Players must Riise to the occasion for Games place
ENGLAND Women stars have been told by interim Lionesses manager Hege Riise exactly what is required in order to be picked for the Olympics this summer.
Riise, who is in temporary charge of England until Holland boss Sarina Wiegman takes the reins on a permanent basis in September, will lead Great Britain at this summer’s tournament in Tokyo.
Only 18 players can be selected and England’s internationals have a chance in friendlies with France and Canada this week to make a final impression before the group is rubber-stamped next month.
Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy made her international debut in a 6-0 win over Northern Ireland in February and praised the transparency of the Norwegian head coach.
The 22-year-old said: ‘Hege is an extremely progressive and forward-think
I feel we’re extremely positive as a team under Hege and we’re playing exciting football
ing coach, which I love, so I feel lucky to be playing under her.
‘She has a wealth of experience so that obviously adds to the pedigree of the coach she is. I definitely feel we are extremely positive as a team under Hege and it is exciting football we are playing.
‘Credit to the coaches, they have been completely transparent (on Olympic selection). Fitness levels have got to be heightened, mental resilience and I guess the most important thing is the minutes we play and making sure they are quality minutes and we take those opportunities.’
Wubben-Moy captained England’s Under-17s at the World Cup five years ago and believes that exposure gets the next generation ready for the senior set-up.
She added: ‘We’re lucky we’re a nation on the world stage and we get the opportunities to play such big games. Through those wins and losses, that is when you really build the mental resilience.’
The Gunners centre-back will hope to feature in Friday’s clash away to France in Caen and Tuesday’s fixture with Canada at Stoke and could be picked alongside Chelsea defender Millie Bright, with captain Steph Houghton a notable absentee with an Achilles injury.