Words by Aimee Logan, Exclusive photos by Madeleine Blount at St. George’s Park for Impetus (1/7/23).
Above: England head coach Sarina Wiegman (left) and midfielder Georgia Stanway speak to the media yesterday ahead of today’s game with Portugal. Photo: Madeleine Blount for Impetus.
Georgia Stanway is likely to make her 50th appearance for the Lionesses later today, with the midfielder telling the media that rather focusing on that milestone, she is zoned in on “the next thing – the World Cup.”
The Bayern Munich midfielder pointed out that “football moves too fast” to really have a chance to reflect on the success she’s had so far in her senior career. But whilst today’s milestone is a big one, in particular for her family, Stanway is very clear that her “main focus is on the next thing, which is, the World Cup”, and “there isn’t going to be much time to allow her to look back, only time to look forward to what’s in store for her career in the coming months.”
Stanway was joined at the event at St. George’s Park by England head coach Sarina Wiegman. The pair were asked about the progression towards acceptance of the ‘One Love’ and the Rainbow Captain armband that were banned in the FIFA men’s World Cup in Qatar last winter.
FIFA appear to be reluctant to accept the armband itself, despite players and federations being in support of it. As a compromise, they have released a set of eight armbands in different colours that were on the ‘One Love’ armband. The armbands list: ‘Unite for Inclusion’, ‘Unite for Indigenous Peoples’, ‘Unite for Gender Equality’, ‘Unite for Education for All’, ‘Unite for Ending Violence Against Women’, ‘Unite for Peace’, ‘Football is Joy Peace Hope Love Passion’ and ‘Unite for Zero Hunger’.
None of the armbands directly target the ongoing push for acceptance/representations of LGBTQ+ communities in sport. FIFA have made it clear that the ‘Unite for Inclusion’ multi-coloured heart, is inspired by the Pan-African flag to symbolise race and heritage rather than the colours on the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag.
The game’s governing body have also announced that there will be the same sanctions in place that the men would have had to face in Qatar if there is failure to follow the regulations that they have set in stone – despite the fact that there are players at the women’s World Cup that have openly stated they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Stanway does believe, however, that they have reached a place now where “everybody is allowed to have their individual opinion” and they can ultimately “fight for what we believe in.” She also reiterated that whether the regulations allow them or not they know that “we wanted to, and we’ll stand by the fact that we wanted to.”
Before the tournament itself, England play their final preparation game on home soil later today against Portugal at Milton Keynes with head coach Wiegman describing the opposition as “unpredictable,” specifically with the “speed” of their front line.
The Lionesses boss is expecting Portugal to lay out a “different style of play to what we have seen yet.” Wiegman also emphasised how she thought her team was in a “really good place” ahead of the friendly but there are still some players that are going to be watching from the sidelines on Saturday.
Millie Bright, captain for the World Cup, will still be out because she hasn’t fully returned to fitness since her knee surgery near the end of the WSL season. This could mean that the captain’s armband may end up with Mary Earps today. Despite Jordan Nobbs training this week, she also remains unavailable, but the Lionesses head coach emphasised that both are “on the right track” and will be ready for the World Cup in under a month’s time.
Stanway concluded the media conference by looking at the bigger picture of the World Cup. The former Manchester City star suggested that the tournament will “not compare” to the summer of dreams the squad had at the home Euros last year because they need to “look at the World Cup as something completely different” not only because it is on the other side of the globe, but because it’s a new competition and just in general another new tournament that the squad are partaking in.
The midfielder hopes that their downtime will align with that of those back in England so that the Lionesses can still “connect with fans and family” on a personal level like they did when they were competing in the Euros last summer.
Madeleine Blount’s exclusive photo gallery from St. George’s Park for Impetus:
This is Madeleine Blount‘s debut piece for Impetus to see her biography and those of all our contributors, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/about-our-contributors/
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