ENGLAND’S HISTORY MAKERS
WOMEN’S EURO 2017 Sampson’s rallying cry
MARK SAMPSON has instructed his players to become England legends by winning Euro 2017.
The Lionesses begin their campaign against Scotland tonight and boss Sampson believes his team can write their names in the history books by going all the way in Holland.
Aware of what is on the line for him and his players, the England manager said: “The message we’re giving them is that these three weeks can change the next 50 years.
Underdogs
“Three weeks of hard work and they’ve got 50 years to live as legends. Scotland have injuries and a lot of people outside the game probably think this is a banker for an England win.
“But they are a good, well-organised outfit and they’ll make it very difficult for us.”
Scotland coach Anna Signeul said: “We’ll go out as underdogs but we’ll aim to put in a good performance and see how far that takes us.”
The Swede added: “After 10 years in Scotland I feel half-Scottish and this is the biggest game of my career – it will be a big moment for me to ® see the flag and hear the anthem.” Ahead of the Group D clash in Utrecht, Scotland captain Gemma Fay said: “Players have worked their whole careers for this and we’ll do everything we can to win.”
England have won 21 and lost only two of the previous 24 meetings between the two nations.
But they have not tasted victory in the opening game of a major tournament since 2005.
Captain Steph Houghton said: “It’s a massive game, probably the biggest.
“I remember watching England play Scotland when Paul Gascoigne scored at Euro 96.”
Sampson, in charge at his second tournament following a third-place finish at the World Cup two years ago, added: “The opening game’s important and, of course, we want to start with a win. The feeling in the camp is that we can’t wait to get started.”