there certainly are no easy matches at the Olympics’ women’s tournament. Just 12 nations compete in an event which has only been included at the Games since 1996, and the standard is extremely high.

Given Team GB doesn’t usually play together, it was pre-agreed that for them to qualify for Tokyo a home nation had to finish as one of the three best European teams at the 2019 Women’s World Cup. So, despite losing to Sweden in the bronze-medal match, England clinched the final place for Team GB in Japan. Such is the level of competition that France, the 2019 World Cup hosts and one of the favourites, and the defending Olympic champions Germany, missed out. The Netherlands qualified after defeat by the USA in the final.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3ktE0hO