England vow to put pay row aside in World Cup quest

BRISBANE – England pledged to put off-field dramas aside as they look to back up their Euro 2022 triumph at the Women’s World Cup, starting with an opening match against “unpredictable” debutantes Haiti.

The Lionesses’ build-up has been overshadowed by an ongoing row over bonuses for the players, with the team pausing talks this week to focus on the task ahead, starting in Brisbane on Saturday.

Coach Sarina Wiegman insisted stalled negotiations with the Football Association (FA) had not been a distraction.

“I haven’t noticed anything about that. When we go on the pitch everyone is aligned and focused on football and I haven’t seen any other behaviour. So, yes, we are ready,” she said after being peppered with questions on the issue at a pre-match press conference on Friday.

England players issued a statement on Tuesday expressing “disappointment” that talks with the FA over bonus payments and commercial structures had not been resolved before the tournament.

They are reportedly upset by the FA’s failure to follow the lead of the Australian and American federations – where collective bargaining agreements apply – in paying bonuses on top of the prize money paid to players directly by Fifa.

“Obviously, it’s not a situation that everyone wants to be in,” said captain Millie Bright, who will wear armbands to support inclusion, indigenous people and gender equality during their group-stage matches.

“As players, we are not just programmed to play football, sometimes we need to have these conversations.

“But we have a very professional group and football is always at the front of everything.”

Injuries to key players and a dip in form have also left England with plenty to ponder as they target winning the Women’s World Cup for the first time.

They will kick off without regular captain Leah Williamson, Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead and Chelsea forward Fran Kirby, who were all ruled out of the tournament. Bright herself was just declared fit after her knee surgery.

“When you’re surrounded by the best people, I was always confident in my recovery,” said the Chelsea defender.

“I’ve been given absolutely everything that I needed to be in this position and I’m super excited to be here.”

England’s results have been up and down since they won the Euro at a packed Wembley last July, for their first major trophy in women’s football.

Their 30-game unbeaten run was ended by Australia in April and Wiegman’s team failed to break down Portugal in a 0-0 draw in their only warm-up friendly earlier in July.

The Dutch coach said they were well prepared, but were wary of a Haiti side who sealed their maiden World Cup place by beating Chile in a play-off in February.

“They have a team that’s athletic with a very opportunistic transitional game and some unpredictability also.

“We’re just going to try and play our own game,” she said of their Group D encounter.

Also opening their World Cup campaign on Saturday are 2011 champions Japan, whose coach Futoshi Ikeda said it was vital for the Nadeshiko to win against Zambia in Hamilton, New Zealand if they are to make their mark at the tournament.

“We are ready for our match tomorrow. Our first match of the World Cup is very important.

“So we have to be very careful, but dynamic, and we’re going to get those points,” he said on Friday of the Group C clash at the Waikato Stadium.

“This is a tournament, so we have to win one game after the other. That’s important.

“We want to get off on the right foot, so we have to win. It’s the first game so we have to, we just have to win it tomorrow.”

Debutantes Zambia may be ranked 77th in the world against Japan’s 11th, but they proved their quality by beating two-time world champions Germany in a friendly earlier in July.

Ikeda said the Africans were very direct on the counter-attack when they gained possession, and his side, runners-up in 2015, would have to be quick to react when they lose the ball. AFP, REUTERS