Barsley counts on rapid revival
Vaila knows all about pressure as Signeul’s side face Portugal crunch
FROM 15-hour days in New York’s Times Square to a 90-minute examination in Rotterdam tonight, Scotland centre-back Vaila Barsley is no stranger to high-pressure working environments.
Scotland’s women face Portugal in their second European Championship game, a fixture manager Anna Signeul and her players admit is ‘must-win’ if they are to keep their tournament dream alive.
It might help, then, that Barsley is used to sorting things out on a quick turnaround.
The 27-year-old, who plays her club football for Sweden’s Eskilstuna United, was an accountant in New York City before quitting to follow her real passion.
Living in Queens, across the East River from Manhattan, ‘busy season’ often meant working until 11pm followed up by 8am starts.
Getting a 6-0 opening thumping from England out of the system in the space of four days to be primed and confident ahead of the biggest game of her career should come naturally, then to Barsley.
‘It was a very different lifestyle to what I have now,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t think anyone lives like Sex and the City…
‘I lived in Queens with a couple of room-mates, I was in work for eight in the morning, done at five or six on a nice day, and then go out for dinner and meet friends.
‘But it could end up being work from eight in the morning until 11 at night, especially during busy season — ridiculous hours.
‘I’m now getting paid a lot less than I was then, but I’m loving life. I’d had my time in America.
‘You can’t play football forever, so I will have the opportunity to have that lifestyle again afterwards. Right now, though, football is everything to me.’
After six-and-a-half years in the States, Barsley saw a route out with an offer to play for Irish club Peamount United at a tournament in Bosnia.
The former England youth cap then quit Peamount and, after impressing in Sweden, eventually earned a Scotland call-up for a friendly against Belgium in April.
Now, she is a key player as the Scots look to keep their tournament hopes alive.
‘It was a bit overwhelming to begin with but it’s a fantastic experience to be part of,’ Barsley said of playing in Holland this summer.
‘Obviously the England result was disappointing, but whether you lose 6-0 or 2-0, a loss is a loss.
‘But I feel great going into the next game. We’ve looked at our mistakes and we’re ready for the Portugal game.’
Manager Signeul sat her players down for an open video inquest earlier this week, with individuals putting their hands up to errors in an honest outpouring.
‘The goals we conceded to England were painful to watch again but we needed to talk about them so we can learn from our mistakes,’ explained Signeul.
‘I expect the girls to react positively and show that we can perform under pressure when we really must.’