Players met at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. (Photo: Zac Goodwin via Imago)
There was no fancy ‘big reveal’ on the day we finally learnt which footballers had made the cut for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Rather, the names of Team GB boss Hege Riise’s first-choice 18, plus four reserves, were announced before most people in Britain had eaten their breakfasts,
writes Catherine Etoe.
It was an early start for the players too, gathering as they did at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens while the morning dew was still glistening on the grass. Ahead of them lay a long day, from trying on their new kit, posing for photos in a Japanese garden and ‘meeting’ the media.
Goalkeepers Karen Bardsley (OL Reign and England), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City and England)
Defenders Millie Bright (Chelsea and England), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City and England), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash and England), Steph Houghton (Manchester City and England), Demi Stokes (Manchester City and England), Leah Williamson (Arsenal and England)
Midfielders Sophie Ingle (Chelsea and Wales), Kim Little (Arsenal and Scotland), Jill Scott (Manchester City and England), Keira Walsh (Manchester City and England), Caroline Weir (Manchester City and Scotland)
Forwards Lauren Hemp (Manchester City and England), Fran Kirby (Chelsea and England), Nikita Parris (Lyon and England), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City and England), Ellen White (Manchester City and England)