Yeah, new faces coming through the door all the time. What I think is disingenuous is the fact that Wiegmann has no intention of picking or playing Steph but won't tell her straight that her international career has drawn to a close.Wiegmann was thinking more for the future I think. Had Wubben-Moy and Carter as backup defenders to give them experience of an international tournament as well as Greenwood if she needed more experience. Can't really argue with any of her selections seeing as we won the thing. She has her own trusted coaching staff so why add in another voice to that mix so late? Not much room for sentiment in football anymore.
True, but there should be a place on the England bench for her. The experience she will bring to the dressing room would be immense. I fear that Wiegmann wants to bring a close to her England career as she doesn't see her taking a CB berth, and doesn't want to be the bearer of grim news. Instead there's the old cop out of stringing a player along with the notion that 'the door remains open' but ne'er the opportunity of walking through, and waits for the player to announce her retirement from international football. I think if the entire CB first choices went down with beri-beri she still would find alternatives to Steph. I don't know, but I have a feeling that Steph has always been outspoken and speaks her mind, something that might grate on a few.
Preface: I have no knowledge of this situation whatsoever.True, but there should be a place on the England bench for her. The experience she will bring to the dressing room would be immense. I fear that Wiegmann wants to bring a close to her England career as she doesn't see her taking a CB berth, and doesn't want to be the bearer of grim news. Instead there's the old cop out of stringing a player along with the notion that 'the door remains open' but ne'er the opportunity of walking through, and waits for the player to announce her retirement from international football. I think if the entire CB first choices went down with beri-beri she still would find alternatives to Steph. I don't know, but I have a feeling that Steph has always been outspoken and speaks her mind, something that might grate on a few.
Preface: I have no knowledge of this situation whatsoever.
Could it be possible Steph was asked to be part of the squad with the caveats, you likely won't play and you will not be captain and she said "No. I won't do that."
Being a good influence in the dressing room is all well and good but some players will still want to play. And I don't know Steph, as I'm sure most possibly all of us here don't, but I got the feeling being captain was a big deal to her. A very big deal.
A few years ago the FA or the Lionesses did a series of videos with the players. In one, the women were asked to impersonate other women on the team. Every one of them, if my memory serves, when asked to do Steph was like "Hello. I'm the Captain," and captain this and captain that. They made it seem obvious being captain was extremely important to her. That is how it appeared from their impersonations. Come to think of it, whilst they had many of the big names at the time in the videos, I do not recall seeing "Captain Fantastic" taking part.
Edit: Now that i have thought about it, she was in some of the promotional videos.
I am under the impression that the telephone calls were a little more than frank, and it might have been the tenor of that call that might well have sealed Steph's fate as far as turning out for England again.I think Steph has been a tremendous player through the years and it's devastating how the past 12 months have panned out for her, but she isn't the only experienced squad member these days, so that probably isn't enough to get her in. Especially when she hasn't got a full 90 minutes under her belt for City yet. My heart would love to see her back playing for England but my head understands why it isn't happening. Think there's plenty of players in that squad who are seen as leaders and would speak their mind e.g. Bronze, so i doubt that's the reason. Even though she's only 25, Williamson is a great confident speaker and a natural leader too. I don't think there's a shortage of those characters in the squad.
I'm sure the conversations that have gone on behind the scenes between Houghton and Wiegman have been open and frank.
I am under the impression that the telephone calls were a little more than frank, and it might have been the tenor of that call that might well have sealed Steph's fate as far as turning out for England again.
Russo may be able to get them in the net but boy she's clueless at football.This Austria v England game has been described as 'sold out' all week long! It's a stadium with 3000 capacity but I can see empty seats. Behind Twerps goal it's all blanked off! And behind the other goal it's a car park. Wonder if the MUEN have got their red felt tips out.
The second chance she got that was easier than the goal was brushed off by the commentator.Russo may be able to get them in the net but boy she's clueless at football.