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England run must leave the Wright legacy
Ian Wright wants England’s run to the Women’s Euro 2022 final to leave a lasting legacy in inspiring more girls to play football.
The Lionesses secured a place at Wembley thanks to a sensational 4-0 win over Sweden at a packed-out Bramall Lane with Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby on the scoresheet.
Either Germany or France await Sarina Wiegman’s team in Sunday’s showpiece, the first time the women’s team have reached a major tournament final since 2009.
But former men’s star Wright warned those who run the game that their achievement must become about more than events on the field.
The 33-cap England international told BBC Breakfast: “The women’s game is here and it is here to stay. What we are seeing with these ladies, and the way they are inspiring everybody, is nothing is going to stop it.
“I love it, I hope they can finish it off simply because they deserve to.
“And again all those heroes, the mums, the dads, the brothers, the uncles, all those people that had to take those girls all over the country just to play football, they must be sitting there so proud at the moment.
“When you consider there is only 63% of girls who have the same access as boys to football, this is why I am hoping by 2024 what the FA and Barclays are doing is making sure that [access] can happen in every school for boys and girls and 100% of girls can get the opportunity to play football.”
Russo goal a result of freedom under Wiegman
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis believes Russo’s audacious backheel goal is a result of the freedom the Lionesses are playing with under Wiegman.
The substitute’s improvised finish to make it 3-0 after her initial saved effort was undoubtedly the pick of England’s four in Sheffield.
On the stunner, Brown-Finnis told Sky Sports: “It’s something you do in training just for a laugh and take your chance to be a little bit cheeky.
“But that’s how the girls are playing, they’re playing like it’s just any other match, they’re not playing the occasion.
“That is absolutely why we’re seeing the performances that we’re seeing. They’re playing with freedom.
“You can imagine that Sarina Wiegman is letting the likes of Alessia Russo, at her first major tournament, go on to the pitch and is saying ‘just do what you’ve been doing in training, just enjoy yourself’.”
Mount gets the armband bug
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount was handed the captain’s armband during his side’s pre-season clash with Charlotte last week — and it is a feeling he would like to get used to.
The England international, 23, was given a run-out for the second 45 minutes during their friendly, taking over as skipper from vice-captain Jorginho who was withdrawn at half-time.
After the penalty shootout defeat in North Carolina, Mount said: “I am still young and still learning, but whenever the opportunity comes to step up I want to take it.
“The gaffer trusted me with captaining the side in the second half and I take that responsibility.
“Whether we win or lose, I always want to be the one to be able to take it. To take it on the chin if we win and obviously if we lose as well.
“I’m naturally not the most vocal. I’ve never really been that. When I was captain of the Under-18s FA Youth Cup side I was always someone who tried to lead by example on the pitch.
“I am constantly trying to learn from the likes of Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] and Jorgi who have been captains of this club, just trying to learn from them and trying to add that to my game.”
