A rollercoaster period for England women's footballers is reaching a dramatic climax
In 16 months, England have won the Euros and reached the final of the World Cup for the first time, however if the side don't win their next two matches in the Women's Nations League, they will be out of the running to qualify a GB team for Paris 2024. So how did they get here?
Football
England women's football manager Sarina Wiegman could hear her players coming long before they crashed the press conference in which she was discussing her pride at her side's win over Germany in the Euro 2022 final.
"It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming... football's coming home," echoed through the bowels of Wembley Stadium, as the door burst open and the players clad in white, danced and sang their way toward their boss.
Wiegman got into the spirit, laughing and clapping her hands as the players, led by Barcelona right back Lucy Bronze, made their way through the media room, celebrating their win. Goalkeeper Mary Earps even clambered onto the table for a quick wiggle before the squad left as quickly as they'd arrived, their laughter echoing through the iconic halls.
Even the journalists were smiling and recording the antics on their phones.
The glory days seemed endless for the oh-so-happy squad.
Yet 16 months later, and with a first-ever World Cup final also under their belt, the side are in a touch of jeopardy and on the verge of not qualifying a team, on behalf of all GB nations, for Paris 2024.
England must win both of their remaining Nations League fixtures, the first against the Netherlands at their Wembley home on Friday (1 December) and then against the not-so-homely Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday (5 December). They must also hope Belgium drops points, and only then, if they reach the business end of the tournament, will the opportunity to qualify a GB team for Paris 2024 continue. The finalists from the competition secure spots for the Games in France in less than eight months' time.
"We want to put the things right that weren’t so good in the Belgium game," said midfielder Keira Walsh ahead of the Netherlands' Game, "and, yes, it’s going to be a difficult game for us. We know it’s a must-win, but I’m hoping that we can show the resilient side to us, and character, and put in a performance.”
After such drama and pulsing excitement during the Euros football festival of 2022, which saw more than 50 million people worldwide tune in for the final against Germany, such a set-back would be devastating for the team.
“We know we need to win these games and Sarina [Wiegman, England’s manager] is not in a negative mindset," continued Walsh. "She always tries to make everything really positive and tries to make it competitive. It’s nice, it takes the pressure off the bad things. When we started camp it was: ‘Two wins, we want to go to an Olympics. We want to make sure we do everything right to get there.’’’
So how did they actually get here?
England women's Paris 2024 Olympics football jeopardy
The final two competitive matches at the end of 2022 were World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg. Making light work of those games, winning 2-0 and 10-0, respectively, England were in bouyant spirits heading to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in August.
Four unbeaten friendlies rounded out 2022, including a win against the favourites for next year's World Cup, the USA.
Things were looking mighty fine.
The early season Arnold Clark Cup, an invitational tournament hosted by England's Football Association was held in February 2023, with England coming out on top for the second time in the two-year-old tournament, beating Republic of Korea, Italy and Belgium.
The Finalissima final in April, saw Europe's best face the top team from the South American Championships, Brazil, with the English side coming out on top against the football icons. On penalties to boot.
This football malarkey was fun!
Two home friendlies before the World Cup gave pause for thought.
England drew against Portugal weeks before the tournament began and a 2-0 loss to Australia five days after the Finalissima final didn't look quite so bad after the Matildas kicked butt months later in their home World Cup, making it to the semi-finals for the first time ever.
The team who beat them to the World Cup final? England, of course, such is the humour of the sporting gods.
But in a drama-filled final against a consistently impressive Spanish side, England just came up short, finishing in the runners-up spot.
A second major trophy within a year had eluded them but onwards and upwards, there was the small matter of Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification to look toward next.
Surely they were in with a shout of winning a first-ever Olympic gold on this form?
Will Team GB women be at Paris 2024?
The Team GB football squad is made up of players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The first match of the Nations League, the qualifying tournament for Paris 2024 was, ironically – with those sporting gods making mischief yet again – against Scotland. England came out 2-1 winners against the side in which some of those players would hope to play in Paris for Team GB, too.
But then, two losses in the next three games.
Defeats away against the Netherlands (2-1) and Belgium (3-2) sandwiched a win at home against Belgium (1-0) that has left England with two matches in which to save themselves.
First up, the England v Netherlands reverse fixture on Friday (1 December), at home, a location that bodes well having won all their home ties in this tournament so far.
But, and this is where the football gods really play hooky, the final game, and the one that could be the big showdown should they beat the Dutch at Wembley, England play, yep, Scotland. Away. In Glasgow. On Tuesday (5 December). And there's one thing that the Scots like most in the world, and that's beating England at football.
Oh, football pixies, you are amusing.
The women's football tournament in Paris starts Sunday 28 July, so will Team GB be on the pitch almost exactly two years to the day they won their first major trophy? Or will they be watching from home? The next two matches will play out the ongoing drama.
England v Netherlands UEFA Women's Nations League football schedule
England v Netherlands
UEFA Women's Nations League
7.45pm GMT, Friday 1 December 2023
Wembley Stadium