With Lionesses’ Paris 2024 hopes dashed, some will wonder if they’ll ever get to call themselves an Olympian… But a summer off may be just what Sarina Wiegman’s exhausted squad needs

• England had to better the Netherlands’ result by three clear goals on the night 
• The Lionesses’ game finished two minutes before their rivals’ match in Tilburg 
• This HAS to be the time when players show respect and control. Only the captain should approach referees – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

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.

Sarina Wiegman’s side have had to play back-to-back tournaments following defeat in the World Cup final

England therefore failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics on behalf of Team GB

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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 opportunity again.

Beth Mead was controversially snubbed for Tokyo and will be 32 by the time of the next Games. Mary Earps will be 35, as will Alex Greenwood – who was also left out of the 2020 squad.

The overriding feeling for this squad is one of disappointment. In years gone by, Team GB would have qualified easily. They made Tokyo by England reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. If the format had been the same this time around, their progression to the final earlier this summer would have sealed their place.

It will mean little to these players now but there is a silver lining of missing out on the Olympics.

Lucy Bronze thought that she had scored the goal needed to send Team GB to the Olympics 

England were denied top spot in their Nations League group by virtue of a single goal

After back-to-back tournaments, several members of this squad will benefit from having a summer off. After both the Euros and the World Cup, England’s players had little rest before having to get themselves ready to go again. 

Having a couple of months to rest and recharge will do so many the world of good, even if it does not compare to competing at an Olympics.

‘The career of a football player is [only] a certain amount of time, so if you can play every major tournament, of course every player wants that,’ Wiegman said.

‘In the bigger picture, we have to look at the calendar, and the players are not robots. And they need some rest too. That’s very obvious. But instead of a tournament? That goes a little bit too far, for me.’

While it ultimately ended in heartbreak for England, the first Nations League campaign has been a success for UEFA.

A number of England stars will thereby be denied the chance to become Olympians in Paris

We have seen more competitive games – all of England’s results other than their thrashing of Scotland was decided by one goal.

The competition brought drama and jeopardy that one-sided qualifiers do not. England do not play again until February. 

With no Nations League knockouts, they organise friendlies which may finally give Wiegman the chance to rotate and give fringe players more opportunities. The journey to Euro 2025 will then start in April when the qualifying groups are drawn. 

Wiegman, though, will already be planning how to ensure England do not miss out on another tournament.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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