SUMMER LOVIN’
Carney says nation will fall for goal-den girls
KAREN CARNEY believes the Euros could be a “phenomenal” moment for the women’s game in English football.
The former Three Lions midfielder says this summer’s tournament has the potential to capture the national imagination and that England are good enough to win it.
Carney (inset), who won 144 caps, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and we should get behind the team. Not see it as a pressure, embrace it and galvanise everyone to show our support.
“I can’t wait – generally the tournament has so many good players.
“On the train the other day people were reading about it in the papers, you can be in the pub and people are talking about it and those sorts of conversations grow the game.
“We need to capitalise on the growth. I’m biased towards England but there’s so many amazing nations that it’s so exciting and there’s a real buzz about the tournament.
“You can see careers in women’s football not just for players but the whole game and sport is expanding and it’s a really exciting time. We’ve got a unique opportunity.”
Former Chelsea and Birmingham star Carney, a brand ambassador for Booking.com, played and scored in the first Euros that England staged in 2005 when their first game at the City of Manchester Stadium attracted 29,029 fans.
Now England’s opener with Austria at Old Trafford on Wednesday is a sell-out – as are the matches with Norway and Northern Ireland at Brighton and Southampton.
Carney added: “I thought the last home Euros was incredible because we got a great crowd for the opening game.
“Now we’ve got a sell-out at Old Trafford so that shows you how phenomenal the growth has been.
“We’ve got a good team and we’ve had big moments.
“England are up there and that’s why it’s so important the nation gets behind the team. Give them support, not make them feel pressurised.
“For opposition, no one wants to play in front of a host crowd, cheering the team on. We have to get that across.”
■ KAREN CARNEY was talking as research from Booking.com showed more than eight in 10 England fans (85%) say the growth of the women’s game has made travelling to play professional football in top leagues around the world a realistic career ambition for women and girls.