Grateful Little is aiming to be big in Japan
Scotland star Kim little insists she won’t feel out of place after being named in an Englishdominated British women’s football squad for the tokyo olympics.
the arsenal captain, 30, is joined in head coach Hege Riise’s 18-strong line-up by fellow Scot caroline Weir, one of ten Manchester city players in the line-up, and Wales captain Sophie Ingle.
little, part of the team which lost 2-0 to canada in the quarterfinals at london 2012, claims she is ‘incredibly grateful’ to have a second bite at the olympic cherry after home nations politics blocked an appearance at the Rio 2016 Games.
and, despite the rest of the squad being made of English players, little insists the focus now will be on forming a connection to ensure Riise’s team is ready to take on the world in Japan this summer.
‘We’re very much coming together as a new team and it being team GB,’ said little. ‘and that’s very much how I personally feel. It’s such an honour and a privilege to play with these
Most of the squad is English but I’ve played with many of them
athletes and footballers and to play at the biggest sporting tournament in the world.
‘We’ve been put together because of our qualities, on and off the pitch. our responsibility now is with collaborating and connecting so that we can perform our best in the summer to be successful. and that’s where all of our main focus is.
‘the majority are obviously English and played together before. But also as footballers playing in England, we’ve played with a lot of the players. So it feels... not normal, but it feels quite homely. So I would say it’s been quite smooth. and everyone’s great and nice and extremely welcoming. So that, of course, makes it easier.’
chelsea winger Erin cuthbert can count herself unlucky to miss out on selection, while northern Ireland’s leading lights were snubbed despite reaching next year’s Euro finals.
Veteran goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, who plays for Seattle Reign in the USa, is the surprise addition with the 36-year-old featuring only once for England in the past two years.
the Brits begin their olympic campaign in Sapporo against chile on July 21 with canada and Japan also in their initial group.
With no friends and family allowed, and the strong probability of no fans at all inside the stadia in Japan, the experience will be in stark contrast to 2012, with covid protocols set to largely confine the players to their hotels.
despite the curious event in prospect, little feels better equipped than in london to soak up the accomplishment of being an olympian, a little older and wiser second time around. ‘Going from 21 to 30, I think we could probably all say that,’ she said. ‘that’s a time where you change, both professionally as a footballer, but also a person within that kind of time period. ‘I’ve played with a lot of people and been a lot of different places. So I’ve changed a lot. and I do think it will be quite different. I’ll definitely be more present as a 30-yearold than I was at 21. ‘as a 21-year-old, you just go with things. You don’t have that kind of perspective and presence day to day. So I definitely will try to be a lot more mindful and present of just the magnitude of what I’m being a part of. ‘not that I wasn’t in 2012. But I think we can all say we would have completely different perspectives from that age.
‘I’m just grateful I get to experience it with such a contrast from those two time periods.’
Success would throw even more of a spotlight on women’s football.
Going to the World cup in France in 2019 was momentous for the game in Scotland but the growth of the WSl south of the border — and the investment in female teams by celtic and Rangers along with all of the largest English clubs — should make this British squad much more prepared for a medal chase than nine years ago, little believes.
‘I think the progress of the game, the professionalisation, means the general level of women’s football is higher,’ she said.
‘I also think the preparation for the second occasion is quite different to 2012. We have a great group of players selected that have every opportunity to be successful at this tournament. We all would love a medal and especially a certain colour. and that will be our aim.’